Christianity and acceptance of other Christian religions?

Indeed, if one is really born again there is a new creature born within[1] so that they are no longer the same person. Thus, one is known by the fruits of that inward change[2] including love for others[3]. And if there is no desire for righteousness or sorrow at disobeying God, why think the person ever truly repented in the first place? And as Jesus says, unless we repent we will all likewise perish[4]. Indeed, we should not judge others in the sense of being a judge in pronouncing a sentence or punishment, nor should we condemn others. The reason is clear, God alone is good and thus justified in rendering judgement[5]. As Jesus says let him that is without sin cast the first stone[6]. And since we are all guilty[7] we are to not avenge ourselves, but "rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."[8]

Unfortunately, this is what separates Christians from Catholics and Jehovah's Witnesses. Catholics have been known to have "started" the lines of Christianity, but we accept the fact that others have a different stand for other denominations. So, I believe understanding is most important. I'm a Catholic with many Charismatic friends, and I can tell you that we do not condemn each other even though our brains say so. That's the first step to harmony.

Jesus tells you right here:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

-Jesus

John 13:33-35

Few Christians I've run into seem to follow Christ's own words. I mean, can you imagine them wanting to put *that* commandment on government buildings? Those silly ten commandments are great cause they (the politicians) can pretend they are on some high moral ground, but that one commandment lays all the responsibility on them.

*That's* what they don't want; Personal, spiritual responsibility. They want laws and rules to inforce because they are truly scared of their own freedom.

TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

It's a process over time, it's not going to happen overnight. But there are steps to take. First pray and ask the Father into your heart (mind) and life. Ask for change of you. Ask for guidance and direction. Ask for forgiveness of your sins. Do all this in Jesus name (authority).

Come to the reality that as long as you dwell in the flesh body you are going to fall short. All are sinners. Repentance is a change of mind not a license to sin. Perfection is maturity or full age in His Word. We are to produce fruit and glorify Christ.

His Word is an life learning process. Trust this man or no man unless you check it out in His Word. I've been at it earnestly for 16 years. I'm producing fruit but feel I'm still in the process. Don’t clean house (clean up your act) without filling that void with the Word of God.

Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

Luke 11:25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Luke 11:26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

By the way, born again means born from above, check it out.

I agree with so much you have said but saying that one is of Christ is all that needs to be said as it envelopes EVERYTHING. Yes we are no beings to judge but we do so in times of weakness but alas, we are "humans" and as such of fault. Hell we do a lot more than that but we do have instructions for carrying out life. You know the best thing about being a Christian is knowing that we are of sin but someone paid a humungous price for out faults. Does not relieve us of our responsibilities but it makes us aware of a whole lot more.

I agree with the first paragraph.

No, one who claims to be Christian should judge any other form of Christianity. No one knows which practice is the best, so people should keep their opinions to themselves concerning other denominations.

If Christians were to do as they are commanded they would give away everything the owned and become migrant pilgrims spreading their gospel. They would baptize with fire and according to their own canon, would be immune to poison and injury. To my knowledge this has never happened in the last 1,900 years.

Jesus was the perfect being, i would gladly follow him becuase everyone else sucks poorly.

christians judge others becuase others wont follow jesus's ways. i'd just kill em all and let god sort em out, then repent my sins, so i goto heaven .

Earth will be cleansed and i'll be free =) obey the GOD tell your pot smoking buddy to burn in hell.

I fully agree with you when you said

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"While I think no one can never claim to be completely Christlike, there must be a concerted effort made in order to claim the name of Christ (ie. "I am a Christian"), or to be a follower of Christ."

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It is God who judges not us humans however we can know what God requires for salvation and it is our duty to inform others

Jesus was a Jew, and followed the laws of the Jews.

At his death (for those that believe him to be the Messiah) he did away with the old law code.

He instructed his followers to go and preach and teach to the Jews (who earnestly belived that they had Gods favour, but now Jesus was teaching them that more was involved) and the whole world. So a christian has the reponsability to tell others, not to judhe them but inform them

Will God, in his great mercy, eventually save all humankind?

