What does it really mean (in your own words)

[Brenda]

What does it really mean to live and walk as Jesus walked, to truly be a Christian?

We did hear a lot of...not so much now a days. The quote: WWJD
What would Jesus do?
How would He handle each situation?

My first thought goes to..Love.

Love God..Love our neighbor as our self. If we love our neighbor as our selves...we will care more about their soul. It could be ours.

Jesus gave us 2 new commandments..if we do those we will full fill the remaining commandments.

LOVE..For God so loved.....
Jesus so loved.....

[Russell Roberts]

Jennifer,

When someone hears the Gospel, the good news that Jesus died, was resurrected, and believes the message, this is an indication that the Holy Spirit has already worked in their hearts to bring about new creation. This is exactly what a Christian is.

The change that takes place in this person's life is a change of heart. This should be reflected by a love for god and a love for those around them. But this change is cruciform (cross shaped). In other words, the love for others is reflected in a sacrificial life of love.

Christians take the pain of the world around us and bear it. This is the life to which Jesus calls us...to take up a cross...to bring God's justice to bear in this present life.

Jesus didn't come to give the world a new ethical standard though a higher ethic may result from a change of heart. He came to inaugerate his kingdom and those who hear and believe the message are called to take part.

Just a few thoughts.

"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new." That verse is what your post reminded me of!

That is the theology behind my statement. Isaiah had prophesied that God would create a new heavens and a new earth. This came to pass with the resurrection of Jesus and comes to pass when someone has faith in Christ. This theme of new creation is prominent in the Gospel of John. The theme is more subtle to us but probably pretty obvious to the first readers. For example, on the sixth day in John's story - Good Friday - Pilate says 'Here is the Man!' evoking the sixth day of creation when God created man.

The sabbath day Jesus is resting in the tomb.

The first day of the week or the eight day, creation begins anew with Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener.

Lots and lots of new creation allusions in John.

[oletimer]

That is the theology behind my statement. Isaiah had prophesied that God would create a new heavens and a new earth. This came to pass with the resurrection of Jesus and comes to pass when someone has faith in Christ. This theme of new creation is prominent in the Gospel of John. The theme is more subtle to us but probably pretty obvious to the first readers. For example, on the sixth day in John's story - Good Friday - Pilate says 'Here is the Man!' evoking the sixth day of creation when God created man.

The sabbath day Jesus is resting in the tomb.

The first day of the week or the eight day, creation begins anew with Mary mistaking Jesus for the gardener.

Lots and lots of new creation allusions in John.

[Tim Elston]

:roll:

Oletimer, instead of rolling your eyes at something intelligent as your unintelligent put-down, I suggest that you read Raymon E. Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Bible series. Then come back and see if you still want to roll your eyes.

[Pastorbps]

Jesus didn't come to give the world a new ethical standard though a higher ethic may result from a change of heart. He came to inaugerate his kingdom and those who hear and believe the message are called to take part.

I wholeheartedly agree with your post with this one exception. "May result"? I would argue a "change of heart" will ALWAYS result in a higher ethical standard by the convert. In fact, it cannot help but produce a higher ethical standard. In fact, if it doesn't produce a higher ethical standard, no "change of heart" has taken place. Probably what you meant.

[Gerald Creasy]

:roll:

Oletimer, instead of rolling your eyes at something intelligent as your unintelligent put-down, I suggest that you read Raymon E. Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Bible series. Then come back and see if you still want to roll your eyes.

Come on Tim, Whaddaya expect from Oltetimer....lumnaries in his organization say the five stones of David represent five General Appointees.

[Gerald Creasy]

I suggest that you read Raymon E. Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Bible series. Then come back and see if you still want to roll your eyes.

Hey Tim is this it?

here

[Tim Elston]

I suggest that you read Raymon E. Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Bible series. Then come back and see if you still want to roll your eyes.

Hey Tim is this it?

here

I haven't read that one. The ones I read were Brown's two-part volumes, The Gospel According to John (I-XII) and The Gospel According to John, XIII-XXI. Fascinating stuff. The one you found is probably a condensation of these two. My guess is that it is good, too.

