There is authentic Christianity ?
To find authentic Christianity, we must came back to the source, the first-century church.
True faith, genuine faith is the faith preached by Jesus Christ and the apostles teaching recorded in the New Testament and practiced by the early church.
Jesus is full and final revelation of God, promised to the twelve apostles that they would be guided by the Spirit into "all truth". The only existing scripts that contain authentic apostolic teaching and confirmed are twenty-seven books of the New Testament canon therefore God's revelation to humans ended.
In Scripture we have complete and final revelation of God to the faithful practice and belief.
Gospel, we discover how man can obtain salvation, the steps that one must make them so they could receive Christ's sacrifice.
1.Through faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and his personal savior.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" Acts 16-31
2. Repentance (repentance "metanoia" in Greek, meaning a change of mind) confession of sin and sorrow for sin committed.
I tell you ... unless you repent you will all likewise perish "Luke 13-5
3. Spiritual regeneration is a work of the Holy Spirit in man, who commits after repentance (those who sincerely repent will come to experience the new birth).
" Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.."
John 3-3
4. Baptism-by which the believer confesses his faith in Christ.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved," Mark 16-16
5.Dedication of life in obedience to God's will.
"For if anyone is in Christ is a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5-17
Word of the Gospel must not only known but also applied.
If you do what is write above, that is to believe in Christ, to repent, be baptized, to live in obedience to God then you have the guarantee that you are saved by the grace of God, as He promised.
If you do so you have every reason to fear for the day of trial that no one will escape. (Hebrew 9:27).
Scripture reveals not only a reward for the righteous and eternal punishment, but for the unsaved. (Matthew 13:50)
Regarding the Church as an institution (organization) religion, the authentic Christian Church is
(Has been and remains) the first century apostolic church, which has directly benefited from apostlles presence and guidance that we should serve as a model.
Unfortunatelly historical churches embracing the traditions were remowed authentic Christianiy of first century.
On the other hand only few conservative evangelical denominations struggle to paste the early church teaching .
The Apostolic Definition of an Authentic Christian
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.In 1 John 4:7-12 we find the apostolic definition of an authentic Christian as well as the apostolic definition of an authentic church.
1 John 4:7-12
****************************************************************************************************
What is DEAD RELIGION ?
James writes in his letter about the importance of good works in Christian life
"James 2:14
My brothers, what use someone says he has faith, if it hath not works? Can that faith save him?
Mat 7.26 , Galatians 1.23 ;
James 2:15
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
Job 31.19-20 ; Luc 3.11 ;
James 2:16
and one of you says to them: "Go in peace, warm and filled you up!" without giving them things needed body, what would I use?
1 John 3.18 ;
James 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead in itself.
James 2:18
But someone will say: "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my works. "
Galatians 3.13 ;
James 2:19
You believe that God is one, do well, but the demons believe ... and shudder!
Matthew 8.29 , Mark 1.24 , Mark 5.7 , 4.34 Luc ; Fact 16.17-19.15 ;
James 2:20
Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? "
James defined religion without works as a dead religion..
How can you demonstrate your love for your neighbor ,for brothers in Christ being in need than helping that person.
Jesus told the rich man when he asked "what must I do to be saved?" Go sell everything you have and give to the poor ... then come and follow me. "
In the early church social aspect were of major importance in church life - for those in local churches were assigned to teachers (elders) and deacons who were in charge of managing aid for the poors, Christians shared their possessions with the poors.
In historical churches priest preach that good deeds can save man ,that doctrine is not according to Bible.
On the other hand many protestant pastors preach that good deeds have no value, anyone who belive in Jesus will be saved by his faith. This doctrine is more influenced of M .Luther's doctrine wich was not 100% according with Scripture. (when he was nearly died Luther was revised some of his doctrines ).
It lead many people to be selfish ,stingy ,greedy, they belive that anyway thay are saved.
Good deeds can not save us , faith in Christ saves, but to please God should do good deeds, it is an duty, not optional as some people think.
A legacy of " Luther's doctrine" can be seen in the churches where pastors preach a religion without good deeds (charity) ,zero interest for those in need in the church, the church only has a formal deacon, but church provid no fund for Christian poors.
It seems a minor thing, at first glance, it's actually a serious thing because that's what defines disciple Jacob as dead religion .
When a Christian hears about someone in need 90% will say:" I will pray for you" or are ready to give advices about organizations, missions that theoretically could help and only 1% (more or less) are ready to do what the word of God say ,to take action to help ,to give .
Only few rich people are willing to help individuals in need. When a common person give , a small amount... $10... $ 20....$100 or much more that means very much for that person in need, but if everyone is stingy and will not help practical with deeds not with words, religion of that person is what James says (James 2: 20) " a dead religion".
It is very good if you pray for others in need, if you have not a dollar in your pocket, all you can do is to pray in this case , but if you have enough, but prefer to do anything else but not to help actually,you deceive youself.
.
Justin Martyr
Worship in the early church
Justin Martyr was an "apologist (defender of the faith) who was martyred for his faith in Christ
Here is an excerpt from the "Apology" of, in describing how the early Christians practiced worship around the year 150:
"We constantly remind each other of these things:
The wealthy of us care for the poor, living a life of close fellowship and everything we bless our Creator through Jesus Christ, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The day is called "Sunday", we gather together in a certain place before dawn and read as time allows us the "statements Apostles" and the writings of the prophets. Then we raise all at the prayer and, as I said, end up prayers ,are brought bread and wine and then a leader prays to God and the rest of those gathered said: Amen.
Those who have wealth and will to do, give and then collect and as they takes care of helping the orphans, widows, who, through illness or other circumstances , those who are in prisons, those who are traveling and visit us, in a word all those in need.
We honor day of Sunday because it's the first day in which God, changing darkness and matter from the beginning, made the world, and all this day, Lord Jesus, our Savior rose from the dead. He was crucified on the day preceding the day of Saturn (Saturday) and the day after the day of Saturn, which is called the Sun day (Sunday) was raised and appeared to His apostles and disciples, and told you these things we write now to acknowledge"
****************************************************************************************************
Sermons Outlines, Free Pentecostal Bible Studies, Topical Sermons, Podcasts - Sermons Outlines, Free Pentecostal Online Topical Sermons, Christian Bible Studies, Podcasts, Sowing Seeds of faith by Ken Birks.
It will appear like:
Christian Websites - Christians Products Directory is a Christian business and resource directory for everything Christian. Find Christian owned and operated businesses, ministries, and various products and services including books, Bibles, jewelry, Bible study courses, Christian dating services, Christian psychologists and much mo
Sermons Outlines, Free Pentecostal Bible Studies, Topical Sermons, Podcasts - Sermons Outlines, Free Pentecostal Online Topical Sermons, Christian Bible Studies, Podcasts, Sowing Seeds of faith by Ken Birks.
It will appear like:
Christian Websites - Christians Products Directory is a Christian business and resource directory for everything Christian. Find Christian owned and operated businesses, ministries, and various products and services including books, Bibles, jewelry, Bible study courses, Christian dating services, Christian psychologists and much mo
 |
Daily Bible Verse - Reaching around the World revealing Jesus Christ through Bible Topics, Christian Quizzes, Bible Search, The Gospel, Sermons, Bible Quizzes, and Bible Answers.
Tech4on General Directory
