Christians

Q: What does the Bible say about being a Christian?

Being a Christian means to be 'in Christ,' recognizing Him as Lord and Savior. The term 'Christian' originates from Acts 11:26, where the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. This name signifies a deep relationship with Christ beyond mere belief; it highlights being found in Him. Paul expresses this concept in Philippians 3:8-9, where he emphasizes knowing Christ and being found in Him. A Christian is one who is united with Christ, sharing in His righteousness and redemption as depicted throughout scripture in passages like Ephesians 1 and Colossians 2.

Q: How do we know election is true?

Election is affirmed by God's sovereign choice, as described in 1 Corinthians 1:27-30. The doctrine of election is foundational in Reformed theology, asserting that it is God who chooses individuals for salvation, not their own will or merit. 1 Corinthians 1:27-30 states that God chose the foolish and weak things of the world to confound the wise, underscoring that salvation is solely a work of God. As believers, we acknowledge that we were chosen 'in Christ' as part of God's divine plan, fully reliant on His grace, which is central to our identity as Christians.

Q: Why is understanding Christ as Lord important for Christians?

Understanding Christ as Lord affirms His authority and establishes the foundation of our faith. The recognition of Christ as Lord is crucial for authentic Christian faith, as outlined in Romans 10:9, which states that belief in Jesus as Lord is essential for salvation. This acknowledgment reflects His supreme authority and governance over all creation. As demonstrated in Philippians 2:10-11, every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord. A proper understanding of His lordship also informs our relationship with Him, recognizing that He is not only a Savior but also a sovereign ruler deserving of our submission and reverence.

Q: What must we believe to be considered Christians?

To be a Christian, one must believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and their righteousness. Being a Christian encompasses a set of essential beliefs. Romans 10:9 elaborates that to be saved, one must confess Jesus as Lord and believe in His resurrection. This includes understanding that Jesus is not only a historical figure but the sovereign Lord who has authority over salvation. Furthermore, Christians must recognize Him as their righteousness (Romans 10:3), without which no one can stand before a holy God. This belief highlights the need for Christ's mediatorial role, ensuring that we are reconciled with God through His atoning sacrifice.

Q: How does one become 'in Christ'?

One becomes 'in Christ' through God's sovereign election and grace. The concept of being 'in Christ' is central to the Christian faith and is attained solely through God's work of election and grace. 1 Corinthians 1:30 states that Christ has become our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—this highlights that our union with Christ is not based on our works but on God's sovereign choice. Additionally, as per Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus in John 3, being 'born again' is a divine act, illustrating that our new life in Christ originates from God's will and initiative.

