Can a 'True' Christian recognise another?

Originally posted by Starrman
As dj2 would so happily point out, not every cross wearer is a 'True' Christian, and probably not every 'True' Christian wears a cross.

I find that all true Christians should be nailed to crosses.
That way we'd recognise them.

Faith can move mountains, so ask them to move a mountain. But be careful not to stand too close.

There's several tests: belief and acceptance as Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour (through grace) (John 3:16), and belief in the Bible as the Word of God. The best to date summary is probably the nicene or apostle's creed:

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

I realize Christians being perfect is not on there, but the fact is Christianity it's about perfection (besides God's), it's about salvation. ;-)

Originally posted by DoctorDara
There's several tests: belief and acceptance as Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour (through grace) (John 3:16), and belief in the Bible as the Word of God.

How can you test their beliefs?

Ummm, one of the big parts of Christianity is being called not to judge others faith. That being said: Matthew 7 is always considered one of the great lines, and Paul also talks about fruit of the spirit. I give you both, but remember, if you judge another, you are seeing it through the eye of your own fault. :-) As christians we are called not to judge others without realizing we too will be called to account! ;-)

Matthew 7
Judging Others
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Gal 5:22-26

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Not essentially wicked? Please explain the Holocaust.

Um, what part of 'essentially' don't you understand?

Originally posted by DoctorDara
Ummm, one of the big parts of Christianity is being called not to judge others faith. That being said: Matthew 7 is always considered one of the great lines, and Paul also talks about fruit of the spirit. I give you both, but remember, if you judge another, you are seeing it through the eye of your own fault. :-) As christians we are called not to judge o ...[text shortened]... he Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Ummm, one of the big parts of Christianity is being called not to judge others faith.

Then how do you explain Mark 16? It seems that Jesus is giving pretty clear instructions on how to judge whether someone is a Christian or not.

Originally posted by bbarr
Um, what part of 'essentially' don't you understand?

So it is your contention that--- let to do as he wills--- a child is 'essentially' self-less and giving?

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
So it is your contention that--- let to do as he wills--- a child is 'essentially' self-less and giving?

That doesn't follow. I believe that every child has the potential to become selfless and giving. It also has the potential to become "wicked".

Originally posted by Nordlys
That doesn't follow. I believe that every child has the potential to become selfless and giving. It also has the potential to become "wicked".

Selflessness is learned, not inherent. Wickedness is inherent.

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Selflessness is learned, not inherent. Wickedness is inherent.

What makes you think so?

Originally posted by DoctorDara
Ummm, one of the big parts of Christianity is being called not to judge others faith. That being said: Matthew 7 is always considered one of the great lines, and Paul also talks about fruit of the spirit. I give you both, but remember, if you judge another, you are seeing it through the eye of your own fault. :-) As christians we are called not to judge o ...[text shortened]... he Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Seems to me Matthew 7:1-3 is about hypocrisy, not about being non-judgemental. If one is not to judge then what do you do with:

Luke 17:3
Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.