How To Be A Christian

[Overaged]

Faith makes things possible; but it doesn't always make them easy.

Why should anyone want to be a Christian today?

And how would they go about becoming one, if they wanted to be one?

[skyblue888]

Isn't it more like faith (not just any faith but the only true faith) does the impossible? True faith does the impossible, doing for us what it is not in our power to do for ourselves, as it lays right hold upon the merits of Jesus Christ to bring His righteousness (omnipotent right doing) into the life. Thus His righteousness accomplishes everything, filling up the measure of the law's requirements. This is the only faith that benefits us for it makes us like Jesus and the great Giver is glorified.

And when Jesus shall appear, while the wicked will flee from His presence, Christ's followers will rejoice because for them Christ has been a daily companion and familiar friend. They have lived in close contact, in constant communion with God. Upon them the glory of the Lord has risen. In them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has been reflected. Now they rejoice in the undimmed rays of the brightness and glory of the king in His majesty. They are prepared for the communion of Heaven; for they have heaven in their hearts.

They will be rewarded according to their works though they deserve no thanks from God. Their testimony will be: "We have no merit or goodness within whereby we may claim salvation. We have done nothing. We are unprofitable servants. Christ through His grace has accomplished everything. We deserve no thanks from God and if we walk through the everlasting gates, it will be solely on account of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour which we claim."

And the Lord will say to them, "Enter in, good and faithful servants, and take possession of the Kingdom that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world."

sky

[Overaged]

Isn't it more like faith (not just any faith but the only true faith) does the impossible?

[skyblue888]

There are different motives for wanting to be a "Christian" in this world. However there is only "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." Eph.4:5. One Lord the Spirit (2 Cor.3:17) from whom this only true faith comes. (John 1:7) And God has given a measure of that precious faith to everyone. (Rom.12:3) In other words, God has given to every man born into this world a measure of the Spirit (baptism). The Lord impresses His Spirit upon every man's mind and heart. It is the faith that works by love in every heart. "It is the Holy Spirit in the heart which works by love and purifies the soul." E.G. White, 4 B.C.1179; Gal.5:6.

This one Lord, the Spirit, works in and through all. He sets in motion influences and impresses His Spirit upon the human mind so that if there is a man on the face of the earth who has any inclination toward God, it is because of the many influences that are set to work to bear upon his mind and heart. (See f.W.73) If there is anything good or noble or holy or lovely in man, especially in those who believe, it is wholly attributable to the mercy and merits of Jesus Christ.

The Spirit leads the sinner to accept the law of God as his standard. If he does not accept that law as his standard, he will set up a standard of his own. But if he accepts that law as his standard, the Spirit makes him realize that the law demands obedience but that he is incapable of rendering it. Then the Spirit will lead him to come to God just as he is, sinful, helpless, dependent, and to present His helpless case before Him pleading the merits of the blood shed for him upon Calvary's cross. He is then taught to pray these words, "Lord, I have no merit or goodness within whereby I may claim salvation, but I present before You the all-sufficient merits of the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This is my only plea."

Thus the sinner is inspired by the Spirit with the faith that plows through the shadow to where Christ is and He appropriates to Himself the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour and the Father receives Him unto Himself, loves Him as He loves Jesus and causes Him to go on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light, from victory to victory.

The repentant sinner is made to realize that he must daily apply to the merits of Jesus that he may become a vessel fit for the Master's use for he has been made to understand that only as he lays right hold upon the merits of the world's Redeemer can the love of God be shed abroad into his heart by the Holy Spirit and love is the light and the life of God and the life of God in the soul is man's only hope for it is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God.

This tell us, not only how to become a Christian but why we should be Christians for Christ loved us and gave Himself for us that we might become partakers of the hoarded love of eternity. He was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as He deserves!

God bless,

sky

[phkrause]

Its to bad you didn't allow 2 choice's, because 3 and 4 go hand in hand, at least to me.

[Overaged]

Its to bad you didn't allow 2 choice's, because 3 and 4 go hand in hand, at least to me.

yes; I can certainly see how some of these would go hand in hand. I actually could not figure how to word the choices to cover all possibilities; but i figured we could just post about it to clarify.

I am quite interested in this subject; and will copy down all the good answers such as skies post above to add to my research notes.

In my last post I made some comparison of "children of God;" and "children of the world." It is because Christ is the Light. He is the "Light of the world." In Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5). We also know that the Bible tells us that "all have sinned," as in breaking God's Law. (Rom 3:23, 1 John 3:4). The Bible also says that only the righteous will enter the kingdom of God so one of the questions has to be, just how can a sinner become righteous in God's sight? By what authority can we call ourselves "Christian?" What are the landmarks of a true Christian?

[Overaged]

Thus the sinner is inspired by the Spirit with the faith that plows through the shadow to where Christ is and He appropriates to Himself the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour

I liked a lot of things in your post; but this quote i picked out shows one reason I have for starting this topic.