Does 2 Peter 3:9 indicate that there will be universal salvation? It says: "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish ["he does not want anyone to be destroyed," TEV], but that all should reach repentance." (RS) It is God's merciful desire that all of Adam's offspring repent, and he has generously made provision for forgiveness of the sins of those who do. But he does not force anyone to accept that provision. (Compare Deuteronomy 30:15-20.) Many reject it. They are like a drowning man who pushes away a life preserver when it is thrown to him by someone who desires to help. It should be noted, however, that the alternative to repentance is not an eternity in hellfire. As 2 Peter 3:9 shows, those who do not repent will perish, or "be destroyed." Verse 7 (RS) also refers to "destruction of ungodly men." There is no thought of universal salvation here.

Does 1 Corinthians 15:22 prove that all humans will eventually be saved? It says: "As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (RS) As shown in the surrounding verses, what is under discussion here is resurrection. Who will be resurrected? All whose death is attributable to Adamic sin (see verse 21) but who have not also personally committed the willful transgressions set forth in Hebrews 10:26-29. As Jesus was raised from Hades (Acts 2:31), so all others who are in Hades will be "made alive" by means of the resurrection. (Rev. 1:18; 20:13) Will all of these gain eternal salvation? That opportunity will be open to them, but not everyone will take hold of it, as is indicated at John 5:28, 29, which shows that the outcome to some will be adverse "judgment."

What about texts such as Titus 2:11, which refers to "the salvation of all men," according to the rendering of RS? Other texts, such as John 12:32, Romans 5:18, and 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, convey a similar thought in RS, KJ, NE, TEV, etc. The Greek expressions rendered "all" and "everyone" in these verses are inflected forms of the word pas. As shown in Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (London, 1962, Vol. I, p. 46), pas can also mean "every kind or variety." So, in the above verses, instead of "all," the expression "every kind of" could be used; or "all sorts of," as is done in NW. Which is correct-"all" or the thought conveyed by "all sorts of"? Well, which rendering is also harmonious with the rest of the Bible? The latter one is. Consider Acts 10:34, 35; Revelation 7:9, 10; 2 Thessalonians 1:9. (Note: Other translators also recognize this sense of the Greek word, as is shown by their renderings of it at Matthew 5:11-"all kinds of," RS, TEV; "every kind of," NE; "all manner of," KJ.)

Are there scriptures that definitely show that some will never be saved?

2 Thess. 1:9, RS: "They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (Italics added.)

Rev. 21:8, RS: "As for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, as for murderers, fornicators, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death."

Matt. 7:13, 14, RS: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Once a person is saved, is he always saved?

Jude 5, RS: "I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe."

Matt. 24:13, RS: "He who endures to the end will be saved." (So a person's final salvation is not determined at the moment that he begins to put faith in Jesus.)

Phil. 2:12, RS: "As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (This was addressed to "the saints," or holy ones, at Philippi, as stated in Philippians 1:1. Paul urged them not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured.)

Heb. 10:26, 27, RS: "If we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries." (Thus the Bible does not go along with the idea that no matter what sins a person may commit after he is "saved" he will not lose his salvation. It encourages faithfulness. See also Hebrews 6:4-6, where it is shown that even a person anointed with holy spirit can lose his hope of salvation.)

Is anything more than faith needed in order to gain salvation?

Eph. 2:8, 9, RS: "By grace ["undeserved kindness," ] you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-not because of works, lest any man should boast." (The entire provision for salvation is an expression of God's undeserved kindness. There is no way that a descendant of Adam can gain salvation on his own, no matter how noble his works are. Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son.)

Heb. 5:9, RS: "He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him." (Does this conflict with the statement that Christians are "saved through faith"? Not at all. Obedience simply demonstrates that their faith is genuine.)

Jas. 2:14, 26, RS: "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead." (A person does not earn salvation by his works. But anyone who has genuine faith will have works to go with it-works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ, works that demonstrate his faith and love. Without such works, his faith is dead.)

Acts 16:30, 31, RS: "'Men, what must I do to be saved?' And they [Paul and Silas] said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.'" (If that man and his household truly believed, would they not act in harmony with their belief? Certainly.)