Wisdom from the Unexpected

What is a Christian? Why do so many people claim to be a Christian and yet they do not demonstrate or live any of Christ? These answers and more will be given as we continue in Wisdom from the Unexpected.

What is a Christian? This basic question is one that will define the rest of this blog, and will give you a better understanding and discernment when it comes to Christianity and those false professors of the faith. The basic definition of a Christian is to be Christ like! Read that again...a Christian is to be Christ like. There are so many false Christians in the world today that it makes it hard for the people of the world to believe in anything Christ has to offer.

There are people who claim to be a Christian but practice hate (Proverbs 10.12 "Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love coverth all sins.") against certain groups of people due to their skin color or lifestyle preferences. Make no mistake that as a Christian we are to hate the sin but love the sinner. It is clear from scripture that God hates sin, and we see that with the exception of Christ we all suffer from sin. Scripture also makes it clear that God loves the sinners hence John 3.16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." There is a lot to unpack here so let me try my best to help you see the truth in this verse...

(a) For God so loved: the creator of all, the mighty and all powerful creator so loved (this small phrase demonstrates Gods intense and deep love for mankind

(b) The world: these simple two words show that Gods love is an all inclusive love that excludes nobody

(c) That he gave his only begotten Son: God delivered his one and only Son knowing full well what would happen to him. A sacrifice had to be given to bear the sins of the world (everyone past, present, and future) so that there may be a way for Gods creation to escape the penalty of sin.

(d) That whosoever believeth in him: I want to focus on one word here, and that word is whosoever. Once again God gave us the word that is all inclusive and excludes nobody. The key to whosoever believeth, is the next two words...in him! Many believe that Christ existed and that he was a historical person, but that is not what God is getting at here. To believe in him is not a simple acknowledgement that Christ lived, but it is a belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he was born of a virgin, lived 30 or so perfect sinless years, was crucified on the cross, arose from the dead on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God. You see he died for our sins, he paid the penalty of our sins so we don't have to, he suffered the most tortuous death known to man at that time, and willingly did that for us.

(e) Should not perish, but have everlasting life.: Make no mistake we will all physically die, but the everlasting life that God talks about here is a spiritual life that is experienced by our soul. The perish God speaks about here is a spiritual death which is eternal separation from God, forever, in hell.

Anyone who does not believe this and practice it is not of God. Anyone who can condemn someone to hell, call them evil and unclean, wish death upon them is not a Christian...Christ would never do that and as a matter of fact he dined with the worst of the sinners and the so called religious world condemned him. Conversely anyone who justifies the sin and calls it normal and okay is also not right (Isaiah 5.20 "Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil....)

God does not want any of his creation to perish (spiritual death) but he has given us a free will so we can choose to worship him (2 Peter 3.9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.")

You are not a robot and God wants you to choose him...use your free will...accept his free gift of salvation.

Any questions or comments I will be happy to answer and discuss with you.