Hi Kent, You wrote, "You ask how do I know the fellow from Integrity was a Christian? All I can respond is that first, he said he was; second, he acted like one (not that I'm a judge of how they act.) and lastly, if it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck." Surely you jest. No way this person was acting like a Christian. From the Bible we get how Christians should act, "Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Eph 2:9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." We are created in Christ Jesus(saved) then expected to do good works.
Mat 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
1 John 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;
Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?
Mat 7:17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Mat 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
God knows who are His children(Christians). WE can only examine their works(fruits) and speculate, maybe yes, maybe no. As stated earlier, God will judge. If that person is a Christian(which I doubt, speculation) then he is accountable to the Father and God will definately judge him, and all of us, as far as that goes.
God bless,
David |