Acts chapter eleven which we
have been studying through. Let's read a few verses here
in Acts eleven beginning with verse nineteen. Acts eleven nineteen now they
which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about
Stephen traveled as far as to Nicaea and Cyprus and Antioch,
preaching the word to none but the Jews only. Some of them were
men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch,
spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was
with them. And a great number believed and
turned unto the Lord." Then tidings of these things
came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they
sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch,
who when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and
exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave
unto the Lord." Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy
Ghost and of faith, and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus,
or to speak Saul. And when he had found him, he
brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass that a whole
year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much
people." And here is our text. And the disciples were called
Christians first in Antioch. Perhaps there's no term which
is more used or misused and abused today as the term Christian. Literally millions of people
take this title to themselves. What is a Christian? As the disciples were first called,
these were the first people to be called Christians, or as I
like to pronounce it, Christians. Is a Christian a disciple, a
follower, an admirer, a believer in Jesus Christ? Yes, but it's much deeper than
that, much deeper than that. Turn with me, if you will, to
Philippians chapter three. Philippians chapter three. I
want you to do a little Bible study with me now. We'll go through
three epistles, four actually. I want you to look with me at
the Holy Spirit through Paul, his description of a Christian
Paul sums it up in two words in Philippians 3. Philippians
3 verses 8 through 9. Look at this. Paul says, Doubtless
I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have suffered the
loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win
Christ and be found. Here are the words. in him, in
Christ, to be found in Christ. To be a Christian means to be
found in Christ, in Christ. Well, what does that mean? Preacher,
what does that mean? All right, let's look back at
Ephesians. Paul says this so many times, I quit counting.
In Ephesians chapter one, and we saw it in 1 Corinthians, but
Ephesians chapter one, To be a Christian means to be in Christ. Look at it all these times here
in Ephesians 1. Look at verse 1 with me, the
last line. To the faithful in Christ Jesus. Verse 3. Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places or things in Christ. Verse 4. As according as God
hath chosen us in Christ. Verse 6. to the praise of the
glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the
Beloved," or Christ, verse 7, "...in whom," in Christ, we have
redemption, verse 10, "...that in the dispensation of the fulness
of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ."
Chapter 2, right over there, chapter 2, verse 6. And God hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places,
or things, in Christ Jesus." Verse 10, we are His workmanship,
God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. Verse 13, but now
in Christ Jesus, you who sometime are far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ. In whom, in Christ, all the building
or church is fitly framed together, growing unto a holy temple in
the Lord." Verse 22, "...in whom, in Christ, ye also are built
together." Go over to Colossians, the book of Colossians, chapter
2. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be in Christ, to
be found in Christ. Well, what does that mean? Colossians
2, look at this, verses 8 and following. Colossians 2, Paul
says, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain
deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the
world, and not after Christ. For in him, in Christ, dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. You are complete In him,
which is the head of all principality and power, in whom also you are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hand, and putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of
Christ. Buried with, or in him, in baptism,
wherein also you are risen, or in Christ you are risen with
him. through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead. And you being dead in your sins,
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with, or in Christ, having forgiven you all trespasses." So in two
words, what it means to be a Christian is to be in Christ, to be found
in Christ. elect chosen by God and placed
in Christ, or that is, Christ represented you while he was
on this earth. He came down to this planet to
fulfill the requirements of God's holy law for some people. And
those people who he did that are called Christians. They are
in Christ. He did that for them and he satisfied
God's justice for those people. He went to the cross to pay for
those people saying. So that's what it means to be
a Christian it means to be in. Well how does one get in Christ. How does one know that he is
in Christ. We'll turn back to what we read
for our scripture reading. First Corinthians one. All right.
