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Am I a True Christian? Am I a True Christian?

www.orthodoxtv.inwww.orthodoxtv.in

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Going to church…. Going to church…. does not make Me a Christiandoes not make Me a Christian, ,

Saying Prayer Daily..Saying Prayer Daily..Kneeling down daily..Kneeling down daily..Attending Qurbana & receiving Holy Mass..Attending Qurbana & receiving Holy Mass..Telling yourself that you are a Christian… Telling yourself that you are a Christian… Trying to be a decent person….Trying to be a decent person….I was born and brought up in a Christian I was born and brought up in a Christian familyfamilyMy Parents were Christians So I am a My Parents were Christians So I am a ChristianChristian I have always been to churchI have always been to churchI don't do anything to hurt other peopleI don't do anything to hurt other peopleI am a moral and upright personI am a moral and upright personI am doing lot of work for CharitiesI am doing lot of work for Charities…….…….

Am I a True Christian ?Am I a True Christian ?

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You can only be a True You can only be a True Christian Christian if Christ is if Christ is in youin you,,  which can be which can be testedtested and and proven according to the proven according to the scripturesscriptures..

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Test Yourself : ITest Yourself : I 2Cor 13:52Cor 13:5 examine yourselves examine yourselves to see whether you are in to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. the faith; test yourselves.

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TEST 1:TEST 1: Gospel Belief and Confession of FaithGospel Belief and Confession of Faith 1Cor 15:1-4 Brothers, I want to remind you 1Cor 15:1-4 Brothers, I want to remind you

of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you have received and in which you that you have received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you--believing exactly what I preached to you--believing anything else will not lead to anything. I anything else will not lead to anything. I taught you... that taught you... that 

Christ died for our sins,Christ died for our sins, that  that he he was was buriedburied;; and  and he was he was raised to raised to lifelife on the third day on the third day, in , in accordance with the scriptures.accordance with the scriptures.

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What Orthodox Christians What Orthodox Christians Believe ? Believe ? GOD THE FATHERGOD THE FATHER  • is the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity. is the fountainhead of the Holy Trinity. • The Scriptures reveal that The Scriptures reveal that the one God is Three the one God is Three

Persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit-Persons--Father, Son and Holy Spirit---eternally sharing the one divine nature. eternally sharing the one divine nature.

• From the Father the Son is begotten before all From the Father the Son is begotten before all ages and all timeages and all time (Psalm 2:7; 2 Corinthians 11:31). (Psalm 2:7; 2 Corinthians 11:31).

• It is also from the Father that the Holy Spirit It is also from the Father that the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds (John 15:26). eternally proceeds (John 15:26).

• Through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, we Through Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, we come to know the Fathercome to know the Father (Matthew 11:27). (Matthew 11:27).

• God the Father created all things through the Son, God the Father created all things through the Son, in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1; 2; John 1:3; Job 33:4), in the Holy Spirit (Genesis 1; 2; John 1:3; Job 33:4), and we are called to worship Him (John 4:23). and we are called to worship Him (John 4:23).

• The Father loves us and sent His Son to give us The Father loves us and sent His Son to give us everlasting life (John 3:16).everlasting life (John 3:16).

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JESUS CHRISTJESUS CHRIST  is the Second Person of the Trinity, eternally born of is the Second Person of the Trinity, eternally born of the Father. He became a man, and thus the Father. He became a man, and thus He is fully He is fully God and fully man. God and fully man. In reciting the Nicene Creed, Orthodox Christians In reciting the Nicene Creed, Orthodox Christians regularly affirm the historic faith,regularly affirm the historic faith, "I believe...in one Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the "I believe...in one Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father before all ages, Light of Light, Very God of Very Father before all ages, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again from the dead, according the third day He rose again from the dead, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose Kingdom shall have no end."whose Kingdom shall have no end."

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THE HOLY SPIRITTHE HOLY SPIRITis one of the Persons of the Trinity and is one of the Persons of the Trinity and is is one in essence with the Father. one in essence with the Father. Orthodox Christians repeatedly confess, Orthodox Christians repeatedly confess, "And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the "And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified. . ." glorified. . ." Orthodox Christians believe the biblical Orthodox Christians believe the biblical promise that thepromise that the Holy Spirit is given in Holy Spirit is given in chrismation (anointing) at baptismchrismation (anointing) at baptism (Acts (Acts 2:38). 2:38). We are to grow in our experience of We are to grow in our experience of the Holy Spirit for the rest of our lives.the Holy Spirit for the rest of our lives.

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Rev 3:3aRev 3:3a "Remember, therefore, "Remember, therefore,

what you have received and what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent."heard; obey it, and repent."

