Don’t Try To Be a Christian Without Christ!
When He was preparing to go to the cross, Jesus Christ told His disciples it was needful that He go away for He would send them His own Spirit to guide, teach, and empower them.
John 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Here is the word from the Top, and knowing the fullness of the Holy Spirit (the “Helper”) as the Bible fully teaches we are to know is not optional!
To some, this article’s title may sound almost silly, but it’s not intended as such, and actually is given with not a little sorrow. Of course no one can be a Christian without Christ someone would say. But do you know many still try?
By now you can probably see “Christ” is defined as the Spirit of Christ who is supposed to be central in individual believers giving them a live link to the Almighty God – and central in an assembly, likewise directing and connecting them to God.
The Book of Acts records the church was jumpstarted by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), and the Bible makes clear how absolutely imperative it is to get the real Holy Spirit or be prepared for less than the full experience God promises.
The purpose of course is saving lives – yours and those you stand to touch. Jesus said He would build His church (Mt. 16:18) and Psalm 127:1 says anyone who attempts to do it without God labors in vain. This must be done as the Bible fully defines it, not as people may presume.
Things To Look For
The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is the subject here. If you have received the same Spirit that moved, gifted, spoke to, strengthened and enabled Jesus, you know something within has changed!
God’s Word says He “seals” a believer until the day of redemption, and is to be Christ in them (Col 1:27), their own Immanuel (Matt 1:23).
The Lord’s sheep ought to know His voice within them (Jn 10), and not listen to a stranger (or voices from without). They ought to know a peace that surpasses understanding, and joy, and have assurance that they are God’s (Rom 8:16) and He is theirs.
The Word teaches that spiritual discernment – so badly lacking today in so many quarters – is supposed to be granted to those who lean on the new, made alive spirit in them, united as one with God’s Spirit.
People claiming to know God by His Spirit ought also to be teachable, have ears to hear, and always does He act as a peacemaker, and unifying influence.
In a word, the Spirit of Christ makes a person truly spiritual.
Some may claim they have this and actually do not. The Bible teaches this misconception is entirely possible. It can happen and does happen that people accept substitutes, or their own imagination supposing it to be God.
Jesus said to test by fruit. “By their fruits you will know them,” He said.
Gal 5:22-25 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Most importantly: The Holy Spirit will never, ever contradict the spirit of the truth of the scriptures. Indeed, if it is the real Holy Spirit, He will bear witness within, giving you an inner “amen” to the truth, and He is there to help guide you from errors.
His commission is to enable you to keep your commission, and ultimately conform you individually and the church corporately into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29, Gal 4:19).
Theologies that contravene this mandate, or redefine terms, or dumb down the message are not of God. He knows there is a great urgency, and God did not send His Son so as to create conditions of mediocrity or an experience no one would really want.
From the Starting Gate
Anyone who receives the Lord and is baptized into Christ should be abundantly taught these things, and all that pertains to an authentic spiritual life that can bear fruit that remains.
It is so vital that they get this. Indeed, no real work of true spiritual value can be done (except inadvertently and in spite of one’s self by a merciful God), and no fruit can be born unless one is firmly attached to the head (Col 2:19).
But so many do embark on their Christian lives with half-baked notions, or poor discipleship, and to do so is like going out for the day unclothed, or setting out to do a job without knowing what you are to do, or having the tools to do it.
Sadly, however, many are sabotaged by innumerable ways taught or presumed that are not in harmony with the apostles’ doctrine – which is the whole gospel of Christ as taught by all the scriptures.
Common examples of faulty ways all involve some form of compromise. Abuse of grace is one major example: Emphasizing the frailty of humans, and God’s forbearance, while de-emphasizing God’s power, and His commitment to make one holy is common, and a recipe for slow/no growth, and falling short of the expectation of the apostles.
Another faulty way can involve some form of presumption that one is doing things textbook correct, but Jesus said to test results by fruit produced.
Is what you are experiencing the best an almighty God can do? Is it even close? Is it even biblical? Are you sure?
The Word also said to test the spirits to see if they are from God.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 – But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
This is a central scripture among others that indicate counterfeits to the true Jesus Christ, gospel of Christ, and Holy Spirit of Christ are possible – and that Christians may accept these without discernment.
Understand this: God is the same as He ever was. His mind has not changed on why He sent Jesus, or what He would like to see in His people. He calls them to grow, to overcome their sin nature, to take on His heart, and love what He loves and hate what He hates (sin).
The assembly is itself called to be more glorious than the ministry of Moses (2 Cor 3:7-18), and a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph. 2:19-22).
God’s people also are called to be on guard against evil spirits who rove around like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8) seeking whom they may devour.
2 Tim 4:2-1- Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron …
Wicked spirits work within the natural mind of humans, even those of Christians, and one of the “ministries” of evil spirits – if you will indulge the term – is teaching falsehoods, or granting false experiences.
Paul told Timothy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that doctrines of demons would come. That was around 2,000 years ago, and it’s sure they have come, in spades, and this is a word to the wise.
Remember: a good lie mixes enough truth with error so as to be accepted as absolute truth.
The good news is the same God who inspired the Bible and brought the church into being is alive and as powerful as He ever was.
Seek Him with your whole heart, and accept no substitutes!