1 John 3:1-3 NKJV — Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
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Do we know who we are? From the moment we are born we are given a name and that identity stays with us for the rest of our lives. In some instances, we are asked to carry some type of identification card (I.D.) so that we can verify or authorities can verify that it says we are the person pictured on the card. Labels follow us at all times but sometimes the labels others try to give you are usually meant to “pigeon-hole” you into a category that defines the type of person you are.
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There are many who particularly don’t like to be categorized or stereotyped and of course, there are some who wear a label like a badge of honor. Conservative, liberal, progressive or passive, everyone is measured by the circumstances that surround them. Recently, an article published by the magazine Christianity Today called for the removal of President Donald J. Trump from office and questioned the morality of evangelicals who support the President.
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The editorial began by invoking the name of Christianity Today’s founder, evangelist Billy Graham. Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, didn’t hold back in his response to the editorial,
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Courtesy of the Washington Examiner;
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Franklin Graham
Yes, my father Billy Graham founded Christianity Today – but no, he would not agree with their opinion piece. In fact, he would be very disappointed.”
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The surprising choice the magazine and the author took in preferring leftist views and agreeing with the Democrat Party platform left many subscribers stunned and the question being raised because of this op-ed is what is a Christian? By taking bible scripture out of context, the media and leftist groups took it upon themselves to lecture evangelicals on how they should be living and whom they should support. Christianity and believing in Jesus Christ, once again, is taking another round of blows from the enemy.
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John 1:10-12 NKJV — He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
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The answer to the question “What is a Christian?” will vary greatly depending on whom you ask. To some, it means you were born in a “Christian” nation or you come from a “Christian” family. To others, it means you believe in Jesus or the religion that is based on Jesus’ teachings. Yet others use the word “Christian” to speak of a deep personal relationship between Jesus Christ and an individual.
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Being a Christian or a conservative is increasingly becoming the proverbial “four letter dirty word” in today’s society. Many Christians tend to define themselves as a “religious” person or someone with “deep convictions” as a way to camouflage the identity of their true self. Denying Christ is commonplace for those who treat their relationship with Jesus as only a label or to belong to a social club the church may be involved in. Is this part of the “falling away” that the Apostle Paul wrote about in the 2nd chapter of 2nd Thessalonians? Are we allowing the unrighteous to tell us how to act and live? What does the Word of God tell us about being a Christian?
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In a quick study in the Word of God we find that the word Christian(s) is only mentioned 3 times in the following verses in the New Testament:
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Acts 11:26 NKJV — And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
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Acts 26:28 NKJV — Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
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1 Peter 4:16 NKJV — Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
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In the early days of the Gospel being preached, the new converts were called Christians.They were called Christians because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ Jesus. The word Christian is defined as a “follower of Christ” or “belonging to the party of Christ.” The Word of God reminds us that good works do not make us acceptable to God. In other words, a person can live to a high moral standard, give money to feed the poor, go to church, and serve their neighbors, and yet not be a Christ follower or Christian.
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Titus 3:3-7 NKJV — For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV — For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
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These verses clearly share that salvation (being born again) is a gift from God. Nothing we do can earn us salvation. A true Christian is a person who has accepted God’s gift of salvation and put their faith in Jesus Christ. This includes accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sins and His resurrection as proof of His power over death.
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Matthew 19:16-24 NKJV — Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
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The young man could not understand why all that he had done was not enough. If we seek salvation and everlasting life by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour then we must realize that we must commit ourselves into a personal, intimate relationship with Him. Choosing Christ and living a life of righteousness is not a political choice – it is a Godly choice for He is Holy and worthy of praise!
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Being a Christian doesn’t mean that you can’t express your opinions, theories or sound biblical advice to those who need Godly direction. Remember, preachers, evangelists and pastors would be silent if we would follow the definition the media and leftists say what a Christian is. A follower of Christ is a label we should hold close to our hearts and we should live with confidence and joy in knowing that we have victory in Jesus Christ.
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1 John 2:4-6 NKJV — He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
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Receive Jesus today.
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