First Corinthians one. First Corinthians one. How does
one get in Christ? Well, we saw it all through Ephesians
and Philippians and Colossians. We've already seen that. It's
God's work. Did you notice it there in 1
Corinthians as we read it? 1 Corinthians 1, verse 27, God
hath chosen, God hath chosen, not man, but God hath chosen
those that he would put in Christ. God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty,
and base things of the world, and things which are despised
hath God chosen. Yea, and things which are not
to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory
in his presence, but of God." That's how one gets in Christ.
It's God's decision. It's God's choice. Of God are
you chosen. Look at it, verse thirty, in
Christ. In Christ, who of God, the work
of God, is made unto us all of these things we need. Wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. So this is all
the work of God. Christ summed it up when he was
talking to Nicodemus, he said, you must be born again. He must
be born of God, not of the will of the flesh, not of the will
of man, but of God. It's God's choice. He must give
birth to you, and he does this by putting you in Christ, in
Christ, who came down here as it were, your spiritual mother,
to give birth to you, a people in Christ. And there's a new
name, and they're called new creatures in Christ, right? And these creatures, these new
creatures, there's no better word or no better title that
can be given to them than this, Christians. They're given the
name of Christ. They bear his name. So what it
means to be a Christian means to be in Christ, to have him
do what he did for you, to be represented by him, be put by
God in Christ when he came down here and to do that work on your
behalf. Also, to be a Christian, a Christian,
means this. Look at Romans, chapter 10. And
we'll camp here in Romans, chapter 10, for a little bit. Romans,
chapter 10. I asked you, does it mean to
be a believer? Is that what it means to be a
Christian? Yes, it does. To be a believer
in Christ. Well, what must we believe? What
must we believe? called a Christian. There's a
raging debate about that today, isn't there? Even among preachers.
What must we believe? Well, I'm going to show you that
it's not so much what, but it's who. It's who. Facts. Do facts save us? Some people
say that if you just believe on Jesus, believe that he lived
and died and was buried and rose again, that you are a Christian.
This is pretty much the definition of a Christian today. Is that
so? Then the devil's a Christian.
He believes that. Devils believe in tremble. Many
people were eyewitnesses of these facts, weren't they? Many people
actually saw him walk planet Earth, actually saw him hung
on a cross, actually saw him expire, put in a grave, and saw
him some days later rise from that grave. But that didn't save
them, did it? Well, what must we believe to
be a Christian? What is it about Jesus Christ?
Our Lord asked the question, what think ye of Christ? Romans
chapter ten, let's look at it, verse six through nine. The righteousness
which is of faith speaketh on this way. All right? Paul is
pretty much saying this is what you must believe. This is the
righteousness or this is what you must believe, the faith you
must have to be a true believer. Say not in thine heart, who shall
ascend into heaven? What must we do? That's to bring
Christ down from above. Who shall descend into the deep?
That is to bring up Christ again from the dead. Well, what does
it say then? What is this confession of faith? The word is nigh thee,
even in thy mouth, and in thy heart is the word of faith which
we preach." This is what we preach. This is what we preach men must
believe to be a Christian, a believer, a believer. That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy
heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Jesus, that he is Lord. Did you notice the emphasis throughout
the reading of 1 Corinthians? The Lord. What about an axe?
It says the disciples turned to the Lord and the hand of the
Lord. And the apostle Barnabas exhorted
them to cleave unto the Lord. Right? The Lord. What must we
believe to be a Christian? We must believe that Jesus Christ
is Lord in the fullest sense of the word. Lord, Lord. Many talk of a Jesus today, don't
they? As their Savior, and they later
claim to make him their Lord. Peter preached it at Pentecost,
didn't he? He said, let all the house of Israel know assuredly
that God's already made him Lord. You don't make him Lord. He's
been Lord from the beginning of time. He is your Lord, whether
you acknowledge him or not. But salvation is to acknowledge
him as Lord. He is Lord. If anyone is going
to be saved by him, be in him, know him, they must first know
him as what? Savior? Lord. Whether he saves them or not.
Lord. I say it in the fullest sense
of the word. What does Lord mean? If men and women would bother
to look up Webster's Dictionary, they'd find out what Lord means.
It means this one who has power, one who has authority, one who
is master, one who is a ruler or a governor. There are many
pretenders in the House of Lords in England, aren't there? The
scripture says that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords, Lord of Lords,
that all power, they have some power, don't they? These lords
