Basic Christianity 3 -- What Is A Real Christian?

30th September, 2018

Basic Christianity 3 -- What Is A Real Christian?

A sermon preached on 30th September, 2018, as part of our Basic Christianity. series.

1 John 1:5-2:6

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Details

Reading is 1 John 1:5 to 2:6 ("God is Light" and "Christ our Helper") from NIV, with references to Romans 3:23 & 6:23, Luke 9:23, John 3:3 & 14:6, and James 2:26.

About the Speaker

Phil Marsden

Phil Marsden

Phil received his call to full-time ministry as a child and since the age of 19 has served with Youth For Christ, the Baptist Missionary Society and several large churches before taking up his present role as Ministry Team Leader at Central Baptist Church. Phil’s a visionary leader with a heart to share the good news of Jesus and to see the church grow.

View all sermons by Phil Marsden.

Basic Christianity.

Transcript

WHAT IS A REAL CHRISTIAN?

A Christian is… (discuss if the following ideas are right or wrong?)

  1. Someone who lives in a Christian country
  2. Someone who is born into a Christian family
  3. Someone who believes in God
  4. Someone who goes to church regularly
  5. Someone who has been baptised or confirmed
  6. Someone who does a lot of good things for people
  7. Someone who is a follower of Jesus
  8. Someone who reads their Bible every day
  9. Someone who prays to God regularly
  10. Someone who obeys most of the commandments

A Christian is a follower of Jesus…someone in relationship with Christ…(Christian)

‘Someone who accepts that Jesus took the punishment for things we do wrong, by dying on the cross and chooses to repent and dedicate their life to him and his service in response.’

What is sin? …doing wrong things …(think: of wrong things you’ve done!)
What does sin do? …separates us from God
Who has sinned? …all of us …Rom 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short…”
What can we do? …nothing! …Rom 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death” (eternal separation) …but God can + has …“but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus”

How do I become a Christian…if I’m not one already?

‘Repent’: Turning around to follow Christ…
‘Making Jesus Lord of your life’… (what does this mean?)
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk 9:23)

What is a REAL Christian? …there’s no such thing as a non-real one! (either are or aren’t)

James 2:26 “Faith without deeds is dead” Q) Faith or works? A) Faith that works!

The Christian message…

  1. Man was made by God and lived in perfect relationship with him – Gen 1:27
  2. Man decided to do things his own way, instead of God’s and sinned – Gen 3:8
  3. Man had now broken his friendship with God and sin had separated them – Rom 3:23
  4. Man could not restore the relationship himself, as sin kept them apart – John 14:6
  5. God decided to help man by sending his own son, Jesus, into the world – John 3:16
  6. God is just and so still had to deal with the consequences of man’s sin – Rom 6:23
  7. God had sent Jesus to take this punishment upon himself on the cross – Rom 5:8
  8. God raised Jesus again from the grave, showing the reality of eternal life – 1Cor 15:20
  9. Man has to ACCEPT that he has turned away from God and sinned – 1 John 1:8
  10. Man has to BELIEVE in his heart that Jesus died for him but is alive again – John 3:36
  11. Man has to CONFESS his sin, ask God to forgive him for it and repent – 1 John 1:9
  12. Man has to RECEIVE God’s forgiveness and make him Lord of their life – Rom 10:9-13