“The Mark of Christ”
August 22, 2010
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,”
Ephesians 1:11-13
“19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22 News of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:19-26
What does a Christian look like? Well it depends on who you ask. I went to “Answers.com” to find out how many people in the United States claim to be Christians. What’s your guess? 50%? 75%? Statistics show that 81% of the people in America claim to be Christians. Given the shape our country is in – that seems a little doubtful. Of false prophets, Jesus said you will know them by their fruit. On the other hand, we can’t see into the thoughts and intents of the heart. Only God can do that. But we try. Liberal Christians look at those who make great changes in their lives and do great things for the Lord and accuse them of trying to ‘earn’ their way to heaven. So they judge they can’t really be Christians. They have “Good Works”.
Conservative Christians look at liberal Christian and judge them not to be saved because there is no repentance. It is dangerous to try to figure out someone else’s spirituality. “If you compare – you will despair!”
But we need to know what a true Christian is like. We need to know so we can emulate them. In our Scripture in Acts the disciples were first called Christians. Why? It was because they were ‘Christ-like”. Prior to that they were called “Followers of the Way” or “Believers”. But if you were a true ‘Believer’ or you truly followed ‘the way’ you became Christ-like – hence the word “Christian”. The true Christian is Christ-like. The true Christian doesn’t just “talk the talk – he walk’s the walk.” The Scripture says,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
In both of those verses you see the word ‘transformed’. Strong’s Concordance says this about that word: “metamorphoo met-am-or-fo'-o from 3326 and 3445; to transform (literally or figuratively, "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.”
The Greek word for transform is the same word we use to say a caterpillar changes into a butterfly – metamorphous. So the Christian is to change, through the Holy Spirit, into Jesus’ likeness. We are to become Christlike.
I want you to also note that when we metamorphous into a Christ-like being - God gets the glory. The miracle of becoming Christlike is as astounding and dramatic as a hairy worm changing into a beautiful butterfly. Only God can do that. Only God has the power to change a person like that! The only difference between that caterpillar and us is that our wills are involved. It doesn’t happen unless we present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Holy Spirit. When we do, He can change us and transform us through His power. But when we do – and God does His work – what a change comes to our heart. To God be the glory! Only He can make the change. I’ve tried on my own. I can’t do it. God can and does – and to Him belongs the glory.
This morning I want to talk a little bit about the mark Jesus makes on our lives. In Revelation most people are familiar with the ‘mark of the beast’, but many people don’t know that Christians have a mark on them, too.
“They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads” Revelation 9:4
The Christian has a mark on him, too. It is the seal of God on their forehead. Paul said, “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” (Ephesians 1:13
Back in Paul’s day, and for centuries later, literate people had an individual, unique seal. It was one of a kind. And when they sent a letter they marked it with that seal so the recipient of the letter would know who it was from and if anyone else read it. Back in our old west days, each ranch had their own brand. It was unique to them only. If anyone saw a cow with that brand on it – they knew who that steer belonged to.
God does not brand us or put a mark on our flesh, He gives us the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit dramatically marks our life. We stop doing certain things. We start doing other things. When you allow the Holy Spirit into your life – He will change you. There are many changes He makes in our lives – we can all attest to that. But this morning I want to bring three things to your attention.
First of all, when the Holy Spirit comes in, we ‘CARE’. We care in a way we never did before. Jesus said,
'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39
We care when we come to Christ. We care about what God thinks and we care about people around us. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t care what God thought before I was a Christian. I didn’t give it any thought or consideration. I didn’t purposefully reject or rebel against Him – I just didn’t consider or care about Him.
I thought I didn’t care what people thought either – but I did. It showed by what angered me and how I acted. But to myself I said, “I don’t care about what anyone thinks. I’m going to do things MY way.” Ultimately the life without Christ if selfish. There is little – if any love in it. It’s all self-love.
When Jesus came into my heart – I cared. I cared what God thought about my actions. I cared about what He thought of how I talked and communicated. I cared about everything He cared for. In other words, I loved Him with all my heart and with all my mind and with all my strength. And I still do today.
A funny thing happen, because I loved God and cared about Him, where once I didn’t like people and I avoided them, God called me to love them – and I did. He taught me to be gentle and kind and patient. I became a ‘people person’. I love people now. I care. That’s one of the marks of a Christian. Because God is love – He develops love within you. Because God cares – the Christian cares.
Another mark of the Christian is that he BEARS. After he cares – he bears.
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:19-20
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17
What are we to bear? We are to bear good fruit. The Holy Spirit does that as He works in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is listed in Galatians 5. This is the mark of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These things ‘mark’ the true follower of Christ. The Bible tells us we are to produce these things in increasingly greater amounts.
Certainly we are to bear good fruit. But I think ‘bearing’ indicates something more. We are to bear spiritual fruit – but we are to bear one another burdens. Paul writes:
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? (NO!) Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
James 2:14-16
”If any one of you has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in you? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:17-18
Paul, James, and John all agree that we are to help each other out. We are to bear each others burdens. I don’t think there is a set rule or a “how to” list – but as the Holy Spirit leads us – we are to bear the misfortune of others.
We are to use our gifts and talents and God’s gifts to us - for the good of others. We have the burden of other people’s spiritual needs to bear. In other words, we are to teach, and preach, and use the Holy Spirit’s spiritual gifts to help others. The Spirit filled Christian is empowered and led to build up the Body of Christ in some way. Are you bearing that burden?
One last thing, We are to ‘care’, we are to ‘bear’ and we are to ‘SHARE’. The last thing Jesus spoke before He ascended up into heaven, according to Matthew, was the ‘Great Commission’.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
Every Christian is marked by this obsession – to go and make disciples. Why? Because it is God’s obsession. All Christians have a passion for souls – because God has a passion for souls. If the Holy Spirit lives within you – His heart beat will be your heart beat. Not all are called to be evangelists – but all are called to evangelize. Not all are given the gift of evangelism – but all are called to share what they have.
The Church of the Nazarene is a ‘Missional’ church. We send out missionaries. We train workers. We have a mission of winning the lost for Jesus. Our founder, Phineas Bresee, said, “We have a debt to share the gospel in the same measure we received it.” We have a mission of sharing the Gospel with the world. Jesus said,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8
When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will care. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will bear one another’s burdens. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us we will produce the fruit of the Spirit. But first and foremost – we will be witnesses. That’s what God wants to do in our lives.
How ya doin’ at it? Have you shared Jesus with anyone lately? We aren’t called to ‘win’ them. Only God can do that. But we ARE called to plant and water. We are called to sow the seed. The Holy Spirit may allow us the blessing to reap once in a while – but we shouldn’t be concerned with that so much as just sharing. You can do that by calling a friend on the phone and inviting them to Church to hear the Gospel. You can do that by sharing tracts and magazines with people. It’s a good way to dispose of the old “Holiness Today” magazines. You can do that by inviting someone over for dinner or for a cup of coffee to study the Bible. There’s a lot of different ways to share the Gospel with people – but the bottom line is that we ought to be sharing in some way.
Do you have the mark of Christ on you? Are you caring, bearing and sharing? If not, maybe you need to ask for help. Pray a prayer like this:
Dear Jesus,
I love you so much. Thank you for all you have done for me. You have blessed me is so many way. You have forgiven me. You have adopted me as Your own child. You have given me eternal life. But I need to do better. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Cleanse me of anything ungodly in my life. Help me to become more like You. Help me to be more Caring; better at bearing other’s burdens, and help me to share my Faith more and better.
“They will know we are Christians by our Love”
