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Nathan:
--- Quote --- 1st Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Joel
--- End quote ---
1 Peter 4:16, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
Peter did not label the followers of Christ a "Christian" in the passage. Read it again, very carefully. He said they were to be "as a Christian." The word as means "like or similar to," but it does not mean one is that word. For example:
Genesis 49:9, "...he couched as a lion," does not mean Judah was a lion when he couched!
Exodus 15:5, "...they sank into the bottom as a stone," does not mean they were a stone when they sank.
Matthew 17:20, "...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed," does not mean faith is a mustard seed.
And, therefore:
1 Peter 4:16, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian," does not mean man is a Christian when they suffer.
When someone is "as" something else, it does not mean one is that something. It means we are similar, in some way, to that name, but we are not literally that name. The heathens are the ones who called the followers of Christ "Christians" (Acts 11:26; 26:28). When Peter was referring to the title "Christian, " it is in the context of suffering, and is in reference to the name as imposed upon them by their enemies.
Christ himself never called His disciples Christians - Never. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, He never refers to the saints, elect, etc as Christians. The word "Christian" is only used 3 times in Scripture - twice by pagans and the above passage. If members of this forum want to use this term to describe themselves then so be it, but it is a term passed down through the traditions of men and is not supported by Scripture.
indianabob:
True JFK, Jesus is much more and that is key to our future.
However, is it also key to our future to understand that "since Jesus is a man anointed of God" that we too may in future be anointed of God and stand with Jesus, commune with Jesus because we shall be like him and see him as he IS.
Paul's references to the "man Jesus" are important to reflect upon as we strive to understand more deeply how these things can be, that is our future life as God's sons.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Rom 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
1Co 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
= = =
So then is it not important to recognize that God shall raise us to the same state that Lord Jesus now occupies? That of true sons of the ONE God...
Subject to correction; Indiana Bob
--- Quote from: John from Kentucky on October 11, 2014, 08:32:16 PM ---
--- Quote from: indianabob on October 11, 2014, 07:38:46 PM ---Followers of ho christos = Greek for "the anointed one"
Hebrew = ha mashiyach or "the anointed one"
So then we are followers of the man Jesus, the anointed one of God.
There is lots more to read if one is interested.
Indiana Bob
--- End quote ---
He is much more than a man, I-Bob, regardless of the teachings of the Concordant Publishing Concern.
looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Underlines are mine.
--- End quote ---
lareli:
So if the Gestapo are rounding up "Christians" to haul off to FEMA camps and they go door to door in your neighborhood asking people if they're Christians I guess y'all have nothing to worry about huh.. Convenient.
indianabob:
We're not proselytizing, just witnessing by our conduct.
"Be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove."
What ever happens to be our fate is in God's hands.
However there are some guidelines for sharing our faith...
Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
Mat 10:6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Mat 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Mat 10:9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Mat 10:11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
Mat 10:12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
Mat 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
= = =
This is the attitude that I recommend. Indiana Bob
lareli:
Hi bob
I don't know if your last post was in response to my post but if it was then I think you misunderstood my comments. Or maybe I am misunderstanding yours.
I was not referring to proselytizing. I was responding to posts by JFK and Nathan which give very impressive, clever and convenient human arguments for why they're not "Christians".
I was noting the fact that the human reasoning behind they're arguments would allow them to claim that they're not "Christians" in the event of a "Christian" holocaust.
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