You have to follow the teachings of Christ as well

Great meme bro!

This is the good news of Christianity.

Well, Jesus died for more than just that, seeing as you could easily be forgiven as David did after murdering Uriah the Hittite over Bathsheba. The death of Jesus brought the Abrahamic Covenant to the Gentiles, which is anyone who isn't Jewish. This means that not only are we forgiven, but we are adopted and considered the sons of God, which means we are all kings in this earth, allows us to partake in his blessings, and allows us to receive the Holy Spirit without having to be a priest. Because of Jesus, we are no longer orphans with no help, and we are made just like Christ through his death (which is one very good reason why we need to follow his example).

tl;dr, Jesus is awesome

WOO amen! Good word right there. He said then go into the streets and ask all who will come to the wedding supper to come.

Matthew 22:1-14
Numbers 14:20-30

Spot on! Most of America has seemed to be doing the opposite, but I'm telling you, we're about to see ASTOUNDING things that are going to happen in this nation! though the world is falling apart, God's children are going to be more prosperous than we could imagine! Soon we're going to see ourselves raising the dead, healing the sick, seeing entire limbs grow back, we will start doing miracles again just like the ones that Jesus did, and even better ones than those! We are going to be revived in this nation by thousands upon thousands of ton, and the Reviver will be flourishing in this land, and the Anointing flowing from our hands! We will see life flowing through this nation during a time of death, love flowing through a time of hate, and we're gonna give the enemy a run for his money!

We are going to start opening up our hearts to the Spirit again, listening to His voice and not familiar spirits with obedient hearts and tongues of fire! While the enemy shall drop nuclear weapons in the physical realm, we will be standing our positions in the Spirit and in faith, using weapons more powerful than extinction! The entire world is going to know about that Great Name through the miracles that He will do through us!

Sorry for long comment, it just sort of popped out

Amen. Things do look bleak. But we are always commanded to trust in God more than we trust our eyes, our fears, our own reason.
My daughter and are mid-exodus in our devotions. They grumbled and murmured, and talked about how impossible it all was, how they were going to be killed by those in the land of giants. "Better we should have died there. Better we should go back and be slaves." My daughter asked, "Didn't they believe in God?" Yes and no. When we believe something it becomes part of us. It is part of our worldview and the truth that we use in making decisions for our lives. We "trust" it. Have faith in it.
But. We can "know" something and not "believe" it. Do you know that you are smart? People tell you that you are. There must be a reason they do. You have had the experience of being right many times and getting correct answers on your work. But do you "believe" you are smart?
Do you believe that the sun will rise tomorrow? "Yes" That is something that you know AND believe. And because you believe that you make plans based on that truth. Tomorrow we will get up and go swimming etc. You "accept" and "receive" that truth.
Well, if you actually "believe" what God says it will be part of your worldview, you will trust it and count it as done. If God says "I will deliver you to the promised land" you can count it as done and you can start picking out curtains and making plans ;-)
The Israelites grumbled and murmured ... as we grumble and murmur now in the face of all that we see. Because we are still walking by sight not faith. What does God promise us? Believe it as the sun that rises. The world will do as the world does. But I stand on God's word for my truth and deliverance. His will orders my path.
And Christ ... my bridegroom. I'm picking out curtains ;-)

Absolutely correct.

When you live in faith, you're invincible and blessed beyond measure. When you live by both faith and the Spirit, you're like a really overpowered tank.

When you live by faith, you don't say things like "ohh my tuberculosis or cancer or whatever is getting worse" instead you say "I HAVE no sickness because Psalms 91 says I have protection from all things because I make my home in the Lord, and no sickness can come near me," and because of His blessings, we have prosperity in all things beyond measure

When you live by the Holy Spirit, that means you have your heart open and obedient to Him to receive his instruction. We listen to Him, and we hear it, because it says in John 10 in the first few verses, "I call my sheep by name, and they hear me, and they KNOW my voice, a stranger they do not follow" So when we are listening, we hear His voice, because we were literally made to have conversations with God, and we know it, and we can discern the voice of the enemy and the voice of the Shepherd, and we understand everything He says in His Word, because when he speaks, it's the same Word that's in the Bible, which is why we must read continually, as to become even more familiar with his voice

While we have it great, God wants us to live in the Spirit and in faith, too many times are us believers just satisfied with staying satisfied living in faith and being saved, we must obey Him, listening for Him, we must stop being imitators of Christ and start being EXACT REPLICAS, because that's what we are supposed to be, because this world has a hardened heart, and because it can't see the proof around it, we have to start showing them through the miracles brought by being obedient to the voice of the Spirit

Well. I reckon we just had us some church ;-) And God bless. The faith in this community is startling and a welcome surprise. :-)

Yep, God bless to you aswell!

Have a good day, this was a very cheering conversation

done

Should be a front page meme -

Only God can make someone a Christian.

God gives the gift of salvation and all we have to do is accept His gift.

Yes. That's why I commented. I didn't want anyone to get the impression that following Christ's teachings and going to church would be enough to make anyone a Christian.

Salvation is all God's gift, received by faith - and based only on what Christ did on the cross, not anything we've done.

I agree 100%.

