A church visitor went to a home, a man came tot the door. “Are you a member of any church?” “Oh yes, I do belong to a church. I have for many years. I joined before I was married.” The wife spoke up. Imagine that married 20 years, this is the first time. I knew that he belonged to a church. If you were accused of being a Christian is there enough proof to convict you?
Do you bear the characteristics, the marks of a Christian? Bible teaches those who are saved to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18. Matthew 16:16, no doubt Peter was converted. John 1:40, brought to Jesus by personal worker. When Jesus was arrested, Peter followed afar off. Simon Peter accused of being a Christian but not much evidence of it. Why?
He was at the wrong place. He was at the enemy’s fire. He had the wrong language. The wrong attitude. Newborn Christians can be mistake for non-Christians, clinging to the milk bottle. What evidence should there be?
I. Newborn Stage
1. The beginning stage.
2. Ephesians 2:8-9
3. Galatians 3:26
4. Faith produced by hearing the Word, Romans 10:17.
5. He hath not given us the spirit of fear, 2 Timothy 1:7
a. So many are living in fear instead of by faith.
b. Hebrews 12:6
6. Faith in prayer, Mark 11:24.
7. Fishing in the flesh, not by faith.
II. Separated to Different Life
1. Be in the right place, with right companions, look with doubts if in wrong place, wrong companions, right place is positive, doing right things with right people.
2. Verse 8, use the right words, clean, pure.
3. Verses 7-10, right attitude: much opposition in Thessalonians. Stood in midst of opposition, trials.
4. Verse 8, right occupation. Sounding out the word of God.
a. John 15:16
b. Acts 1:8
c. Senator asked another, “Do you still believe in the old doctrine of New Believer. I am not saved, but I do. The reason is that my mother and wife accepted Christ and they lived like it.
III. Christlikeness
1. Philippians 3:13-14
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17
3. Given a divine nature. Salvation is of the Lord. 2 Peter 1:4
4. Diving seed sown in the heart, 1 Peter 1:23.
5. Regenerated by a Divine Spirit, Titus 3:5.
6. Cleansed by Divine blood, 1 John 1:7.
7. A warfare.
a. Two great forces in operation in the world.
b. Romans 7:15-21
8. Successful businessman’s secret: Get all your eggs in one basket and watch the basket.
9. Successful Christians secret: Concentrate on Christ.
10. Too many wanting to live a double life, one foot in the world and one in the church.
11. Empty, faulty, divided heart. Hosea 10:1-2
IV. Concern
1. Psalm 142:4
2. Victim of unconcern.
3. 3 kinds:
a. Cold Christians
1) sign of the last days.
2) Matthew 24:12
b. Halfhearted Christians
1) Break fellowship.
2) Revelation 3:16
c. Mediocre
V. Conclusion
1. Two businessmen, one went to church regular. Other rode with him to work for years. The one got sick and didn’t want his associate to witness to him on his sick bed. If there had been anything to it, he would have told me years ago.
