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NASB | Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 10:33 "But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven. |
Bible Question:
Can A Christian disown Christ? If not, who does this apply to? Why did Jesus say "My" Father? |
Bible Answer: Hi Steve, Sorry to answer your question with a question but I would like to know your view of what a Christian is. Rom 8:9 says, 'However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.' Scripture makes it plain that to be a Christian means that you are indwelt by the living Christ. Paul said, 'I no longer live but Christ lives in me.' You can't be a Christian without the Spirit of God living in you. So, my question is this: Why do you quote something that Christ says in the gospels to either His disciples or the Jews (who were being pleaded with to make a descision to accept Jesus as Messiah) and assume that His audience are all Christians? The Holy Spirit was not given to ALL believers until Pentecost. That is a historical fact. Yes, Christ did call His disciples. And Christ did dwell among them. But He did not dwell IN them until Pentecost. Before Christ died the Holy Spirit was only given on a limited basis to a select few in order to accomplish God's purposes. We need to be careful in saying, 'Jesus said this...so, Christian...blah, blah, blah.' Jesus said many things. He talked to individuals, small groups, whole crowds, Jews and Gentiles and half-breeds. But to take everything that Jesus said and say that He is now saying that to the Christian is dangerous, brother. Here is an example: Jesus told the rich man that came to him in Matt 19:21 - "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." So, Steve, should every Christian do this? God's Word says that IN CHRIST, we have been already made complete. Does Jesus require you to go sell ALL your possessions and give to the poor in order to be made complete? I don't think so or you wouldn't have a computer to access this forum. Can you follow Jesus to the cross and see Him crucified there for your sins? No. You can read about it and accept it by faith because it is a historical fact. Use care, brother, in the way you word your questions. If a was a new Christian in the Lord, your question might lead me to believe that everything that Jesus said was then directed to me personally. And any serious student of the scriptures knows to consider the grammatical and historical context of the scripture. Thanks for your questions and responses. Some of them are excellent. But, please, consider that many on this forum are looking for answers, not just a debate. Not everyone that is asking a question here is seeking confrontation. Blessings in Christ, Bill Mc |