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what is a believer?

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carol70:
Hi all.  I'm new here, was led to bible-truths a little over two weeks ago.  It's been quite the humbling experience reading the different threads here and discovering just how much I do not know.  I seriously need a remedial bible study class!  So please bear with me while I get up the nerve to ask really basic questions from time to time. :)

Prior to having my eyes opened, I considered myself a Christian believer.  I grew up in the church but didn't "officially accept" Jesus into my life until a few years ago, which led me to joining and becoming baptized in a Baptist church. 

Prior to two weeks ago, I considered myself a believer.  And now, I wonder about the term.  Is it possible to be a true believer if one doesn't know or accept basic truths about God's word?  What if you don't know you're blind or have been decieved, is there such thing as a blind or deceived believer?  And what if you're exposed to certain truths, but stubbornly refuse to accept them and try to maintain a tight hold on the standard Christian doctrines -  does that make you a former believer or unbeliever?

mari_et_pere:
Carol, welcome to the forum! Don't be shy about asking questions. I think we all ask from time to time.


--- Quote ---Prior to two weeks ago, I considered myself a believer.  And now, I wonder about the term.  Is it possible to be a true believer if one doesn't know or accept basic truths about God's word?
--- End quote ---

You'd be suprised at how many people come here in the exact same state of mind that you did. I wouldn't worry about wether or not you were a believer. Your question is "what is a believer?" A believer believes. It's that simple. Did you believe the truth? Of course not all of it because you didn't know all of it. Believer is such a church doctrine term anyway. Let it go.


--- Quote ---What if you don't know you're blind or have been decieved, is there such thing as a blind or deceived believer? 
--- End quote ---

But yes, there is such a thing as a deceived believer. They lied to you with the same lies that they themselves had been lied to about, and you believed the lies just like they themselves did. So you believed and were deceived. But thank God you're being called out of that mess. That's all that matters! Don't worry about there terminologies for this and that. It doesn't matter!


--- Quote ---And what if you're exposed to certain truths, but stubbornly refuse to accept them and try to maintain a tight hold on the standard Christian doctrines -  does that make you a former believer or unbeliever?

--- End quote ---

I've seen many people do that. It doesn't matter what THEY say it makes you. Forget the believer/unbeliever crap. Here's the best thing to do if you want to know the real truth. When you're exposed to the certain truth in question (there must be one you just didn't put it out there) then look it up in the scriptures. See for yourself! A lot of the standard doctrines do nothing but deceived you and pull you further away from what you really want - the truth!

You're obviously at a crossroads huh? Read Ray's stuff on his site. You'll learn a ton of truths. You'll be shocked at some. But it's all true, no matter what you call yourself for beleiving it.  ;D

Matt

YellowStone:
Hi Carol, Welcome to the forum :)

Matt, I want to thank you for a very edifying response.  :D

Your words and insight are comforting and true. We cannot beat ourselves up for past beliefs / actions; for we could only believe what was given to believe.

Carol, the true blessing is that you are now seeing the truth, and just as importantly, the lies for what they are. :)

There is a wealth of knowledge here; however, I believe in my heart that the starting point is here.

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39  And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

These verses are probably very familiar. Yet many in the church completely miss their significance. We are to love one another as we love our selves. One does not (I hope) discriminate onself, nor laud oneself over oneself; so neither should a true believer act in this way towards any other. Believer or non believer alike.

So as true ambassadors to God, the Spirit of Truth should never be hid away, for the.....

Gal 5:22  ......Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The gift of the Spirit is indeed life changing and it is wonderful :)

Much to love to you in Christ,

Darren

Extol:
Hi Carol, Welcome to Bible-Truths.  :D As Matt said, a believer is simply someone who believes. It does not mean someone is one of God's chosen elect.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 John 8:31-32

 Notice that Jesus spoke these words to the Jews which believed on him; and those same Jews, a few moments later, said that Jesus was possessed of a devil!

for many are called, and few chosen...
 
 Matthew 22:14

 There are many millions (even billions) of believers who are called, but only a few are chosen. And still there is more to it than being chosen:

  for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

 Revelation 17:14

 be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 Revelation 2:10

 Judas was called and chosen, but he was not "faithful unto death". The ones who are called, chosen, and faithful to the end shall be rewarded with the life of the first resurrection.

He who endures till the end shall be saved.
 
 Matthew 24:13

carol70:
I've been reading the Lake of Fire series and other articles and I've been listening to Ray's audios virtually nonstop over the past two weeks.  I know I'm hearing the truth.  It's hard to denounce the truth when Ray presents so many scriptures to back it up.

One of the reasons for my question is this:

2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

1 Corinthians 7:14-16

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

All along, I thought I was equally yoked with my husband, who considers himself a "believer."  Just trying to figure out what some of this means...

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