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TEST 2TEST 2• Born Again / The Inner Witness / Born Again / The Inner Witness /

Correction as ChildrenCorrection as Children

• Born in Water and SpiritBorn in Water and Spirit

• Baptism & MooronBaptism & Mooron

• To To be baptizedbe baptized  means means to be born to be born againagain by being joined into union with by being joined into union with Christ. Christ.

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Am I a born again Christian?Am I a born again Christian?Yes… I am a Born Again Christian!!!Yes… I am a Born Again Christian!!!BAPTISMBAPTISM  is the way in which a person is is the way in which a person is actually united to Christ. actually united to Christ. The experience of salvation is initiated in the The experience of salvation is initiated in the waters of baptism. waters of baptism. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:1-6The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 6:1-6 that that in baptism in baptism we experience Christ's death and Resurrection. we experience Christ's death and Resurrection.

In Baptism our sins are truly forgiven and we In Baptism our sins are truly forgiven and we are energized by our union with Christ to live a are energized by our union with Christ to live a holy life.holy life.  

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John 3:3-7 Jesus declared, "I John 3:3-7 Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, tell you the truth, no one can no one can see the kingdom of see the kingdom of God God unless he is born unless he is born again...again... Flesh gives birth to  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born saying, 'You must be born againagain.'.' : : BaptismBaptism

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NEW BIRTH NEW BIRTH is receiving new life and is the way we gain is receiving new life and is the way we gain entrance into God's Kingdom and His Church. entrance into God's Kingdom and His Church. Jesus said, "Jesus said, "Unless one is born of water and the Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).3:5). From the beginning, the Orthodox Church has From the beginning, the Orthodox Church has taught that the taught that the "water" is the baptismal water"water" is the baptismal water and the and the ""Spirit" is the Holy Spirit. Spirit" is the Holy Spirit. The New Birth occurs in baptism, where we die with The New Birth occurs in baptism, where we die with Christ, are buried with Him, and are raised with Him Christ, are buried with Him, and are raised with Him in the newness of His Resurrection, being joined in the newness of His Resurrection, being joined into union with Him in His glorified humanity into union with Him in His glorified humanity (Romans 6:3,4). (Romans 6:3,4).

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Gal 4:6 Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father.“calls out, "Abba, Father.“Our Father who art in Our Father who art in heavenheaven....

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Test 3Test 3

Am I follows the Am I follows the

10 commandments ?10 commandments ?

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TEST 4TEST 4

•Repentance Repentance

•Freedom from Habitual Freedom from Habitual Sin Sin

•Holy ConfessionHoly Confession •Holy CommunionHoly Communion

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SIN=SIN=““To miss the mark”To miss the mark”   • ""All have sinned and fall short of the All have sinned and fall short of the

glory of Godglory of God" (Romans 3:23). " (Romans 3:23).

• In His mercy, In His mercy, God forgives our sinsGod forgives our sins when we confess themwhen we confess them and and turn from turn from themthem..

• "If we confess our sins, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesscleanse us from all unrighteousness" " (1 John 1:9).(1 John 1:9).

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To RepentTo Repent

To To change our mindchange our mind about how we about how we have been, have been,

Turning from our sinTurning from our sin & &

Committing ourselves to Jesus Christ. Committing ourselves to Jesus Christ.

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TEST 5TEST 5

Produce The Fruit of the SpiritProduce The Fruit of the Spirit

Mat 3:7 "...Produce fruit in keeping Mat 3:7 "...Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."with repentance."

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Mat 7:16-23 [Jesus:] "By their fruit you will Mat 7:16-23 [Jesus:] "By their fruit you will recognize them. recognize them. Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"evildoers!'"

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Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23 The fruits of the SpiritThe fruits of the Spirit are  are 

LoveLove, , JoyJoy, , PeacePeace, , PatiencePatience, , KindnessKindness, , 

GoodnessGoodness, , FaithfulnessFaithfulness, , GentlenessGentleness & &Self-controlSelf-control..

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John 13:35 John 13:35 "By this all men will know "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you are my disciples, if you love one anotherif you love one another.“.“We should maintain We should maintain purity purity and holiness in the Churchand holiness in the Church

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SalvationSalvation Is a Divine gift through which men and Is a Divine gift through which men and

women are delivered from sin and women are delivered from sin and death, united to Christ, and brought death, united to Christ, and brought into His eternal Kingdom. into His eternal Kingdom.

SANCTIFICATION SANCTIFICATION is being set apart is being set apart for God for God

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Col 1:6 [Col 1:6 [GospelGospel]] Go and Spell the word of Go and Spell the word of

GodGod

Spread all over the whole Spread all over the whole world world

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Now Please Check Yourself Now Please Check Yourself

Am I a True Christian ?Am I a True Christian ?

God Bless You all to be a God Bless You all to be a True ChristianTrue Christian

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Thank YouThank You& &

God Bless You God Bless You www.orthodoxtv.www.orthodoxtv.

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