Those who are in Christ Jesus

[Helen]

so then it becomes obvious that the definition of "Christians" toggles back and forth, according to what we want it to mean. If they don't know who they are in Christ, how can they be Christians?

I think that it is very easily done. I did it for years!
I became a Christian in the 60's...but without any teaching , as Paul mentioned..all they can take is the "milk of the word."
It was only later in the 80's that I saw the depth of not only who Christ is in me, but who I am "in-Him".
I see that as being like us trying to fight with one arm behind our backs if we never learn who we are in Him!!

( Well at least 'I' understand what I am saying! LOL)

 

[amadeus]

ha well He is if you are, but i don't see any Christians sweating blood much, and neither am i tbh. I'm just praying i don't hear "remember, in your life you had all the good things," and frankly i don't see how i am going to be able to avoid that, as privileged as i am.

No, neither have I ever sweated blood. When I was very young in the Lord, I read where Jesus "sweat as it were great drops of blood", and I without knowledge of wisdom, wanted to do that. That was long ago and I still haven't done it. I don't wish for it any more, but that doesn't mean that it is not still coming for me and perhaps also for you. As we become more like Him, we cannot now know what will happen.

The privileges of a man living in a modern society of men with probably too many of the blessings of men may weigh him down. Even knowing too much about God can get us in trouble if we let it go to our head... thinking like Nebuchaddnezar...:

Dan 4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
Dan 4:31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Dan 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

What Nebuchadnezzar had as a king, he received from God. What we have as men, even of godly wisdom, also came from God.
Give God always the glory!