A picture of a Bible Christian

 

 

Paul Thompson with A N Martin 

 

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You may be ignorant of many things, but to be ignorant of what the Bible says a real Christian looks like can be tragic and fatal leading to eternal pain in Hell.

We don't want to assume that we are a true Christian. Many claim this and show little fruit. What does God say in His word the Bible? It is crucial...for eternal life and heaven.

There are four steps that make up the picture of a Bible Christian each builds on the other. To miss one is to miss the whole and lead only to error and great danger. To know in your heart each is to know joy unspeakable...and that by grace alone you are a Bible Christian.

A Bible Christian constantly faces the reality of God, the problem of his own sin and the remedy – Jesus Christ. He responds in faith and repentance which become growing realities of fruitfulness.

 

1. FACE THE REALITY OF GOD

 

>God is the creator

 

He made the world 

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

 

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth.  Act 17:24

 

He made us in his image or likeness

 

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  Genesis 1:26

 

>God is the law giver

 

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”  Genesis 2:16

 

>God is Holy

 

You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong.  Habakkuk  1:13

 

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3

 

Since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16

 

>God is just and angry

 

Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19

 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Romans 1:18

 

2. FACE THE PROBLEM OF MY SIN.

 

Christianity is different from all religions – it is a sinners religion.

 

 

 

The problem of my bad record and my bad heart and bad master

 

          > My bad record – in heaven

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 7 :20

 

 

> My bad heart – God sees me

 

 

 

 

 

> My bad master –  Satan controls me

 

 

 

 

3. CONSIDER GOD'S REMEDY FOR MY SIN.

 

>God's remedy for my sin is Jesus Christ

 

 

 

>God's remedy for my sin is in His death on a cross

 

 

 

>God's remedy for my sin is His resurrection

 

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

 

>God's remedy meets perfectly my bad record

>God's remedy meets perfectly my bad heart

                   Ezekiel  36:26 

 

>God remedy meets perfectly my bad master

 

 

4. RESPOND TO GOD'S REMEDY – JESUS CHRIST IN FAITH & REPENTANCE

 

> By constantly having faith in Christ to save me from God's anger & justice

 

Forsaking All I Take Him

 

 

  Act 16:31

Romans 10:17

> By constantly repenting of my sin to Christ and his way

 

“Repentance is being sorry for my sin, hating it, changing my attitude to it and leaving it behind”      - A Child's First Catechism by Dr David Jackson

 

 

4.  SHOW BY MY FAITH & REPENTANCE A GROWING REALITY OF FRUITFULNESS

We will be growing

 

 

Because of my new identity – as a new creation in Christ 5 realities are true

 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:20

 

  1. I don't have to perform for God or others because I am Justified – right with God and pleasing to Him

 

 

  1. I don't need human approval because I am reconciled – to God, forgiven, in relationship and acceptance

 

          He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.   Colossians 1:21 -22

 

  1. I'm not to blame others or circumstances because Christ has turned away God's wrath

 

 

  1. I don't have to feel shame – or hopeless because God has regenerated me by His Holy Spirit

 

 

  1. I can expect to bear the fruits of the Spirit, leadership and souls saved.

 

 

A Bible Christian constantly faces the reality of God, the problem of his own sin and the remedy – Jesus Christ. He responds in faith and repentance which become growing realities of fruitfulness.

 

Editor: This article has included material from "What is a Biblical Christian." by A N Martin.

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