Question about deeds, fruit and true Christians...?

Question

I've heard it said that you can tell a true Christian by his or her deeds and the fruit they leave. I've also heard it said that deeds are unimportant to God - what's paramount is belief and acceptance of Him and Jesus. (If deeds were important, I've been told, an atheist who's led an exemplary life, but rejected God, could go to heaven). Since that doesn't seem to be the case...

Question: If all Christians accept God and Jesus, what makes some "true" and others not so true?

Answer 1

That is a superb question, and one that I am sure is leaving many Christians spinning their wheels frantically, trying to come up with answer. The truth is that of the multitude of Christians in this world – estimates exceeding 2 billion or 1/3 of the earth’s population – only a fraction live with the humility, self-sacrificial charity, and kindness that Christ said should be the evidence for their faith.

This indicates to one of two things. Either the vast majority professing Christians are egregious liars, and they have no credibility to admonish others to follow their faith, or that the belief in Christ doesn’t truly ennoble the human spirit, and engender what is best in our kind. That latter conclusion is quite detrimental to Christianity, because it implies there is no Holy Spirit that empowers man to strive beyond his baser instincts of selfishness and materialism.

Answer 2

Deeds are very important. When people say that salvation is gained through faith and not good deeds, they are speaking truthfully. However, it is also implied that faith inevitably leads to good deeds. Jesus Himself praised the metaphoric "sheep" because they fed the hungry, cared for the sick, and visited those in prison. He rebuked the metaphoric "goats" when they did not perform good deeds, and those goats were cast into eternal fire and brimstone.

However, faith is necessary. An athiest cannot be saved, despite his good deeds, because he has not accepted the gift of salvation that Jesus offers to all. The gift is offered to him, but athiests reject it, so therefore they simply cannot be saved.

If a person truly accepts Jesus and God, they are true Christians. It's as simple as that. Naturally those belonging to cults are not saved, but they are not real Christians to begin with. However, no denomination is greater or more truthful than the next. A Catholic who has accepted Christ is going to Heaven the same way a Methodist who has accepted Christ is going to heaven.

Some people get over-confident or excessively proud,which is why the like to degrade other denominations and promote their own. It is not very Christian to do so, given that Jesus prayed that all his people be united.

God bless!

Answer 3

As to deeds, there is nothing we can do to earn eternal life in heaven or on earth. No amount of hours put in or work accomplished that equals that. It is a free gift as the Bible says.

The question is, Why should we expect a gift from one we refuse to obey? I know of no employer who would do this. No GOOD parent, wanting to prepare their child for adult life would either. Why should we expect God to do so? Sure He is perfectly aware of our limitations. He would not require something we can not do. He does require of us to live according to His commands and to worship in the way He approves.

True Christians would be recognized by their fruits. (Matt.7:20) The things you could visibly see. That would be what the Bible describes as fruitages of the spirit as opposed to the works of the flesh. (Galatians 5:19-26)

We must be careful as 2John 1:7 warns many deceivers have gone forth and they are anti-christ. Their wrappers are the same, but inside. they are not. How can you tell? 1John 4:1 gives an excellent way for the teachings. Because of the many false prophets out in the world, test whether they are inspired expressions originating from God instead of believing anything some preacher tells you.

Answer 4

He who blasphemes God is forgiven.
He who blasphemes Jesus is forgiven.
He who blasphemes the Holy Ghost is never forgiven.

The Eternal/Unpardonable Sin from the Bible dares you to ask quetions.

Why is it okay to doubt the Father and the Son, but never doubt the Holy Spirit.... ever? What exactly is the Holy Spirit? How do you seperate it from the Father and the Son? Where is it? How do you get it? If you can ignore God, why can't the Holy Spirit ever be ignored, even when you distrust God or havent even heard of God? If you distrust God, does that mean suddenly there isn't a God? You really have got to understand His Holy Spirit before you can fully understand and appreciate Christian worship. Once you find it, can you really say that anyone doesn't have it, even if they don't believe it themselves. That's Omnipresence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_spirit

Answer 5

A true Christian will live out a life of good works as mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-10:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

A true Christian is someone who has been conformed to the image of Christ as is taught in Romans 8:29:

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Answer 6

The Christians that are "true" are the ones who let God change them and make them more like Christ, then the ones who aren't true, are still clinging to their olds ways, and refuse to be like Christ.

Answer 7

i dont believe just because you are a good person you are saved. the Bible says unless you confess and believe in Jesus then you are none of his. i also believe we have to do Gods will and works. the Bible does not say that we are not saved by works. like many misquote. it says we are not saved by works alone. we have to have faith as well. the Bible also says not all who say Lord Lord will make it into heaven. also says that satan believes and he trembles as well as i am sure satan worshippers believe and are not saved.

Answer 8

CLOWNS!!! LOOK INTO THE 2 & 3RD CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION! WHATS THE MESSIAH YAHSHUA SAYING IN EACH OF THE JUDGEMENTS THAT HE IS GIVING? "I KNOW YOUR WORKS!!!" IF YOU ALLOW YOUR WEAK KNEED LOST PREACHER TO CONVINCE YOU THAT WORKS ARE NOT IMPORTANT, THEN YOU MAY AS WELL JUST START LIVING A LIFE OF SIN, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DECIEVED TO BELIEVE A LIE!!!