Back Pockets and Overcoats
(Said vs. Authentic Christianity)
TEXT: Romans 14:13
OBJECTS: 1 Back Pocket and 1 Overcoat
4 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Symptoms of Back Pocket “Christians”
• Saying One Thing—Doing Another—COUNTERFEIT I John 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”
• Saying ‘I am a Christian’, with no Evidence of Christianity—NO CORROBORATION James 2:14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”
• Saying they are At Ease—COMFORTABLE Amos 6:1 “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!”
• Saying they want a Easy Religion—COSTLESS II Samuel 24:24 “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
Observations of Said Back Pocket Christianity
1. Back Pocket Christians may not be Christians at all
2. Back Pocket Christians are all Show and no Go
3. Back Pocket Christians are always Comfortable in NOT Changing
4. Back Pocket Christians abhor Sacrifice on their part
5. Back Pocket Christians will be Judged by God
Symptoms of Overcoat Christians
• They are authentically covered with a CLOAK of Righteousness—RIGHTEOUS POSITIONALLY Romans 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”
• Their Christianity is an authentic Full Covering of Right Deeds—have a RIGHTEOUS PERSONALITY James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
• Their authentic Christian life is a Separation from Evil—RIGHTEOUS PERSONALLY Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Observations of Authentic Overcoat Christians
1. They are Assured in their Salvation because of Whose they are—the REDEEMER’S
2. They are Eager to Do Right because of who they are—the RANSOMED
3. They are Determined to Obey God because of where they are—in a world that is NOT their home—the REDEEMED
POINT—Back Pocket or Overcoat Christianity—the Choice is Ours!
