All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
When are we no longer new Christians and can we learn from them?
In last Sundays group, my friend Michael, saved one month before I was, said he's a new Christian. I spoke to him about this later. I guess due to his younger age, he's not as bothered with wanting to grow up fast. And I need to not be bothered by it myself even at my age as it only causes agitation.
Then in last night's Saturday group we were discussing spending time in the Word. Michael admitted he doesn't do this enough and finds it slacking with his schedule. But then our praise and worship leader Pastor Jamie said he too has trouble in that area. He feels led to worship and spends much of his time in the music ministry and church work that he doesn't spend enough time in the Word cause he wants to worship so much. It seems as if nearly everyone there doesn't spend every day in scripture. And I've felt condemned if I missed a day. But God gave me something for Jamie even as long as he's done this. I said Jamie, reading the Word, spending time getting to know God IS worship. Something he and others hadn't considered.
Sooo...when are we no longer new and when can we not learn even from new? Jesus said to be as little children...innocent, trusting, always learning. But we're also to grow up. Sometimes though I think we can forget the simplest beginnings when we get so caught up in wanting to grow up. So part of me wants meat and part hopes to always remain a child.
Views: 403
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
-
Char great topic and questions,
My first thoughts here.
We are no longer babes in Christ when we have grasped many of the essential doctrines, applied them and believe them to the point where we live them out in our daily walk.
Hebrews 6:
Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
To keep the verses in context the writer is telling the church to go on from the Old Testament teachings to the new wine prepared by God with the resurrection of our Lord. He is not telling them to abandon them, but to move on, to keep growing in Grace. Some of their practices were but a shadow of the things to come.
In our doctrines there are fundamental, elementary, basic doctrines that need to be established in our lives in order to go on growing in a healthy manner.
Such as the assurance of our salvation, the resurrection of our Lord, the judgment of the lost, salvation is by grace alone, the bible is our final authority etc...
When those doctrines are set in our heart in unshakable ways, we move on to meat - Sacrificial love,dying to self and this world, rejoicing in trials and tribulations etc...
Hebrews 5
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
We are told to be like children who are obedient to their parents and also believe them without doubting. But not children in our understanding of God's truth, but in the contrary we are to be mature by constant use of God's teaching
Reading God's word, fellowship with the saints, praying and seeking to worship God in all we do is NEVER a bad thing. We can take them to unhealthy extremes if our view of God is twisted, but God's Spirit, who is at work in the regenerated will lead us to the a healthy understanding of those Christian basic disciplines.
Much love to you sis
-
Permalink Reply by Seek on
-
Can people even agree on what the essentials are? I hadn't even heard that term until LT used it...this week? Well he used it in September. That I know. LOL
So when are they grasped? I know we all grow at a different pace, but Michael knows the essentials. Yet he still says he's a new Christian.
Anyway I wasn't meaning to be children in our understanding but in not forgetting our roots. If we grow to where we forget something so basic as reading God's Word is worshipping Him, then we need to think about becoming children again...remembering our roots
-
-
Char,
The essentials of Christianity have been agreed to from approximately 1500 years.
They are grasp when we live by them. One does not know the essentials until one lives by the essentials.
Blessings
-
-
I question whether that's really true. That's why I ask what they are. To me there's only one essential and it's Christ. People make baptism essential, tithing essential, even speaking in tongues to prove you're filled, attending church is essential....
So...what's essential?
-
-
The essentials of our Christian faith are found in scripture. The word tells us what they are.
Here are the Primary essentials of our faith. There are essentials for christian growth as well. We can view those next, but for now lets see the ones below.
Question: "What are the essentials of the Christian faith?"
Answer: The Bible itself reveals what is important and essential to the Christian faith. These essentials are the deity of Christ, salvation by God’s grace and not by works, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, the resurrection of Christ, the Gospel, monotheism and the Holy Trinity. These are the main “essentials” that we should understand and believe if we are followers of Jesus Christ. Let’s look at all of these in a little more detail.
The deity of Christ. Quite simply, Jesus is God. While Jesus never directly says, “I am God” in the Scriptures, He makes it very clear to those around Him, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, that He is God. John 10:30 says, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus was claiming deity, and, interestingly enough, He did not deny that He was God. Another example is John 20:28, when Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!” Again, Jesus does not correct Him by saying that He is not God. There are many other examples one can find in the Scriptures regarding Jesus’ rightful place in heaven.
Salvation by grace. We are all sinners separated from God and deserving of eternal punishment for our sin. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for the sins of mankind, giving us access to heaven and an eternal relationship with God. God did not have to do this for us, but He loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son. This is grace, and it is most definitely undeserved favor. Scripture tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor or gain access to heaven apart from His grace.
Salvation through Jesus Christ alone. A truly provocative question to ask someone might be “Do all roads lead to God?” The truth is that all roads do lead to God. Eventually, we are all going to stand before God when we die, no matter what faith we are. It is there that we will be judged for what we have or have not done while we were alive and whether Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives. For the majority of people, this will be a terrible occasion, as most will not know Him or be known by Him. For these people, hell will be the final destination. But God in His mercy has provided all of us the only means for salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 tells us that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This passage speaks of the name of Jesus and His saving power. Another example is found in the book of John. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). No one gets into heaven except by faith in the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ on his or her behalf.
