1 John 3 & 4

There are many who call themselves Christians who live no differently than the world around them. Can they really have had an encounter with Christ, or could it be that the idea of Christianity just sounded like something that they would like to identify with? Can someone come face to face with Jesus and not be forever changed?

All who indulge in a sinful life are dangerously lawless, for sin is a major disruption of God's order. Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin. None of those who do practice sin have taken a good look at Christ. They've got him all backward. (1John 3:4-6 MSG)

 We are told over and over that those who are in Christ are children of God. And we are also told over and over that children of God love their neighbors. Loving others isn't what makes us Christian. Loving others is a testimony of Christ being in us.

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!(1John 4:11-12 MSG)