What, exactly, is a True Christian?

[Hope]

I'm sorry, Sing4Him, I should have posted the scripture I was referring to when I spoke of love.

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Christianity is ALL about love; the love of Jesus that compelled Him to the cross, the love of God that compelled the sacrifice of his only begotton son; and the love Christ revealed IN us and THROUGH us. This thread, I believe, is about the true mark of a Christian, and I believe clearly and scripturally, it is absolutely about love.

The "clanging cymbals" reference I made, of course, is from 1 Corin 13:1-13, and in particular "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." So you see, while it is good to know scripture, GREAT even, still, without love, all the scriptural knowledge in the world will not save you, unless it leads you to "love."

You said,

You will not be in heaven because of love. period.

Of course we will be in heaven because of love ... it's all about love, the love of Christ for us, the love of Christ in us, and the love of Christ through us.

Blessings,

Hope

[Sing4Him]

(I was aware of the verses.. thank you!)

Hope.. the love alone by God/Jesus does not make man acceptable to God.

We will not be in heaven because of love.

How do you know you are going to be in heaven??

[ATYCLB]

I do know Catholics that struggle with that as well ... especially folks that were raised pre-Vatican II it seems.Why would pre-Vatican II Catholics struggle with it more than post-Vatican II Catholics?

[Sing4Him]

'waiting for Hope to return here...

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Christianity is ALL about love; the love of Jesus that compelled Him to the cross, the love of God that compelled the sacrifice of his only begotton son; and the love Christ revealed IN us and THROUGH us. This thread, I believe, is about the true mark of a Christian, and I believe clearly and scripturally, it is absolutely about love.

The "clanging cymbals" reference I made, of course, is from 1 Corin 13:1-13, and in particular "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." So you see, while it is good to know scripture, GREAT even, still, without love, all the scriptural knowledge in the world will not save you, unless it leads you to "love." Of course we will be in heaven because of love ... it's all about love, the love of Christ for us, the love of Christ in us, and the love of Christ through us.

'waiting for your response to my question..:)

[Hope]

Hi Sing4Him, Well, I would love to answer your question with a scripture, but it seems unless I post the "right" scripture, I get infracted!

Blessings,

Hope

[funmudder]

There is wrong scripture? :scratch

[Buzzardhut]

Hi Sing4Him, Well, I would love to answer your question with a scripture, but it seems unless I post the "right" scripture, I get infracted!

Blessings,

Hope
It's your universal message of love as the way to salvation that warrants the infraction.
We take the whole counsel of the Word, not bits and pieces to formulate God's salvation message.

[Sing4Him]

Hi Sing4Him, Well, I would love to answer your question with a scripture, but it seems unless I post the "right" scripture, I get infracted!

I'm not infracting you if you tell how you got saved. Tell me how..

[Hope]

Buzz, I would really appreciate it if you could cut and paste exactly what you are referring to from my posts. I have gone through my posts and I honestly do not see where I have implied "universal love for salvation" nor can I see where I have stated that salvation comes by "loving a church" and "following it's rituals" which is what your infraction stated. I don't believe that, and hence I certainly would not say that.

I posted John which states that "those who do not love do not know God." Is that what you are referrring to? Or where I talked about the love of Jesus compelling Him to the Cross? I'm sorry, I really don't understand how any of my posts could be construed in the way which you have interpreted them.

Of course one must have a relationship to Christ, that is paramount! You cannot love with the love of God, agape love, without "abiding" in the love of Christ, or "abiding" in the branch. Christ cannot love THROUGH you OR me, without being "connected" to Him.

Baffled by your infraction, Buzz,

Hope

[Hope]

Sing4Him, I am saved through a living relationship with Christ ... "abiding in, trusting in, and adhering to" Him.

Maybe that clears up any misconception. My references to the "love" verses were in reference to what is a "Christian" or what is the "mark of a Christian," and were not meant to answer the question "How are you saved?"

Hope