Title: How to have Godly Character
Type: Series/Christian growth
Objective: Every Christian Can display true Godly Character by applying 3 supports that are found in John 15.
Text: John 15:1ff
Intro:
The past few months, I have been bringing messages that have been designed to try and correct some wrong individual theology.
I have spent a lot of time dealing with the sin of legalism and its outgrowth – judgementalism.
I have been trying to bring messages that encourage believers to operate in a “grace-based” theology rather than a theology of works.
My fear is that while I have spent so much time covering this idea of grace in various sermons, some of you more mature Christians may have gotten the wrong idea.
I’m concerned that some of you may think that I have too liberal a theology or that I am abusing God’s grace by some of the things that I have said.
My aim today is to bring some balance to our hearts.
We must, must, must understand the truth that we are in desperate need of God’s grace – and that apart from it; we can do nothing to earn his love, his forgiveness, or his blessings.
I never will depart from that truth.
But, anybody who has been a follower of Christ for any amount of time will understand that His grace necessarily brings about a radical and complete change in our hearts, minds, and lives.
God accepts us just the way we are, but He loves us way too much to leave us that way.
So, what I’d like to do today is to spend some time really trying to get a grip on “what is the Christian Character that should be evident in the Christian’s life.”
Surely we can all quote James who tells us that faith without works is dead.
So we know that we should be doing something, right?
Hopefully, you’ll remember from our study through the book of Ephesians that it is absolutely true that a born again person is completely different from an unsaved person.
But what I’d like to discuss this morning is what makes a born again person so different.
What is it that gives us the ability to be the people that God calls us to be?
You might recall a message that I preached called “Trying or trusting.”
In that message I attempted to answer some of these difficult questions, but I’m not sure that I did a thorough enough job of it.
The reason that I’d like to talk about this is because as a pastor, I see so many people who truly believe that they are followers of Christ, but just don’t live like they are indwelt by the mighty Holy Spirit of God.
They follow all of the wisdom of this world…
They make their life decisions based on character traits that are devilish and worldly…
They operate out of fear and self-preservation…
They adopt all of the wisdom that this world can muster…
Being vengeful and spiteful, and just down-right mean comes all too naturally…
I’m not going to address any single particular sin today.
But what I want to discuss is the fact that if a person is a follow of Christ, some natural things will happen in his life.
These things cannot be manufactured or forced.
Either a person has the spirit or not.
So, this is nothing new. In fact all I want to do today is sum up all that I have been preaching for almost two years now.
I want to bring together the ideas of grace and works so that all of us will have a clearer idea of what God expects from us.
You know, simply understanding the TRUTH that there is such a thing as Godly Character will not be enough to change our lives.
We must understand that we need help…
We need to know that there is hope for us!
We need to realize that God is bigger than us and He is able to fashion us into the men and women that He wants us to be…and you know we, we can’t do it alone.
There was a man once who lived his entire life in a large city.
He had no idea what it was like to live on a farm or even in a suburb.
After he had amassed his fortune as a lawyer in the city, he decided that he would retire to a simpler life on a farm in a small rural community.
This man moved out to the farm and was thrilled to find that his new home was heated exclusively by fireplaces and wood-burning stoves. How quant, he thought.
So, he determined that in order to have the full experience of farm life, he would chop his own wood. But he had never done that sort of work before.
He set out to the local hardware store and inquired with the owner about chopping wood.
The owner of the store showed him the finest chainsaw on the market and told him that it was so efficient that it would cut down at least fifteen trees per day.
The man was thrilled and so he bought the chain saw.
He set out into the forest one morning and began to try to cut down a tree in preparation for the winter.
He was so disgusted by the end of the day, because he hadn’t been able to cut down even one tree!
The next day he took the saw back to the clerk and demanded his money back.
“You ripped me off. You promised me that this saw would cut down at least fifteen trees per day, and I couldn’t even cut down one. Give me back my money!”
So, the owner of the store was a bit perplexed. He actually owned the same model and used it every day.
So, he decided to look at the saw to see if there was a defect with it.
He set it on the floor, held down the safety, pulled the trigger, and then he did something that the city slicker had never seen done in his life…
The owner of that store pulled on the starter rope giving power to the saw.
He shut it off and handed it back to the man. “I don’t see anything wrong with this saw, mister, you sure you been using it right?”
The man, now, thoroughly embarrassed, grabbed the saw and walked out.
He had no idea that this was a gas powered saw and had been trying to cut trees down all day without it even started!
Oh, how many of us are like that city slicker?