While this quote may sound good; what does it in effect mean?

If we "appropriate the merits of a crucified, risen Savior," what specifically would be happening in the believer's life, and how would others recognize this? What is meant by "appropriate" "His merits?" There was a time when I used to sit around and drink beer making fun of Christians and all the mysterious things they keep saying. If you would have told me then to "appropriate" the merits of Jesus; I would have two immediate questions for you. What on earth are these "merits" and how would me, a mere mortal, "appropriate" even one of them? What do you mean "appropriate?" What specifically should I do to accomplish that?

[skyblue888]

Originally Posted By: skyblue888

Thus the sinner is inspired by the Spirit with the faith that plows through the shadow to where Christ is and He appropriates to Himself the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour

I liked a lot of things in your post; but this quote i picked out shows one reason I have for starting this topic.

While this quote may sound good; what does it in effect mean?

If we "appropriate the merits of a crucified, risen Savior," what specifically would be happening in the believer's life, and how would others recognize this? What is meant by "appropriate" "His merits?" There was a time when I used to sit around and drink beer making fun of Christians and all the mysterious things they keep saying. If you would have told me then to "appropriate" the merits of Jesus; I would have two immediate questions for you. What on earth are these "merits" and how would me, a mere mortal, "appropriate" even one of them? What do you mean "appropriate?" What specifically should I do to accomplish that?

Overaged

_______________________________________

Dear brother, you asked, "What on earth are these 'merits' and how would me, a mere mortal, 'appropriate' even one of them? What do you mean 'appropriate?' What specifically should I do to accomplish that? What is meant by "appropriate His merits"?"

They are the merits of His sacrifice. His sacrifice was of value beyond estimate, wasn't it? The more valuable the more the merits. Who can measure the infinity of the sacrifice? It is written that the Father Himself bowed in acceptance of that sacrifice. See F.W.72.

Thus we read, "The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf." Steps to Christ, 36.

Since Mary gave birth to Jesus, the Catholic church has ascribed merits to her. They teach that she has a bank of merits and these merits is what qualifies her as an intercessor between God and man. They also teach that one can pray to the "saints" since they too have a bank of merits, the merits of their good works. Mary and these saints will plead their own merits before God in behalf of any sinner who prays to them in order to get His approval and blessing. We are talking about "creature merits" here. In The Great Controversy, p.221, the prayer of one of the Reformers is recorded.

"O Father, we had devised for ourselves many useless follies but You have placed Your word before me like a torch, and You have touched my heart in order that I may hold in abomination all other merits save those of Jesus."

We also read about "the utter worthlessness of creature merit to earn the wages of eternal life." F.W.23.

Now that says a whole lot, doesn't it? In the light of Christ's infinite sacrifice, His merits, there cannot be any such thing as creature merits. The Catholic church's idea of salvation through merits is the right idea but it must be through the divine merits of the Saviour and the Savior alone. "There is salvation for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ." Testimonies to Mnisters, p.97. "When we seek to gain Heaven through the merits of Christ the soul makes progress... from strength to strength and from victory to victory" for then the righteousness of Christ is brought into the life and it accomplishes everything as it is made manifest in obedience to the commandments of God. See Faith and Works, 94,65,66,27; T.M.92.

Now as to how we appropriate the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. First let us read a couple of statements that clearly state that this is what we must do in order to be saved. "The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour: which appropriates His merits to ourselves." Desire of Ages,347. "Many have a nominal faith in Christ but they know nothing of that vital dependence upon Him which appropriates the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour." Selected Messages, Vol.1, 389.

The next question is: How do we appropriate them? By claiming them and it is our privilege to do so.

"Unless he makes it his lifebusiness to behold the uplifted Saviour and to accept the merits which it is his privilege to claim, the sinner can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus." T.M.93.

"Living faith is essential for our salvation, that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour." F.W.64.

We lay hold upon them by claiming them, thus we appropriate them to ourselves and then we may bring them go God and say to Him, "Father, I have no goodness or merit within whereby I may claim salvation, but I present before you the all-sufficient merits of the all-atoning blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This is my only plea."

This is the only way the sinner can attain to righteousness for then the Father receives him to Himself and He loves him as He loves Jesus and the sinner is clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness and the pardoned soul may go on from grace to grace and from light to a greater light. See F.W.100,101.

Why is it our privilege to claim the merits of the world's Redeemer? Because "All His merits and righteousness were open to fallen man, presented as a gift." E.G. White, 7 B.C.913.

What happened when one appropriates to himself the merits of the Saviour?

"Looking unto Jesus and trusting in His merits we appropriate the blessings of light and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Testimonies, Vol.5,744.