Me too

Ok, you don't have to answer if you don't want to (of course), but I'm just curious, are you a Christian Jewish person, CentralNYGuy? 'Cause that would be really awesome.

Chov - No I am not. But I do very much admire and support God's people, the Jews.

Ok, cool... I was just wondering because a lot of Jews do live in NY. I know a Jewish Christian who is trying to reach all of the NY Jews with the Gospel (and now his son is even setting up a second base in Jerusalem!) Have you ever heard of Shalom Ministries Inc, NYC? Pretty cool!

I don't live near NY city. I live in upstate NY about 4 1/2 hrs.away. It's much different than NY city.

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a lot of people who pretend to be "Christian" just so they have an excuse to persecute gays, even though the bible teaches acceptance (*Cough*, Westboro *Cough*)?

There is a thing called loving the sinner not the sin. We can still show love to homosexuals without agreeing with their lifestyle choice. That doesn't mean we should have to bend over and take it up the tail pipe because they wanted to change our religious practice of marriage.

But there are a lot of people who publicly insult people, say they're going to Hell, and wave signs that say "Thank god they're dead) just because they may not agree with one thing. They give Christians a bad name, and it's people like them who are the reason religion in general gets so much hate on the internet. They are the stereotypes.

Some people may go to church "for show", and ignore Christ's teachings during the week, but some, who may not have been following the pathe Christ wants us to, are at least attending and listening, and are at least open to God coming into their heart. Where they may not be the definition of a Christian as we know it, they are at least listening and open to salvation. Sitting in church is better than sitting at home playing video games or sitting in a another environment where negative influences can steer them in a different path.

but by attending church you are essentially following a religion of Man, rather than the faith of God. the clergy is structured like the governments and dictates rules and doctrines that unless you follow them, you are seen to be unfaithful/not participating/not religious etc. most churches teach you to pray with your mind and words, but not with your heart

Interesting assessment - but I have never felt I was following a mans religion. We know that the bible was written by man, but I have always believed inspired by God. I believe a "good" pastor or priest or reverend, is there to help with questions we may have. We are still free to make up our own minds and interpretations. I am happy with my church, I have never been taught to pray with words, - but always from the heart. I may be lucky in my experiences with church, - and pastors. I am always open to anothers interpretation, and I am sure we will agree there are MANY! ;) Look how many denominations there are in just Christianity, - sometimes attacking each other for their core belief system. Bottom line I think, is that people worship where they feel comfortable worshipping. If they do not like the doctrines that a religion or church teaches, they are free to look at and explore others. The only religionk that does not allow this is Islam, where apostasy is punished by death.

You mention Islam. So you are a student of religion? You are incorrect in your beliefs about Islam. Islam does acknowledge Jesus Christ and his teachings. The Koran also teaches peace. I suspect you are blindsided by the American ideal thru the republican party that all of the Islam faith are incorrect and terrorists. I grew up in a bapitist/Methodist household. God doesn't just smile on Christians. If you look at the whole picture. Christians,Jews Muslims, the nonbelievers. The poor the starving multitudes God is a sadistic entity invented by man so man could justify living after death.

I think you mistook what I said - I said "apostasy is punished by death in Islam".. meaning that muslims are not free to explore other faiths. That is NOT incorrect. I never mentioned anything about Islam acknowledging or no acknowleding Jesus either. I have never understood where the "God being invented by man" came from. . or how why with that belief could say that as if they held a secret book with that information. If you dont believe,... you dont believe. If I choose to believe,... that does not make me wrong,.. it means I have a different opinion. The big bang theory,... is called a "theory".. embraced by non-believers. Nothing from nothing caused something. But creationist are considered whacked..... ? I respect your opinion - but thats all it is. Believing it,.. does not make it so. You can use that same logic in debating my beliefs,.. but I have some ancient text to reference in a book called the Bible. . much older than any "theory". So I will stick with it,... but politely respect your choice not to.

It could also be called the God theory based on the fact there is no physical proof a god exsist. Or that a man named Jesus Christ walked the earth. No where are there any ancient records cast in stone that Jesus Christ walked the earth. This is all based on hand me down stories that a chosen one would protect the Jews.

3.1% of Americans identify as atheist... I am with the other 97%. Even science knows that "nothing from nothing cannot make something". And records at that time were not cast in stone - the people of that time had literature. ;) And if one denies the bible, - what history book do you reference older than the books of the bible? Seems to me, many of the history books used to today reference the same cities and locations referenced in the bible. Doesn't Jerusulem still exist? History is history. Your opinion of God does not change that. . nor will.

Your facts are slightly off. You have tge Typical weak minded believer mentality. You like so many others need to feel immortal, feeling so self important that we all need to be the way you are.

Typical lib, nothing intelligent to contribute, cant be nice, so you hurl ininsults like a little kid. Thank God you are in the minority of users and believers. Go ahead with the big bang theory, something from nothing made something. Soooo , where did the something come from?

not trying to be a hater but the heart is the most deciving part of your body

I do follow a man-made religion. It was made by the man Jesus Christ.

WOW! Wish I would have thought of that! That would be a great meme! Outstanding reply!

Epic comeback, bro.