WHAT
IS CHRISTIANITY?
I
John 5:10-13
1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Intro:
1.
Christianity is not in a church..
a.
not a gaining of church membership
b.
not a going to church meetings
c.
not a giving to church missions
2.
Christianity is not something you
Conquer
a.
It does not come by education
b.
It does not come by escalation
c.
It does not come by employment
3.
Christianity is not in a Compromise
--enough
good to balance the bad --
4.
Christianity is not in a Clothing..
--something
you can put on and take off--
5.
Christianity is not acting like Christ.. but,
"CHRISTIANITY
IS CHRIST"
not
a plan, but a person
not
a reform, but a reborn
not
a new leaf, but a new life
not
a turning around in the road, but a new road
I.
IT IS A RECEIVING OF CHRIST IN SALVATION
A.
A gift....
Rom
6:23 Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I
John 1:11 John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
B.
of Grace...
Eph
2:8 Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
C.
From God...Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
II.
IT IS A REPRESENTING
OF GOD IN SOCIETY
A.
Representing his Grace...
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
B.
Representing his Greatness....
Phil
4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
C.
Representing his Glory....
Rom
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.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
III.
IT IS A RESPONDING TO CHRIST IN SERVICE......
A.
As fishers of men....
Matt
4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
B.
As fruit bearers......
Matt
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
John
15:1 John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
C.
As faithful servants....
Matt
21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Matt 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Matt 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Many
people today are full of religion, (what man does for God); but they
know nothing about salvation, (what God does for man).
by Bro. Stinnett Ballew