"We shall come in repentance and contrition with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness and learn that we must daily apply to the merits of the blood of Christ that we may become vessels fit for the Master's use." F.W.86.

"Habitually dwelling upon Christ and His all-sufficient merits increases faith, quickens the power of spiritual discernment, strengthens the desire to be like Him, and brings an earnestness into prayer that makes it efficacious." Gospel Worker, 166.

Thus "The revelation of His own glory in the form of humanity will bring Heaven so near to men that the beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Saviour dwells. Men will be captivated by the glory of an abiding Christ. And in currents of praise and thanksgiving from the many souls thus won to God, glory will flow back to the great Giver." C.O.L.420.

Hope this helped.

God bless,

sky

[Overaged]

Dear brother, you asked, "What on earth are these 'merits' and how would me, a mere mortal, 'appropriate' even one of them? What do you mean 'appropriate?' What specifically should I do to accomplish that? What is meant by "appropriate His merits"?"

They are the merits of His sacrifice. His sacrifice was of value beyond estimate, wasn't it? The more valuable the more the merits. Who can measure the infinity of the sacrifice? It is written that the Father Himself bowed in acceptance of that sacrifice. See F.W.72.

Hope this helped.

God bless,

sky

It would have been nice if a Bible verse was included for each paragraph you quoted. There is just something a little unbalanced, that just raises more questions when not one Bible verse is quoted in response to my questions in the OP.

For eg., what is meant by "merits?" That is used in most of the quotes you gave. It is in the plural. What are these MERITS of His sacrifice?

[skyblue888]

Overaged, these statements that have been quoted from inspiration are filled with light from the throne of God. They explain the Gospel of Christ in the vernacular, in a language that all, great and small, rich and poor, old and young, can understand. Yet we keep asking, What are the merits of Christ's sacrifice? No offense but if this question is indicative of the spiritual discernment of the professed people of God, then we can better understand why Mrs. White stated that as a people we have lost our bearings! (T.M.397)

In 1901 the Holy Spirit impressed upon the people the need to reorganize, that we needed to begin at the foundation and to build upon a different principle. See E.G. White, 1901 General Conference Bulletin, p.25.

What does it mean to begin at the foundation? It means that Christ is to be the Head of His church and Him alone and in order to be joined to Him, to the Head, and to be actuated by Him, it is necessary for us to lay hold by faith of His all-sufficient merits for His merits alone avail in our behalf.

Notice these words: "The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith." G.C.73. Speaking of the reformers, the Holy Spirit says, "As the true light dawned upon their minds... they cast themselves wholly upon the merits of Jesus, repeating the words 'Without faith it is impossible to please Him.'" G.C.74.

The merits of a crucified and risen Saviour are the foundation of the Christian's faith. Christ alone has merits and we have been clearly told that it is His merits and His merits alone that will avail in our behalf. "Works without faith are dead; faith without works is dead; works will never save us. It is the merits of Christ that will avail in our behalf." F.W.48.

What are the merits of Jesus Christ? Well, to begin with, Did He not relinquish His divine form for ever in order to take the form of a servant? Did He not become one of us and was He not tempted in all points like as we are and yet was He not obedient even unto death?

"It would have been an almost infinite humilation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin." D.A.49.

Upon the cross He took the punishment which was ours. "He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His." D.A.25.

So who can measure the infinity of that sacrifice? He humbled Himself as God and when He became a man He humbled himself as a man. And we ask, What are His merits? Shouldn't we be ashamed for asking such a question!!!???

And we ask for Scriptures! It is what the Scriptures are telling us but we don't understand it. "Christ is our propitiation through faith in His blood." Rom.3:25.

The blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross is of value beyond estimate, hence full of divine merits.

The statements I have quoted are paraphrases of the above passage of Scripture. As we daily come to God just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent, trusting wholly in the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, Christ is "made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor.1:30.

sky

"The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits in the offering of Himself to the Father as our substitute and surety; for He ascended up on High to make atonement for our transgressions." F.W.105.

[Overaged]

First you say we "appropriate" His merits, then at the end you say we "present" them. Two very different words. It still doesn't tell me "what must I do to be saved." I often find this gospel thing confusing when I talk to other Adventists.

[skyblue888]

We appropriate them to ourselves by claiming them and then we may present them to God as our only plea.

Or we can present them to the Father and tell Him that we are claiming them, making them our only plea. Thus we appropriate them to ourselves and God treats us accordingly and He loves us as He loves Jesus and He clothes us with the robe of His righteousness and His righteousness accomplishes everything for "Righteousness is right-doing," God's right doing. "Righteousness is love and love is the light and the life of God," and "The life of God in the soul is man's only hope." C.O.L.312; M.B.18; M.H.115.

sky

[skyblue888]

I often find this gospel thing confusing when I talk to other Adventists.

