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Chrisitian Distinctions

NeoPatriarch

NeoPatriarch

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Mal 3:18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

In what ways should a Christian be distinct from the world?

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

Love and Obedience are distinctions of the Christian life. What else?

False Christians:

1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

So much of Christianity looks just like the world.

How should we be distinctive?
 
Love and Obedience are distinctions of the Christian life. What else?
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maybe i am just a little slow tonight, but doesn't that seem to cover it? love and obedience includes it all
 
steve said:
maybe i am just a little slow tonight, but doesn't that seem to cover it? love and obedience includes it all
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If not, it is certainly a good start!
 
steve said:
Love and Obedience are distinctions of the Christian life. What else?
Click to expand...
maybe i am just a little slow tonight, but doesn't that seem to cover it? love and obedience includes it all
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Perhaps, but then how does that manifest itself...more specifically.

For example: "Christians" are divorcing at the same rate as the world. If that's true what does it say about "Christians" over all. Certainly, in this sense, there is little distinction between the people who claim to serve God, and the world that are in bondage to sin.

Are there groups of Christians doing better at distinguishing themselves in this way?
 
people generaly fall into one of two catagories
1) those that divide people into groups
2) those that do not divide people into groups

i mostly try to stay in the second group ;) :D

the word "christian" meant "little Christs", something that very few of us suceed at being. the enemy works overtime on hindering our ability to walk in the manner that we are commanded and we do not resist him very well. so, yes, we pretty much fail at the same rate that the world does.

are there groups that fail at a less spectacular rate? presumably, but they are made up of individuals who seem to have a higher committment to following His principals/commands.

our Lord desires to lead each of us into that deeper life and may very well use the leader of a certain group to bring deeper understanding.
some groups rely on different forms of legalism to produce a, to them, acceptable level of walk. the problem is that the members focus more on the rules than on their relationship with our Lord.

all of this to say that i do not look to any group to find my walk. been there, done that and burned the T-shirt :!:
 
I was gonna start a new thread, but I really like the verses you used here, and I think they are the gist of my question. I have been neglectful and not paying attention to prayer requests. There seems to be quite a few problems among the body. 2 different families at least are going homeless, one has lost their children to the state. Another family has been crushed with injury, and that was just the first few threads. I'm curious what the body has done for our fallen brothers? Am I mistaken, and this forum is simply for research purposes? Or are the majority of us attempting to live out John 13:35? If so why is there so much need that seems to go unanswered on here?
 
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

I think it important to understand that: obedience != legalism (Obedience does not equal legalism)

Obedience is the natural result of love for God.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Seth, ...I had never peeked into prayer requests...the need is great...thanks for drawing my attention to it.
 
NeoPatriarch said:
I think it important to understand that: obedience != legalism (Obedience does not equal legalism)
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I agree. I am reminded of Matthew 12:1-13 where David ate the consecrated bread.
 
cnystrom said:
NeoPatriarch said:
I think it important to understand that: obedience != legalism (Obedience does not equal legalism)
Click to expand...

I agree. I am reminded of Matthew 12:1-13 where David ate the consecrated bread.
Click to expand...

Actually, it was 1Sa_21:1-6. where David ate the consecrated bread it was only referenced in Matthew 12. There we learn that the priest gave David the bread. In Matthew 12 we also learn that, "it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days".

I am not certain what your point is though. You have to spell it out for me, I can be a little dense. :)
 
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