We made some kind of profession of faith, got baptized, joined a church, and believed all the promises the preacher told us, but never knew that we were dealing with a gas powered God.
We’ve spent years trying to cut the trees of sin and disobedience down in our lives, yet we haven’t made much progress.
We’ve worked hard at becoming holy…
We’ve sweat; we’ve attended church, gone to seminars, seen counselors, volunteered for anything we thought might get us closer to God.
But all the while we were just sawing away in our own strength – never once allowing the power of the saw to do the work for us.
Well, I want to look at a passage of scripture this morning that gives us the answer to this question: How am I supposed to live up to the holy standard that God has for me?
As Jesus prepared to leave his disciples, He reminded them of three supports that are unique to Christians. Jesus described the awesome fellowship that we can have with God that will help us face whatever the world throws at us.
Turn with me to John 15. I want to begin a three week mini-series that will show you the three support structures that Jesus says we have so that we can live the life that God calls us to live.
The theme for this three sermon series is: “How to have Godly Character”
Today, we’ll look at the support structure of: 1. Fellowship with the Son
The title of today’s sermon is simply: “Abiding in Christ”
Next Week we’ll see the support structure of 2. Fellowship with Believers – The title of that message is “What, I’m supposed to Love Who?” and we’ll learn that Godly Character is on display when we truly love the people that God has placed around us.
And in two weeks we’ll look at the support structure of 3. Fellowship with the Spirit – the title of that message is “From rotten apples to the fruit of the Spirit”
It is my hope and prayer that this series of messages will help all of us to fully understand what it means to live a life of Godly Character.
READ 15:1- 11
I. Fellowship with the Son
Remember what I said earlier about people who say they are followers of Christ but continually try to work at changing their lives?
Jesus clearly gives us his position on that subject in verses 1-5.
He uses the illustration of a vine, branches, and the farmer who prunes the branches.
In verse 1 he makes it clear that He is that vine, we are the branches, and God is the farmer who cares for the branches.
In verse 2 He tells us that there will be many people who claim to be “in him.”
There will always be people who claim to be followers of Christ, and want all of the benefits that He has to offer…
There will always be people who try to insert themselves into the vine because they find that the vine provides a lot of shade.
The vine provides a place to belong…
The vine provides a support structure…
The vine provides for you needs…
The vine provides comfort…
But look what Jesus says about those branches or people that didn’t grow out of the vine but tried to graft themselves into it:
Verse 2 says that every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut away.
In verse six he describes these people as branches that dry up and are useless and will be thrown into the fire.
I’d like to challenge this church right now to do something after church today that has probably never been done before.
Find somebody that has attended any church for a year or more, and ask that person to explain to you why they believe they are a Christian.
I think you will be amazed at how many people’s testimonies will go something like this:
Well, I was in the hospital, or I was really at the end of my rope, or something bad had happened in my life. Then somebody from church came and talked to me. They invited me to go with them one Sunday, and I’ve been there ever since!
Where is the brokenness over a life of sin and rebellion?
Where is the repentance?
Where is the saving grace of Jesus Christ in that kind of testimony?
Where is the admission that I have sinned against God and am in need of a savior?
Those are the branches that Jesus is talking about here.
He’s talking about people who insert themselves into some kind of religious experience that can meet their needs.
Then they struggle to try to live up to the teachings of those of you who are truly saved and they just can’t do it.
Then the cycle of legalism and judgementalism starts all over again, because after all, the people who are struggling to live the Christian lifestyle CLAIM to be Christians!
And the result is that the church is left powerless and broken.
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But, Praise God, Jesus told his disciples that If, If, If they abide in Him, they WILL, they WILL, they WILL, bear MUCH, MUCH, MUCH fruit!!!!! Verse 5
If only that city slicker knew how to turn on the chainsaw!
If he only understood the power he held in his hands!
If only we Christians knew how to live the Christian life!
If we could just tap into the power and nutrients and peace in the Vine!
Jesus tells us in verse 4 that we cannot grow, we cannot bear fruit, and we cannot live up to His holy standards on our own. We just can’t.
We must abide in Him. You might ask, “Just hang there, like a branch? Do nothing?”
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No! Look at verse 10. Just as we have a responsibility to respond to God’s salvation, we have a responsibility to:
10: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…”
Listen to what John says about keeping the Commands of Christ in I John 2:1-6:
“My little children, I am writing these things unto you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep his commandments. The one who says I have come to know him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked.”
That’s what it means to abide in Jesus – obey Him!!! Keep his commandments!
Now, what are His commandments?
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He tells us in Matthew 22:37-40:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets.”
