How is that word defined and has it changed over the years? There’s a little book I read some time ago called: ( THE TRAIL OF BLOOD ), The author is J.M. Carroll.

Basically what it does it shows a timeline of how Church movements and different denominations came into being and also, when. The point of the book is that there has always been a group of people that stood firm on the concepts of God’s word, never altered or followed any group that apposed that truthful teaching.

If you ever get a chance to read that little book you will notice one specific thing. All through the years since the resurrection of Jesus Christ; what those people or, what they were called changed. This became necessary because as time moved on each name they were called by became corrupt in the true teaching of scripture therefore, causing true believers to change and set themselves apart from the corruption within that teaching.

I believe that for some time now we have reached and live in a time when true born again believers need to separate themselves from the term ( Christian ).

I know that within each denomination and religious organization there are still many born again believers and those believers have very little say in the decisions that are made in those places. Most of those places have been overtaken by a religious mindset that true believers reject and in many cases they have no alternative place to go.

The real problem is to get people caught up in that to realize what is and what is not real. Most people are easily persuaded by popularity or popular opinion, not knowing or understanding the true walk with the Holy Spirit or a real relationship with God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You’ve heard the saying: ( you are what you eat )? Well, over the last few decades we have become what we have been eating spiritually. We’ve grown fat and overweight, in bad spiritual health because of what we have been fed by religious men and women.

Most members of the average local Church will look at a cult or some other religious group and say just how hard it is to change that mindset. Are we not the same way?If I walk up in your Church and began to show you where you are not pleasing God in the things you are doing, what are you going to say?

Satan, with the assistance of the religious world has blinded the eyes of the leadership in most Churches and they cannot see the error of their own way.

Now, in what we call the Christian circle, you can basically believe anything you desire, say you believe in Christ and you will be excepted by almost every other denomination that calls themselves Christians.

The problem is, we never change and we don’t expect others to either. There’s something wrong with that picture. Since there’s only one Bible, one truth then we all cannot be correct. When and if we find the truth that shows where we are wrong, don’t we have to change what we believe to that known truth?

In the Christian movement today we are not asked to do that. As long as we fit a profile that suits the people in control, we are fine, no change needed.

It’s time to set a new course. To pull away from the Christian religion and to find a name that truly represents those that seek a new life in Christ Jesus, old things being done away with and all things seen as new in our transformation toward his will for our lives. To do less is to bring shame and reproach to the born again experience and that of Jesus Christ. We must allow the man that lives within to be seen outwardly. We must allow God’s word to be made anew in us and separate ourselves from the corruption we see in the world and seeping into the very core of our Churches.

Listen to this verse. ( 2 Timothy 2:7 ) Ever learning and never able to come to knowledge of the truth. Verse ( 5 ) says this: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

I purposely reversed those two verses to make a point. Christian people go to Church Sunday after Sunday but never leave with any more spiritual knowledge than they had the week before. Can’t we say ( we are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth?

I have people that are friends of mind that attend Church regularly. They go to Sunday school and preaching, every Sunday for years. If you ask them if they are saved? They say; yes. They’ve joined Church, been baptized but, if you ask them if they know they are going to heaven when they die? They only have a ( hope so ) salvation.

Why can’t we gain that knowledge in our Churches? It’s because those Churches ( have a form of godliness but, deny the power thereof ). They teach every week but never teach you about the eternal security that is found in and comes with the new birth. If you tell me you are saved but you can’t say you know you’re going to heaven and not hell then, tell me, what exactly have you been saved from?

There’s always been people that doubted their salvation but, it was not because our Churches didn’t stand on the biblical concept of eternal security. Each denomination might have their own thoughts on that concept but, the point is that now it’s the Christian Churches fault that it’s not being taught.

Let’s notice a verse. ( 2 Corinthians 6:17 ). Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

In the very first verse in that chapter he beseeches ( not to receive the grace of God in vain ). How can that be done? How can we take the grace of God in vain?

He tells us, if we continue to read that ( he has succoured us ), meaning he has given us assistance, helped us. We. As sinners were on our road to hell, without hope. In quick sand, a place we could not be freed from without help. He, God the Father, by his Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ his son lifted us, as born again believers out of that hopelessness and gave us life.

When it appears that we are still in the sin that we say he has taken us out of ( we ) as born again believers ( Take his grace in vain ).

When Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God, truly moves into your heart, at that point it’s vain to remain as you are. The whole born again experience is, by definition, a willingness to change from what and who you are to become more like Christ.

My whole point is that our Churches on our communities cannot be seen or heard anymore. They have become just a fixture without the real power to change.

To make this point I’ll tell a story about an evangelist of old time. His name was D.L.Moody. The story is told that when he would come to a town to hold a revival that the power of God was so powerful around him that people would actually get on their knees and repent at his appearance.

I can’t say that actually happened but why is it that people pay little attention when they ride by our Churches now? Why is it that, at our very presence as believers, people pay little attention us?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?

I often wonder about this. What did I use to be? And, if I’m different now, what has Christ to do with my difference? Let’s say I use to be a drunk. However, my family is proud of me because I quit drinking. Can Christ be seen in that? If we never speak in his name or show a picture of him in our own lives then is not the fact that we stopped being what we use to be in vain as far as our life is concerned?

Before I was born again I use to curse terribly. Almost every word out of my mouth was a curse word. When Christ moved into my heart, I quit cursing. Well, is that all it is to having Christ in my heart?

Now, in my life, my desire is to allow Christ to speak through my flesh and not me myself. My desires and the things I deem important are passed and now what he desires to talk about is what reigns in me.

If being a Christian is simply cleaning your life up and having the praise of people then;where is Christ? When we are born again he lives within us and his glory is revealed through our flesh. Our will becomes his will and we do the work of the Holy Spirit of God the Father.

I’m not simply a Christian; I’m born again. Where do you stand with Christ? Have you been born again?

( Galatians 4:19-20 )

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, ( 20 ) I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

We see here that the Apostle Paul had shared the gospel with these people, seen them proclaim Christ, now their lives do not show forth the gospel he preached unto them. He saying he stands in doubt of them and he is still travailing because he want to see Christ formed in them.

That’s what I’m trying to say. If we cannot see Christ in what we call ( Christians ) then it’s time to change what we are called.

Let Christ be seen in you!