Earmarks of a Christian
1 John 5:1-5:4
Introduction-
This morning I want to talk to you about being a Christian.
That word has been abused and used in so many circles that most people do not have a working definition of what it means to be a Christian.
Usually, first response is getting out a list of things that they used to do, but they don’t do anymore.
The second list is things I know Jesus is working on in me and one day they will be gone too.
To be called a Christian in the early church was not a compliment. With that came persecution, dis-ownership by family members, up to and including death.
Apostles Paul before his conversion sat by watching a group of good Jews stone Steven a Christian. He thought God would actually be glad that he did it.
Early Christians wore their faith as a badge of honor even though it would end up costing them their lives.
Early Christians were different! They did not act like everyone else. But it was a lot more just behavior or a list of things that Jesus has taken.
If you ever been convicted of a habit, or something that God wanted to do in your life, you soon realize that it is more than behavior, because you had good intention yet you struggle. You get victory on one thing, only to find new struggles are right behind.
What makes a Christian different?
We know it is more than behavior, following a certain set of rules, or belonging to a particular group.
Becoming a Christian involves something far deeper that changes a person on the inside.
Getting rid of things that destroy is a good thing, but God makes changes on the inside, and then we see outward what he is doing and what He has done.
Let’s make this as simple as possible
Because of the fall of man, blame Adam and Eve if you want.
We were born sinners by nature.
We sin because we are sinners.
In the physical sense, we are without hope, because we cannot save ourselves.
We cannot earn Salvation, we cannot be physically born into the family of God.
Because God has provided hope for sinners, and His name is Jesus, spiritually, we have a redeemer.
Spiritually, we can be born into the family of God.
They call that a rebirth, born again, regeneration. Jesus says “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Spiritual rebirth, the old nature that cannot know God is eradicated and we take on the character of God because God now dwells inside of us.
God changing us from the inside out rather than the outside in.
That is why some can look good on the outside but inside they are spiritually dead.
It is why being a good person is not enough.
Sin disqualifies us and without Jesus we have no redemption.
So called Christians today have compromised and water down the Christian experience to what man does instead of what God does inside of us.
We do not have special privileges because your parents are Christians or because you go to a hip church.
You are Christian because of what God has done and is doing in you and by having a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God actively working in your life.
What you inherit at birth is;
Sin nature- corruption
Dead spirit (dead in sin)
Separation from God
What second birth gives us:
Eternal life
Holy Spirit dwelling in you
His nature (Holy) not perfect- desire to please God and not self.
“Except a man be born again, He cannot see the kingdom of God.”
You can try to reword that
You can say that you don’t believe that
You can say- God would never deny anyone heaven.
There is only one way to be a Christian. It is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for what He has done on the cross and follow Jesus.
Christ followers
Christians, separated from the world
different.
There are 5 kinds of people
Those that know they are not saved by Christ- Acts 16:28
Those who think that they are saved but are not- Matt 7:21-23
Those we think are saved but are not- 1 John 2:18-19
Those who are saved but do not act like it- 1 Cor. 3:1-3
Those who are saved and live it- 1 John 5:1-5
So let me pull this together;
You cannot be a Christian without knowing Jesus as savior.
You cannot be a Christian and not actively obey His commandments and love others.
You cannot be a Christian and not separate yourself from the worlds actions.
You cannot be a Christian without the Holy Spirit of God dwelling inside of you.
When we become Christians, we become part of the family of God by choice.
We love others that are brought into the family of God.
Jesus never promises that obeying him would be easy., but the hard work and self discipline of serving Christ is no burden to those who love him. When the load starts to feel heavy, we can always trust Christ to help us carry it.
Earmark #1- Loving God
“This is how we know that we love the children of God, by loving God and carrying out His commands.”
You cannot be a Christian and not have a love for God, and that love should be evidenced by your life and by your words and action.
Too many people today are snacking on God. We are called to come to His table and dine with Him, not snack on the things of God. Picking and choosing what we like and dislike.
True believers worship God in Spirit and truth and have no confidence in the flesh.
True believers realize that it is not all about them. Not about their abilities, talents, and strengths. It is about God and realizing that we fall short and cannot save ourselves.
Our faith is different!
Our actions are different!
People say that they live for Christ, but I don’t think they understand what they are responsible for when they say that.
2 Cor. 5:14-
“For Christ love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Christ love compels us, drives us, convinces us that because He died for us, we will die to self and live for Him.
This is what God expects out of us
“Therefore, I urge you brothers in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
This is how we are to behave- it is what Christian looks like.
II. Loving others
1 John 4:19-21
“We love because He first loved us. If anyone says I love God, yet hates his brothers (sisters) he (she) is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brothers, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen, and he has given us this command, “whoever loves God must also love his brothers.”
We love God, we are to love others. Both those that are in the kingdom of God and those we are trying to bring to faith.
Galatians 6:10-
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
You need to love me and I need to love you. We are family!
You may not always love others do, but we are to love each other and work it out in a way that is pleasing to God!
You need to understand this- Christ did not die to help us get saved. He died to save you. It is all about Him. Because of what Christ did for each one of us that call ourselves Christian, we have a responsibility to Christ- Amen.
The life of a Christian is not like any other, we spend our life pleasing someone else. The world says it is all about you, but we do not live a self-centered life.
Closing,
Every true Christian should understand that when you are saved, born-again, regenerated, you surrender your life to the one that saved you and the one that has a right to your body, time, money.
Question,
What are you putting your faith and confidence in?
Does your life reflect your love for God?
Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.
This life is the only life we get to show God how much we love Him. Do not waste time with things that don’t matter.
We think different
We act different
We handle problems different
We are different because Christ changed our lives
“He will be with you and in you”
What makes us different? God does.
Amen.