Loving God means obeying God. Obeying God means knowing God. Knowing God means understanding and applying his word.
That’s how we abide in Christ. That’s how we can have Godly Character -
As we love God, and Know God, and read His Word, we allow His Spirit to continually transform our lives.
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Romans 12:2 says: do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
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And I Peter 1:14-16 tells us: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
It’s a tall order to ask any of us to do something as seemingly impossible as that!
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But, what Jesus was teaching in our text is that we can be transformed, we can put away our former lusts, we can be holy…but not without the support structure of abiding in Christ –
Remember, Jesus said “Apart from me, you can do nothing!”
That’s how we live the Christian Lifestyle – not by mustering up enough courage to give it the old college try,
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Not by turning over a new leaf,
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Not by New Year’s resolutions,
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Not by a twelve step program,
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Not by going to a counselor,
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but by resting in Him, and allowing Him to make the changes in us.
Verse 5: Jesus tells us this – get it straight guys – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
He says look, I am God – you are not…
Quit trying to pretend that you can be what your not…
Quit trying to change your behavior to look like a Christian…
Get to know me…
Love me… Obey Me.
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I love the part of verse 5 that says he who abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit.
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This is so liberating to me because I’m a pretty simple guy, and most times I need simple examples to get what God is trying to say to me.
But try to catch this, and I know I’ve said this before, but some of you need to hear it again:
He says all I have to do to bear much fruit, or grow, or have Christian character is stay attached to the vine!
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How many times have you ever seen a branch toiling, and struggling to produce an apple?
As long as the branch stays plugged in to the tree, it will naturally produce fruit!
As long as I stay plugged in to Jesus, I can’t help but grow!
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Jesus said in John 8:31-36 31:
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33They answered him, "We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
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If we hold to His teaching, we are really his disciples….
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In John 15 two of his teachings are that
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we can do nothing apart from him, and
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that we need to stay plugged into him in order to live a christian life.
By holding fast to these teachings he sets us completely free!!!
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He sets us free from the bondage of trying to be justified by works…
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He sets us free from the bondage of fear and doubt…
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He sets us free from the bondage of legalism…
Thank God that He made his message so simple that even I can understand it!!!
Are you holding fast to that teaching today, or are you still trying produce fruit on your own?
Trying to live the Christian life apart from Christ is like trying to fix the brakes on your car without any wrenches.
Its like trying to fly a kite without any string.
You can exert all the energy you want, but it just won’t work.
How about you?
Is that what you are doing today?
Exerting all of your energy trying to live the Christian life?
Seeking the approval of other Christians by doing what they expect you to do?
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If that describes you this morning, I have two simple words for you: GIVE UP.
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Won’t you give up you efforts today and give up the control of your life to God?
God loves you and wants you to love and obey him.
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The only way to do that is to turn away from your sin…Give it to God…and He will save your soul from an eternity of hell.
Then abide in Him, and let him change your life from the inside out.
This first support structure of fellowship with the Son is the most basic, fundamental aspect of Christianity there is.
Apart from Him, we can do nothing…
Next week, we’ll look at the second support structure called the fellowship of the believers.
But, its not next week yet, is it?
Today you heard a message that may have caused a few of you to examine you own life.
You heard from God’s word that apart from Jesus Christ, you can do nothing.
What are you going to do with that truth?
Some of you need to just plain give up. Give up the charade. Quit playing church.
You are certainly not fooling God. God sees your heart, and he knows if you belong to him or not.
Some of you may have believed that you were saved a long time ago, but you have a testimony like I described earlier.
There was never a time when you were completely broken by your sin.
Never a time when you cried out to God for mercy…
Never a time when you turned from sin and begged God to forgive you.
So many people try so hard to live the Christian lifestyle.
But its like trying to cut down trees without turning on the chainsaw.
Today, you can turn it on. You can repent from your sin. You can cry out to God for mercy.
And you can be sure that He will give it to you: Romans 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10:13 – Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved
Some of you are truly followers of Christ, but your not abiding in him.
You are still trying to blaze your own path with your own works and ideas.
You too, need to call on the lord TODAY, and ask Him to teach you how to abide in Him.
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Yes, its true that I Corinthians 3:
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
Remember one last time: Jesus said “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”
If all the so-called good works you are doing in your life are being done in your own strength, for your own glory, well, that’s what will be burned up.
If the good works you do are a natural part of producing fruit because you are connected to Christ, and the Spirit is allowed to work through you –
That work will survive.
Only when we all truly abide in Christ, will we begin to see the Christian Character that God expects from us.