in England, they have a little bit of ruling power. He has all
power. He's the Lord of lords. They
have some authority, don't they? Christ said, all authority is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Lord of lords, all authority,
all authority, all dominion. That's what kingdom means. When
they came preaching the gospel of the kingdom, that means the
dominion of the king. He's not only Lord of lords,
he's king of kings. The dominion of the king. The
Lord, one Lord, really, one faith, that you believe that he's the
one Lord, one Lord, who has all reign, all rule, universal government
on his shoulder. And his greatest glory, his greatest
display of this authority is in salvation. And this is what
men and women are trying to take away from him, aren't they? His
greatest display of this authority and this power is in salvation.
It says salvation is of who? The Lord. The Lord. It's his decision, his choice,
his word, in his hands. He said it when praying to the
Father. Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Isn't
that his ultimate power and display of authority? The Lord? Not as many as will let him.
That's not an absolute authority, is it? Is that absolute power?
That he can't save anybody unless they let him? That's not all
authority, is it? He saves whom he will. And he
doesn't limit his power, as some say, or limit his will to keep
from violating man's will. That's not all power either,
is it? Let me tell you what the Lord does with man's will. He
exercises that authority over man's will, even. He exercises
that power over their will. It says, Thy people shall be
made willing in the day of his power and his authority. A man
says, I won't believe on him. Christ the Lord said, if he determines
to have him, he says, yes, you will. And he does. Now, that's power, isn't it?
Can you exert your will over me, John Cheesley? No way, baby. No way. Jesus Christ does. He does. He can and does. The day of his power says, Thy
people shall be made willing in the day of his power. That
day of his power is the gospel, right? What is the power of God
unto salvation? We read it there in 1 Corinthians,
didn't we? The preaching of the cross, Christ crucified, is the
power of God unto salvation. To the Greek, it's foolishness,
though. To the Jew, it's a stumbling block. But unto us which are
saved, it was the power of God. It was what woke you from the
dead. Wasn't it the power of God? It's when the Lord of life
stops by your grave, those who are dead and trespassed in sin,
and says, live by the gospel. you who were dead, and calls
you by the gospel." And the first thing he says to a dead sinner
is what? Oh, I love you. Oh, I want so
much to be your Savior. He introduces himself. He says,
I am the Lord. That's my name. I'm the Lord
of life. That is me. I am the Lord. You're
God. You're God. what he said over
in Isaiah 45, when I'm the Lord, there's none else. I kill, I
make alive. I wound, I heal. I save, I damn,
I save. I have the keys of hell and death
at my side. I decide everything. And a truly
awakened sinner, for lack of a better term, says, that's right,
you're Lord. Paul didn't know a lot about
the Lord Jesus, did he, when he was struck down? But he knew
whoever it was that knocked him off that horse. was Lord. He
was Lord from that day forward. At the name of Jesus, what? Everybody
will call him Savior. Is that what Paul said in Philippians
2? At the name of Jesus, everybody
will say, Oh, how I love Jesus. Oh, he's my Savior. Oh, he is,
but not first. At the name of Jesus, every knee,
when you hear the name Jesus, when men talk about and preach
the name Jesus today, Philippians 2.10 says every knee should bow,
not stand up and wave your hands. Bow, and every tongue should
confess what? That He's my friend? He is, but
not first. Every tongue should confess that
this name which is above every name, that He's what? Everything in heaven, they do,
when they hear the name Jesus, what do the people in heaven
say? Lord! What do the people under heaven
say? In hell, what do they say? I
know who you are. You're the Holy One of God. You're
the Lord. And everybody on earth, in whose
hands he is in, they are in, should say at this name, He's
Lord. He's Lord. I'm striking at the
heart of salvation here. Salvation, to be a Christian,
is to first know Jesus Christ as Lord and then as Savior. He quoted
it, a just God and then a Savior. He's not going to be a Savior
to anybody unless he's first Lord to them. Barnard used to
say that, didn't he? He said, Jesus doesn't save,
the Lord Jesus saves. So to be a Christian is to know
him as Lord, and this is a gift of God, isn't it? It's a gift
of God's Holy Spirit. This is what the Holy Spirit
teaches everyone who comes to God by Christ. He teaches no
man can call Jesus what? Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. And I'm sorry, but those who
continually refer to the high reigning most high potentate
ruler and king of heaven and earth continually as Jesus, I
don't really believe they've met the Lord yet. I'm not splitting
hairs, I'm exalting Jesus Christ. And no man can call him Lord
but by the Holy Spirit. And another thing we must know
and believe, yea, we'll believe if we are Christian. Look at
Romans ten again. We must know and be persuaded
in our hearts and confess with our mouth, not only that Jesus
