Birthmarks

Birthmarks

"Ye are of God, little children 1 John 4:4

• There is always a search for the real thing…

• The question of who is a genuine Christian is a very important one

• Jesus warned us about imitation Christians

• In a world of imitations and fakes we want to be sure we are buying the real thing

• Antiques are faked…. diamonds can be imitation….

• When it comes to our standing with the Lord Jesus Christ we want to be sure we are the real genuine thing….

Born of God……. You see with God you must be born into the family of God…..you cant join…or pay your way in

• Are you a genuine born again Christian today is the question you should be asking?

• You say but Pastor Steve I go to church…I give in the offering…. My parents were Christians

• John 3:3 says EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN he can not see the kingdom of God

• IF YOU ARE A GENUINE CHRISTIN YOU WILL HAVE A BIRTH MARK…. That is there are certain things are evident

in a born again believers life that you can check against your own life

1. First of all, a true believer is one who believes on and has received, and has put his whole trust in Jesus Christ

as his or her savior and Lord.

1 John 5:1 says: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him

that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

• Jesus is presented to mankind by the Holy Spirit through the word of God

• Then by faith you must make a decision…. accept or reject the truth you have heard

• The moment any individual by faith choses to accept Jesus Christ as the only begotton Son of God they are

quickened

• John 1:12,13 tells us, “But as many as many as received him, to them gave he power (birth) to become the sons

of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor

of the will of man, but of God.

• Do you understand fully what I am telling you?

• From the moment you ask Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins and say by faith I am trusting Jesus Christ as

my Lord and my savior you are born……again….That’s your birth mark

2. Second a genuine child of God is one who will want to do, and will do to the best of their

ability, with God's help what is right in God's sight

• Look at 1 John 2:29 "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born

of him."

• Genuine Christians have God's disposition

• They reflect their heavenly father

• 2 Peter 1:4 says that we are "partakers of the divine nature"

• Listen other should be able to spot you a mile away..if you’re a genuine Christian you will do the right thing

because God does the right thing….Like father ……like son and daughter

• Don't get me wrong…I am not saying you will never make mistakes

• I am saying you will live in harmony with God…doing what pleases Him

# Let me give you an example….In Luke 19 we have the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector

• Remember how wee little Zacchaeus lived selfishly until He meet Jesus

• After meeting Jesus, He said in verse 8…The half of all my goods I give to the poor; AND (not a but which

negates all that goes before it) if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him

fourfold.

• Jesus knew what happened to Zacchaeus…Jesus said to him…

This day is salvation come to your house in verse 9

# Then look at the story of the Philippian Jailer in Acts 16:33, 34

• When he was introduced to Jesus his motives changed

• He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, and he and all his

straightway (or likewise) …

• Then he feeds them meat…and we see him happy….He is rejoicing

• He entertains them and administers first aide to them

• Something inside this man changed…. He wanted to do the right thing

• Knowing it might cost him his very life and endanger his family

A TRUE CHILD OF GOD WILL ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING…. EVEN AT THEIR OWN HURT

• The Psalmist asked, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

• In verse 4 he says, “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.