Pov: when I hear "and you call yourself a Christian".
When some people bring this out of their dirty bags..
I am like. .. I don't even call myself a Christian, The believers were called Christians based on how they behaved, like Christ. Their real identity is BELIEVERS. Na social mundia* dey call them Christians.
Now as believers, our standards is in no way set by the world. Even though they have a name for us, it does not yet appear to them what we really are or what we shall be. So the best they can do is name us in a derogatory way, christianos.They still can't understand it or judge it. Neither can they describe it.
King Agrippa in the book of Act told Paul he had almost been persuaded to become a Christian, because of Paul's eloquence and knowledge. This he said in a manner not so respectfully. However, Paul handled the case well to say.. He wished everyone who heard him were "almost and altogether" like him except for the bonds. (Act 26:28-29)
Even the believer himself is daily having his mind renewed in the knowledge of this life of Christ in him, in the journey of sanctification and holiness. So do not give heed to any form of condemnation that may arise. It is a subtle attack at what Christ has done for us.
Hence, you must certify in your heart that you are first saved to become a believer not to be called a Christian directly and that is alot.
Secondly that it is not by works of social morality and righteousness that you were saved, but by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And thirdly, that person throwing this dart also needs prayers.
How to Respond
If you have to respond, it should be based on the above considering whatever it was you are being "judged" for.
No trained believer will bring such condemnation to another believer. A believer who sees another falling won't even say this, but rather call to correction prayerfully and tenderly, knowing of what sort our salvation is.
Knowing that God has not condemned you, he is much more interested in having even the worst unbelieving sinners repent, how much more you, he would have you to come into knowledge of him, not you studying the length and height of sin, but rather, the dimensions of his love for you. In knowing this, we ll see the power and guilt of sin melt into nothing. Hence, when a believer sees another believer in error, correction must be made, though hard but in love and in no way should the believers faith be in question except they confessed it so and now believe something else.
If it were a believer bringing such a condemnation, it might be a time to remind them that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works that any man can boast of.
You may also choose to walk away in silence especially if your anger is lit for the Holy Spirit to feed you with wisdom to reply subsequently, recognising that we are bethren. It may be different for cases, but one thing that must be constant is understanding that this is not correction, but soft condemnation and whatever response you have must be treated as such.
What does Romans 8 tell us about condemnation, "There is now therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not by the flesh but by the Spirit."
Oh, if it says there isn't, it means it doesn't exist, so where is this coming from, from a liar ofcourse. Liars can create a demo like it's true and once you believe them, you ve been decieved already. And guess who the father of liars is, ofcourse it's the Devil. So now you see where this seeming subtilness is coming from.
Satani dehin leyin mi
Dehin
Satani Dehin leyin mi
Dehin
It clearly shows us that this is the same thing Satan did with Jesus when he asked, aren't you the son of God? Why not turn this stone to bread and eat being hungry, "and you call yourself the son of God."
Meanwhile Jesus came prepared in the word and full of the spirit.
He responded with the scriptures. "Man shall not live by bread alone". So Epic.
My faith is not based of works, it is my works that are based on my faith.
I am not the son of God to turn stones to bread, I can turn stones to bread because I am the Son of God.
So I can't be condemned if I don't turn stones to bread, I am still the son of God, I can not be condemned.
Same way we as believers can not be condemned by any law. We have passed from death to life. So we can't be held down by the laws that condemns by death again.
It's like passing a JSS 2 exams and the teacher is still enforcing the JSS 2 rules on you like you failed it. There is no repeating or regretting what Jesus did at the cross. It was once and for all.
The devil runs when you know the word and understand your position.
And the Holy Ghost helps us discern rightly even such subtle condemnation and not to come under any.
Having seen how Jesus handled this case, you are best advised to also stay worded up and spirit filled.
Knowing God's love and faith are not things you worked for but by the mercy and grace of God.
So when next you hear something like this, don't be in a hurry to reply, just reflect on these and pray for their salvation, because nothing you say or do in the flesh would suffice.
It is a devilish attack, go to war, and arm up. Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God.
Rebuke and Punishment
Paul addressed the Corinthian church when they erred in several ways as "babes", he didnt question their salvation, neither did he unsave them. He simply corrected them and "punished" who needed to be punished as a deterrent and also a show of love.
One thing people may find hard to accept is that you don't have to be condemned to be punished or chastised. Heb 12:6 tells us that it is whom the Father loves that he chastizes and Jesus himself also says in Rev 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.. "
We are loved by our Father and he wants the best for us, we are not bastards. So yes occassionally, rebuke and chastizement will come, dont ever take it for condemnationor that God has not forgiven you or that he doesnt love you. He brings it often through the church and elders to you because he loves you. This is why you must needs go to a church that can put you in check and you also agree to be submitted to the body. We are brethren and we must watch one another by the word and by prayer.
Washing the foot
To chip this in, when Jesus washed his disciples feet, he made it a law for them to wash each other's feet as well, and though we didn't see Peter or John wash each other's feet litrarily, they understood the message. No body should Lord it over the other to be more perfect, instead, they ought to be ready to wash the dirty parts of their brethre. This was not really about servant washing their masters feet, it was about being your brothers keeper and they got the gist.
I really hope that you also get the gist and you present your feet to be washed and be ready to wash mine when I need it. If the church will come into this we ll have less squable about who is holier than and right or left.
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