Over

_________________

Overaged, I know exactly what you are saying. But it does not have to be confusing. The devil wants all to think that the Gospel is confusing and we must admit that he has done more than an excellent job at causing confusion but only because we have been poor students of the Word and of the Testimonies.

"We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it." F.W.64.

"There seems to be a cloudy atmosphere that has gathered about the soul of man and that has shut in the mind. It is next to impossible to break through this atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. It is next to impossible to arouse his vital interests so that he may know what he must do to be saved." Ibid, 64.

But the Gospel is to be preached to the poor. Not to the spiritually proud who claim to be rich and in need of nothing is it revealed, but to those who are humble and contrite. One fountain has been opened for sin, a fountain for the poor in spirit. See D.A.300.

The poor in spirit have nothing to recommend them to God. They know that they cannot possibly save themselves, or of themselves do any righteous action. These are the ones who appreciate the help that Christ can bestow. They are the poor in spirit, whom He declares to be blessed. See M.B.7.

In that little booklet Faith and Works, on page 64, under the subtitle, THE SIMPLICITY OF BEING SAVED, we read:

"He who will lay hold of Christ's righteousness need not wait one moment that he himself may blot out his own sins. He need not wait until he has made a suitable repentance before he may take hold of Christ's righteousness. We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it."

Then, on page 38, we read, "Some seem to think that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they may claim His blessing. But these dear souls may claim the blessing even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are--sinful, helpless, dependent."

Then what are they to do?

"Present your case (sinful, helpless, dependent) before Him trusting wholly in the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary's cross." p.106.

As the sinner hangs his helpless soul upon the merits of the Saviour, he obtains the blessing, His grace, the Holy Spirit, to help his infirmities so that he may form a Christian character. The Spirit accomplishes everything, emptying him of self and bringing all his inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil into subjection and impressing Christ's character upon him. He must continue in this faith, the only true faith, until the full corn of Christ's character is in the ear. (Mark 4:26-28)

As the sinner is daily resting in the all-sufficient merits of His precious Redeemer, the Spirit has free course in him, saving him in spite of himself, in spite of his weak, unchristlike self, raising him into a holy atmosphere where the rich current of His love can flow through his soul.

Just that simple.

sky

[Overaged]

So is "salvation" or being a Christian, just getting "help" from Christ?

Both "just" and "unjust" do that.

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

[skyblue888]

Of course He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and He sends rain on the just and the unjust.

"All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are recipients of the life of the Son of God." 1 S.M.301.

"Not only is He the Originator of all but He is the life of everything that lives. It is His life that we receive in the sunshine, in the pure, sweet air, and in the food which builds up our bodies and sustains our strength. It is by His life that we exist, hour by hour, moment by moment. Except as perverted by sin, all His gifts tend to life, to health and joy." Education, 197,198.

There are many in this world and in the church who do not discern this. "Man who is in honour but does not understand is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:20.

There are many, even among those who professed to believe present truth, who eat and drink like the beasts.

"Our Lord has said, 'Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you have no life in you. For My flesh is meat indeed and My blood is drink indeed.' John 6:53-55. This is true of our physical nature. Never one, saint or sinner, eats his daily food but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ... The light shining from that communion service in the upper chamber makes sacred the provisions for our daily life. The family board becomes as the table of the Lord and every meal a sacrament." D.A.660.

sky

"We trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those who believe." 1 Tim.4:10.

[Overaged]

So what does it mean to "receive His life?" Why would we want to do that knowing how Jesus was misunderstood, beaten, mocked, and killed? Who wants a life like that?

[phkrause]

So what does it mean to "receive His life?" Why would we want to do that knowing how Jesus was misunderstood, beaten, mocked, and killed? Who wants a life like that?

I believe you answered your own question OA. :)

[Overaged]

[LifeHiscost]

They doubt that anyone can be a child of God, because they have never been such themselves.

Not certain this was from your post OA, but I am certain this is a frailty among human beings, that of assuming that just because another does not see the way we do, they are automatically deficient.

While it is true we are all deficient, our deficiency can only be answered with satisfaction when we accept ourselves the same way Jesus accepts us. Then and then alone will we understand why Jesus receives all who come to Him in faith. Then alone shall we have the "peace that passes understanding."

"May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven."Matthew 6:10 NLT

God blesses!

[Overaged]

Originally Posted By: Overaged

They doubt that anyone can be a child of God, because they have never been such themselves.

Not certain this was from your post OA, but I am certain this is a frailty among human beings, that of assuming that just because another does not see the way we do, they are automatically deficient.

While it is true we are all deficient, our deficiency can only be answered with satisfaction when we accept ourselves the same way Jesus accepts us. Then and then alone will we understand why Jesus receives all who come to Him in faith. Then alone shall we have the "peace that passes understanding."

"May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth,as it is in heaven."Matthew 6:10 NLT

God blesses!