[oletimer]

Tim Elston Posted:

Oletimer, instead of rolling your eyes at something intelligent as your unintelligent put-down, I suggest that you read Raymon E. Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Bible series. Then come back and see if you still want to roll your eyes.

Tim I know that you mean well in your way. Raymon Brown may have some good points, This I don't know but if he supports Irthnvesl view on this then maybe both are screwed up. Writting books let us know that one can write, but having credible facts or even a credible line of thoughts may well be something else.

I try to keep an open mine with people"s post untill they get so far out in left field. Then some things become funny at its best.

Another "intelligent" person suggested that I read material from Micheal Rood and others, I don't think so. I have quite a bit of reference material that I trust even though I may or may not agree with.

To me (and don't get me wrong for I know that you are intellligent of knowledge in a lot of areas) intelligent is not big your word are but how well you know how to use them right. Now in knowing the deep of things, but how to applied that knowledge to context and life.

Many people know of Christ, but not that many know how to love Christ. Untill one can know that one has failed at every thing.

2Ti 2:22
¶ Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Left field theology should fall in the same field of foolish and unlearned question.

My dollor worth, cost of living has gone up.

BTW Tim don't play fech with Gerald, he goes besert.

[Tim Elston]

My dollor worth, cost of living has gone up.

That's funny.

BTW Tim don't play fech with Gerald, he goes besert.

I know Gerald well enough, and he knows me. We're getting to know you, too.

[one love]

My dollor worth, cost of living has gone up.

That's funny

.


That was funny

[one love]

When we accept Jesus as our saviour and repent of our sins we become (as mentioned) a new creature in Christ, meaning a change will take place. To be a Christian we are to be "Christ like" and he was without sin, however if we do sin we "have a advocate with the father" Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.

[Jennifer Smith]

Rambo what did you mean about the term, Christian not being meant as a term of endearment? Now I am curious. I have heard it described as "little Christ" or "Jesus follower" (disciple)... I like what you said about being a disciple. I like what everyone has said..I think it is a really good thing to reflect on, since we bear the Name of Christ.

[bibleguy]

Rambo what did you mean about the term, Christian not being meant as a term of endearment? Now I am curious. I have heard it described as "little Christ" or "Jesus follower" (disciple)... I like what you said about being a disciple. I like what everyone has said..I think it is a really good thing to reflect on, since we bear the Name of Christ.

I think that it was originally intended as a slur on Christ's followers (like Jehovah's Witness were referred to as Russelites). I remember when the Mormons tried to avoid that monicker, preferring rather "Latter Day Saints," or something. Then they came out with ads "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ... The Mormons." They fought the term that was meant as a slur for a while, then they embraced it.

Likewise, they were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26), apparently by outsiders. Hence it was not a term they took on themselves. That gives another perspective to when King Agrippa told Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28).

Peter mentions "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf" (1 Peter 4:16), indicating that outsiders used the term to try to shame the disciples.

Stuff like that happens all the time. Someone calls a guy a nerd to put them down, then they turn around and wear the term as a badge of honor, thereby also disarming their would be persecutors of at least one instrument of cruelty.

Didn't Howard Johnsons reject the term of endearment HOJO's for years? Now, make your reservation @ 1-800-I-GO-HOJO or www.HOJO.com!

[RamboPreacher]

Rambo what did you mean about the term, Christian not being meant as a term of endearment? Now I am curious. I have heard it described as "little Christ" or "Jesus follower" (disciple)... I like what you said about being a disciple. I like what everyone has said..I think it is a really good thing to reflect on, since we bear the Name of Christ.

BibleGuy got it.

when the Romans were fighting the "Brit's", their term found in archaeology was Britonculoi (sp?) or something to that extent. not just "little Brittans", but more something like, "those wretched little brittans". said with disdain.

on a similar vain - "Christian" is "little Christs", yes - (Christ in this case, not in reference to messiah-ship, but rather an direct reference to Jesus.) He was commonly referred to as Christ, and many "outsiders" thought that was His name. so more like "those little Jesus people" (again, said with disdain). the hermeneutic and translations lose some content in our English language with "Christian".