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To: Cronos

My definition of a Christian? Why not let Christ define who is a follower of him? To paraphrase Matt. 7:21-23,

‘Not everyone calling him Lord would enter the kingdom of the heavens but the one DOING THE WILL of his father in heaven would. Despite their powerful works (not sins, not wrong per se) Jesus says get away from me, you WORKERS OF LAWLESSNESS’

“On Constantine’s death-bed he was baptised — and remember the beleif in baptism at that point was that it completely washed away your sins, so Constantine showed that he truly believed in Christ as Lord, God and Savior.”

If indeed he was baptized on his death bed believing that this washed away his sins, what does this say about the sincerity of belief before then?

In other words a sham Christian, calling Jesus “Lord, Lord” yet being a worker of lawlessness.


795 posted on 01/18/2011 4:17:47 PM PST by count-your-change (You don't have be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: count-your-change

i guess everyone was a “sham” Christian before the 16th century, including those who set the canon of Scripture. makes sense to me!!


797 posted on 01/18/2011 4:24:49 PM PST by one Lord one faith one baptism
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To: count-your-change
CYC My definition of a Christian? Why not let Christ define who is a follower of him? To paraphrase Matt. 7:21-23 Thanks.
Matt 7:21-23 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
Not trying to gotcha but that is defining salvation by faith AND works.

Even in this case, Constantine could arguably be said to have done the will of The Father to stop the persecution of Christians. Remember that Constantine's edict stopping the persecution is a starting boulder to eventually the Roman and Byzantine Empires being the channels for the conversion of Europe and the Mediterranean.

He was baptised on his death-bed, that's a fast. He most likely belived this washed away his sins. He believed that his beliefs were fine and yet all his sins would be washed away at his baptism and he'd enter into heaven pure. Note, I'm just pointing out what Constantine believed.

Seriously -- why do you think Constantine was a worker of lawlessness any more than most rulers right up until post WWII? And I mean this as a historical question, not a religious one.
982 posted on 01/18/2011 10:10:03 PM PST by Cronos (Bobby Jindal 2012)
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