Christ is Lord in the fullest sense, absolute authority, but
look at verses one through three. Brethren, my heart's desire and
prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. Now a true
preacher of the gospel is not hard and calloused and is concerned
about the souls of men, but he is first and foremost concerned
about the glory of God, the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is first and foremost concerned about lifting him up, exalting
him high, and abasing man. That always abases man when you
exalt the Lord, doesn't it? Always. But he has a compassion
for souls, but he must tell them the truth. Verse two, I bear
them record, I have a desire for them, that they might be
saved, and I bear them record, they are sincere, they have a
zeal of God, or for God, a God, a God of their imagination, not
the God of the Bible, not according to knowledge. They are ignorant
of God's righteousness. They are ignorant of God's righteousness. The second thing one must believe
in order to be called a Christian is that Jesus Christ is the Lord
their righteousness. Huh? This is the heart and soul
of the gospel. The Lord their righteousness. And it says many people though
zealous very sincere and going about religion today, and there
are a lot of people out there today that are apparently very
zealous for what they believe, but they're ignorant of the Lord,
their righteousness. Is that talking about God's essential
righteousness or God's holiness? Yeah, it is. They are ignorant
of that. Most people believe, if you ask
them about God, you say, describe God to me, the God of the Bible,
they first say what? He's love. They're ignorant of
God's essential character. His chief glory, his chief attribute
is what? What's his chief attribute? Holiness. Holy, holy, holy. is the Lord God of hosts. That's
what heaven's angels sing, isn't it? The triune God, the Holy
Father, the Holy Son, the Holy Spirit. Holy, holy, holy. That's his chief attribute, holiness.
God is too holy to look upon sin. God is too holy to forget
about sin. When God was introducing himself
to Moses, when he was showing him his glory, he said, I will
by no means clear the guilty. Know what he said? Too holy. Our generation's ignorant of
God. Ignorant of a God that holy, aren't they? This is why we must
know Jesus Christ as our holiness before this God. Are you with
me? I'm at the heart of the gospel here. This is at the heart. If
you don't hear anything else, if you pass by the dessert, this
is the meat. You need to chew on it. Jesus
Christ, and if you don't know this yet, listen now. You're
going to be a Christian, you've got to know this. Jesus Christ
is the only way of righteousness before this holy God. The only
way a sinner like you and me can come before a holy God. Elsewise,
he can't have anything to do with us. The only way a sinner
can be made righteous is for God to make Christ their righteousness. Of God are you in Christ. Of
God are you in Christ. He is made unto us. Wisdom, what? Righteousness. Righteousness. He who knew no sin was made sin
for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. as holy as God. God says you
be holy, I'm holy. We're not going to see God, we're
not going to be with God, we're not going to speak to God, he's
not going to speak to us unless what? Unless we're as holy as
he is. Right? Be ye holy, for I am holy. How are we going to do that?
Huh? By the works of our hands? Try our best? Live a good life? Our morality? Jesus Christ is
the only way. Him coming down here and doing
what he did for you, and God considering you to be in him. When he came down here to do
that work, to live that life for some people, if you were
in him, he did it for you. And God says you're holy. Why?
Because what we did was what Christ did. That's the only way. Only way. Well, look at verse
4. It says, Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness to everyone that believe it. He's
the end, the goal, the purpose of the law, even the law. The
law and the prophets give witness of Christ, of his righteousness. Turn to Isaiah 45 with me. Everybody
turn if you have a Bible. Isaiah 45 says, Christ is the
end of the law for righteousness to them that believe. Believe
what? That he's their righteousness. That he's their righteousness. It says there in verse 13 of
Romans 10, and everybody quotes this, whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved. That's it. That's all
you got to do. Say, Lord. Well, Christ said
there are many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord. Well,
what happened? What happened? Wasn't that a
magical statement? I mean, we cried it. Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Listen to
me. Many call him Lord with their
lips, when their heart is far from believing that he's the
Lord, their righteousness. Their righteousness. Does the
name Jehovah Sidkenu mean anything to you? Huh? Ever heard it? I see a lot of
eyes light up. You people have. Blessed are
your ears. You've heard that name, you know
what it means, and you believe in your heart that he's the Lord. Our righteousness. That's what
it means. Jehovah said, Kenneth, the Lord, our righteousness.
Many call him Lord. Well, look at Isaiah 45. He says
here in the last verses of Isaiah 45. I love this passage. Isaiah
45, 22. He says, look under me and be
saved all the ends of the earth. I'm God. There's none else. I