The resurrection of Christ. Perhaps no other event in the Bible, aside from Jesus’ appearance here on earth and subsequent death on the cross, is as significant to the Christian faith as that of the resurrection. Why is this event significant? The answer lies in the fact that Jesus died and then after three days came back to life and rose again to reappear to His followers in bodily form. Jesus had already demonstrated His ability to resurrect others such as His friend Lazarus. But now God the Father had resurrected Him to display His awesome power and glory. This amazing fact is what separates the Christian faith from all others. All other religions are based on works or a powerless deity or person. The leaders of all other religions die and remain dead. The Christian faith is based on Christ crucified and resurrected to life. “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). Lastly, to deny Christ’s bodily resurrection (John 2:19-21) is to deny that Jesus’ work here on earth was a satisfactory offering to God for the sins of mankind.
The gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul spells out what the gospel is and how important it is to embrace it and share it with others. He reminds the Corinthians of the gospel he preached among them: “That Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” This is the essence of the gospel. Paul also warns us to be wary of the many “false gospels” that are being offered to the unsuspecting: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). The pure gospel of Jesus Christ—His death on the cross for sinners and His resurrection to everlasting life—is central to the Christian faith.
Monotheism. Quite simply, there is only one God. Exodus 20:3 states very powerfully, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Monotheism is the belief that there is only one God to be worshipped and served. “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the LORD, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me’” (Isaiah 43:10). Here we see that we are to “believe” and “understand” that God lives and is one. A Christian will know that there is only one God, the God of the Bible. All other “gods” are false and are no gods at all. “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6).
The Holy Trinity. While the concept of a “three-in-one God” is not represented by a single verse or passage, it is described frequently throughout Scripture. If we look at Matthew 28:19, we see the verse calling out the Trinity: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” While this verse mentions all three Persons of the triune God, it does not call them the Trinity. So to understand the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, we must look at the “totality” of Scripture and glean from it the definition. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, we see how this comes together: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” Again, we see all three Persons being represented but not titled the Holy Trinity.
Finally, the essentials of Christianity would not be complete without the ingredient that binds everything together—faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). As Christians we live by this verse with the understanding that we believe in a God we cannot see. But we see His work in our lives and all around us in His creation. We do all of this through faith because we know that faith pleases God. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
-
-
They are grasp when we live by them. One does not know the essentials until one lives by the essentials.
So from what you have said are the essentials (which kinda boils down to Christ...ie: do you believe He's the son of God raised from the dead, part of the Holy Trinity, Lord and Savior and the only way to the kingdom of God is through Him).
So to live by the essentials would be to believe in Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior? Or am I missing something? If you speak in more simplistic terms it might not go over my head so much. ;-)
-
Permalink Reply by Amanda on
-
There are many non-essential biblical beliefs, but if the essentials of the faith aren't clearly laid in someone's heart, upon which to build, it seems to me that disagreement over the lesser issues is much more severe because there is the conviction that those beliefs can't be viewed differently by other Christians or just be held as personal beliefs in one's personal walk with The Lord. What I mean is, if the essential doctrines are understood and agreed upon, then I think that maybe everyone will be able to disagree more gently upon the minor issues. Some of the minor issues include what type of education for your children -- home, public, or private Christian school; drinking alcohol; watching television; listening to music; wearing cosmetics, etcetera. Some of the minor issues can easily become hot topics, such as what version of the bible is best to read. To me, as well as for me, it seems like it's very difficult to come to the understanding that true believers are permitted to disagree on many beliefs but still be living lives that please God because they have the essentials right.
-
-
To me, as well as for me, it seems like it's very difficult to come to the understanding that true believers are permitted to disagree on many beliefs but still be living lives that please God because they have the essentials right.
In light of Romans 14:2-3, I'm not sure why anyone should find it difficult.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
-
-
It's difficult because people often don't separate essential from non-essential, for various reasons, one of which is the same reason that you have asked about -- not knowing which is which. Many hearts get needlessly hurt because they think fellow believers are rejecting the truth when it's a doubtful and debatable matter where we have liberty, just as the verses you've quoted are evidence.
-
-
I think that's a major problem. People assume that all Christians know the essentials, even new Christians. But how can they if it is never taught? How can they if the different denominations cannot even come to an agreement on it?
-
Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
-
And this goes back to a previous discussion we had where I stated that not many should seek to be teachers. Some who do not know the essentials will get into discussions and stand their ground on various topics, get offended when someone disagrees with them or challenges their stance, when their foundation isn't even cemented yet. Thus, we ought to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
IMO you will find most today are not teachable. Without a solid grasp of truth their minds are already made up.
Lord Bless,
LT
-
Welcome to
All About GOD
The Good News
Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate
© 2024 Created by AllAboutGOD.com.
Powered by
