>>13215
Well just don't be a fake Christian and presumably you'd be a real one. Luke writes that the Disciples were called Christians. So it's another word for a Disciple of Jesus in a way but I think it also encompasses the broader whole meaning of everything. You can be a Disciple of Jesus and be ignorant of many Christian things. Some would say a real Christian is a born again Christian, a saved Christian. But certainly you can be a Disciple of Jesus and not go to Heaven, obviously as we know. A real Christian I would say is not someone who would has certain boxes marked but someone who doesn't have certain boxes marked. You can call yourself a Christian so long as you don't believe certain things. Things which are plainly against God and the truth. Not matters of doctrine but matters of a hard heart. These things can be determined almost always clearly by the canon writings. A Christian is sort of an umbrella term for someone pursing the things of Christendom. How to be a Disciple of Jesus, history, salvation, whatever. If someone was lost about everything they of course should read the New Testament to start. Although sometimes that won't do anything if they're going into it with preconceived wrong ideas. Sometimes someone needs to explain clearly things.
) Jesus is just a good human teacher.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gefA3f0n3OY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN9GqiAjEYI
2) I go to Heaven or Hell because I was a good or bad person.
This is also wrong. When the angel asks what qualifies you to go to Heaven, don't try listing your good deeds.
That's really the two problems I find. Fundamental. I see it all the time, of course I believed both these incorrect things myself before.
If you avoid these then you're doing pretty well in understanding. But even though these are basics the fact is the majority of the world doesn't agree with these two fundamentals. Why? Because God in human form is not just strange to the Jews. To the ordinary man it is strange and seems crazy, God being an ordinary man is not something you find anywhere, we might think pagan religions had something like this going on, no. They may have had Gods looking like humans and these sorts of things, but God just as a ordinary man walking around. It's crazy, then and now. So it will always be hard to accept that Jesus was the Son of God, THE God as in creator of the universe, as Richard Dawkins-types always point out, "The creator of the universe came down as a Jewish man and died 2,000 years ago that's foolishness." And that's why Paul says the cross is foolishness to the world.
And the idea that you can be forgiven of all sins and changed and let into Heaven not because of works but because of faith is again an insane idea. Heaven or Hell is one of the most common knoweldges of man across time and cultures we see from all over the world judgement after death. We see reincarnation based off what you did. Of course what you do in life is important, but faith in Christ for your righteousness, now that is not your average idea to just accept. So these two things are crazy, too good to be true. Though both of these truths make complete and sound sense when you actually seek to understand.
Now if someone is already passed the understanding part "yeah I know all this already! I believe!" But maybe they don't feel like they're a GOOD REAL Christian. Well personally I don't think that's what qualifies to be a real Christian. Real Christians may not be the best Disciples but what's important for definition is what they believe. Being a good or bad Christian is a separate issue. Once someone has accepted the truth of Jesus and is repenting of their life but needs help well I think that really depends on what we need help with. Obviously most if not all actual help comes from God. Fighting sin or whatever it is. Finding good sermons and reading the Bible and praying and all that is obviously very good. Repenting and confessing your sins right away to God is good. But most of all look toward Jesus and keep him in mind Jesus should take up more of your thought space than the guilt you feel from sins. Always pray for God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and that it may grow more dominate in you, because that is something you cannot do. You cannot fill yourself with it, only God can and so it's sensible to pray Lord please fill me with the Spirit and cause me to walk in your ways I want to see my life change directions. This can be prayed always for all life whether the prayer was already answered or not we always need more of the Spirit controlling us partnering with us, the Bible describes people as being full of him, like a Spirit meter or it just means you are fully sort of showing the Spirit in you it's fully manifest.