What Is A Christian ?

Hi everyone, after the events in our Msn chat room a few years ago, I think that this study is appropriate. The Gay issue was again raised and it became clear that the two people concerned were two very unrepentant sinners, In the respect that here we had two gay men having a sexual relationship together and they were calling themselves Christians. This Communities policy on the entire Gay issue is explained in detail on the community page marked "Homosexuality Christian or not" We should remember that Our Lord himself gave his life for all of us that we should have full salvation through his blood. Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, To be a follower of someone is to pattern your life after him or her. Christ is the perfect example of how to live a life that is pleasing to God. If we patteren our lives after him, we will please God. Not only that we find ourselves accepted into his eternal kingdom. To be like Christ is our goal. We want to think his thoughts, show his attitudes, live as he would have lived on earth today, It is an awsome goal, and since we are not perfect, that goal seems unatainable. The key is that we are not Christ, but we can hope to be like him. While we cannot achieve perfection. Christ himself does promise to give us the power to life effectivly for him. As we read in Romans 8:9 You are controlled by the spirit, if you have the spirit of God living in you.(And remember that those who do not have the spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all). By ourselves we cannot hope to live like Christ, for we are not capable of it. But controlled by the spirit of Jesus Christ in us we can. In 2 Corinthians we read 3:18 As the spirit of The Lord works within us, we become more like him. As we let Christ control our inner life, he also controls our outer expression of that inner life. If we claim to be Chistians we must be developping a Christ like spirit. As in 1 John 2:3 we read How can we be sure we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. This then becomes a test of our faith in Jesus Christ. Are we living as he wants, Are we living a Christlike life? If we are it would suggest that Christ lives within, Iff not, It would suggest that he does not. If we read in Matthew 25:34-46. The most important piece of this scripture in my view is verses 40-41 and 45-46 Please read these everyone and let us all remember that we must all keep on looking up to the light which is Jesus Christ and that Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life. Sincerely In Christ. Clive (Matched_1)