Are You Walking Like Jesus?

Pastor Allan Kircher

Shell point Baptist Church

1 John 2:6

Are you walking like Jesus

24th November 2013

Intro: We become like those we are around.

• I grew up/w/o realizing it/began/walk like/father.

• picked up many characteristics from him

• Some desirable, others no so much so.

• That is from a physical point of view.

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However, from a spiritual point of view, there is another in Who's steps we are to walk, and His name is Jesus Christ.

• Person first comes to Jesus for salvation

• there are some instantaneous changes take place

• Yet/very natural/them to retain/characteristics/their old life.

As they grow/mature/Lord/should be changes begin/take place.

These changes are produced:

• We learn more about God, Christ/Bible

• As we yield/leadership/Holy Spirit in our lives.

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Hopefully, as these changes take place, we will find that our attitudes, our actions, our attractions, etc, become less like the old, pre-salvation person and more like the Lord Jesus.

• Perfectly natural/baby to act like a baby.

• Cry, suck on bottles, soil/diapers/play with their toes.

As they begin/grow/begin/change

• Start/take/characteristics of those around them.

• Act more like people and less like babies.

• Not/babies aren't people, just little people/weird habits!

• So it is with God's children!

When we are first saved:

• natural for us to stumble as we take those first baby steps

• Learning with wobbly spiritual legs.

• As time passes/begin to mature/take/characteristics/Savior.

That is what John means when he says we are to walk like Jesus.

I want to help you today to see where you stand with the Lord.

• Are you maturing/your relationship with him?

• Do you even have a relationship with Him?

• I would like for us to think about these questions

• Address/question/stands/theme/message

• "Are you walking like Jesus?"

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I. A PROFESSION DECLARED

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did”

• The word "claims". Referred those have a profession of faith.

• They say they are saved.

• Let's examine their claim, as well as our own this morning.

When they make the profession they "abide in Him", they are saying a mouthful!

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A. A Declaration Of Salvation

• Those referred/passage claim to be "in" Jesus

• only one way into Him

• By receiving Jesus Christ/personal Savior, Acts 16:31.

To be "in" Jesus is the only place:

• of salvation/safety/security/peace/happiness

• of being right with God/being delivered from Hell

• of being certain of Heaven.

The benefits/being "in" Jesus are enormous, consequences of not being "in" Him are catastrophic! Where are you?

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Just in case there are those present who have never been saved, let me take a moment to tell you how you can be.

• Getting saved/most simple thing a person can do.

• only a few things you need to know and accept

• Allow me to share them with you.

1. You Must Know That You Are A Sinner - Rom. 3:23

2. You Must Understand There Is A Penalty On your Sin - Rom. 6:23; Rom, 5:12; Psa. 9:17.

3. You Must Know That God Loves You And That He Has Made A Way For You To Be Saved - John 3:16; Rom. 5:8.

4. You Must Believe The Gospel - Rom. 10:10-11

5. You Must Be Willing To Turn From Your Sins - Luke 13:3.

• Doesn’t mean/must be perfect before you can be saved.

• Means you are aware of your sins

• you are sorry for your sins

• you are willing to let the Lord take your sins away

• Along with your desire for them.

• Means simply, you are willing to be changed, 2 Cor. 5:17.

6. You Must Be Willing To Call On Jesus Christ Alone For Salvation Rom. 10:13.

Salvation can never become/reality/life until you make decision to bow before/Lord and ask Jesus to come into your heart and life.

7. You Must Know You Should Not Wait - 2 Cor. 6:2.

8. Are you saved? If not, why not come to Him right now while He is calling you to come, Rev. 3:20?

Please do not wait and allow the devil time to talk you out of it.

Come now and be saved.

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B. A Declaration Of Surrender

Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

• Word "abide/live" means "to tarry, or to dwell."

• Brings to mind another passage where john used this word.

In John 15:1-11…

• records the words of Jesus/He is the True Vine

• We, who are saved, are the branches.

• Just like a branch/literal vine, our duty to our Savior is to abide in Him.

Means we are to:

• Draw our very life from Him.

• Surrender to His will and to His power in us.