have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness,
and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow." Wait
a minute, Paul, you're lying. Paul said it's the name of Jesus
every knee will bow. One and the same person, people.
One and the same. Old Jehovah Witnesses, one and
the same person. Either Paul's line or Isaiah's
line won't. It's one Lord. Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God's one God. Who's that? Jesus Christ. He's
the Lord. I am the Lord. There's none else. Under me every knee shall bow.
The word's gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not
return. That under me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall
swear. What are they going to swear? Verse 24. Surely they shall say, In the
Lord have I righteousness. Am I splitting hair, or am I
telling the testimony of all true Christians? That's what
it means for Him to be Christ to a people. They're righteousness,
they're righteous representative, they're Holy One, they're Messiah. That's what Messiah Christ—if
He's not your righteous representative, you've unchristened Him, right? Not by works of righteousness,
which we have done. but by works of righteousness
which he has done." That's his name. We take away that from
him. We un-Christ him. We are anti-Christs. We're not
Christians. That's what makes him Christ,
our sinless substitute, our spotless lamb, the holy high priest, right? One mediator. Christ. A true Christian. taking away from that name even.
Christian. Christian. Jesus Christ. A true
Christian is one who believes in their heart that Jesus Christ
is their righteousness. The only way to a holy God. Their only acceptance. The only
way a holy God can love them. They know and they believe in
their heart. They don't just say it. They
don't just believe it in the head and say it with their mouth
because it's the right religious thing to say. But they believe
in their heart. There's nothing lovely about
them. And if God's going to love them, he has to love them in
his altogether lovely son. That there's none good, no, not
one. They don't just say it with their mouth. They believe it
in their heart that they are no good. That only he has done
good. They don't just say it with their
mouth. They believe it in their heart. With the heart man believeth
unto what? Righteousness. And with the mouth,
and he's not hesitant, she's not hesitant to tell everybody
either who their righteousness is. Jesus Christ, their only
hope. All right? And his talk is all
of Christ's person and work. I was going to have you turn
to Psalm 71, but we've looked at it so many times. When David
said so many times there, a dozen times, I'll make mention of thy
righteousness and thine only. Thine only. You ask a Christian
about himself, he doesn't have much to say. He'll say, I'm a
sinner, I'm ungodly, I'm unworthy. Ask him about his Christ, he
has a lot to say. Oh, he's my only hope. He's my
mediator, my intercessor, my advocate, my Lord, my master,
my substitute, my redeemer. He's everything. He's all. Christ
is all. All my salvation. All my salvation. To be a Christian,
one who is a true Christian is one who believes Jesus Christ
is his or her blood atonement. Look over at Genesis 22 with
me. Genesis twenty-two. You know this story, don't you?
Ah, to preach the same things to me is not grievous. And for you, it's safe. It's
salvation. Christ is salvation. Brother Walter Gruber said one
time, he said, if a man can't preach from Genesis twenty-two,
he just can't preach. Genesis twenty-two. And I've
heard them, I know you've heard them too, preach from this and
rarely mention Christ's name. And talk about Abraham all the
way through this, about his glorious faith. The same one in the stories
about Jesus Christ is the one who gave Abraham his faith. Faith
is a gift of God. You must have a blood atonement.
Now, there are many people who believe Christ died, but they
don't know why. So that won't save you, just
believing that Christ died from the beginning. And it really makes no sense
unless you know why he died, right? Just say, God loves you,
Christ died for you. Why? Why? It'd be like me saying to my
wife, honey, I love you. Well, show me. Kill myself. What does that accomplish? Huh?
If I really loved her, I'd stay alive, wouldn't leave her with
the bills. Right? What does that prove at Christ's
death? Huh? What does that mean? Well, from the beginning, God
has been saying this very clearly. All through the Scripture, God
has been clearly saying this from the beginning. Without blood,
there's no remission of sin. It is the blood that makes atonement,
a covering pitch for the soul. It is the blood when God first
killed when Adam and Eve sinned, God said it right there, didn't
he? When he slew that innocent animal to cover their nakedness.
I have to believe he's a lamb. I just, you can disagree with
me, but I have to believe that was a lamb God slew and covered
them. He shed, God was the first one
to shed blood. God was the first one to kill. He shed that blood
and covered Adam and Eve, their nakedness, their sin, their rebellion
in the skin of an animal. That won't do it, though. And then when Abel, when he taught
Adam and Eve to teach their children how they were to come to worship
God, what did they bring? One of them brought fruit and
vegetables and the things he had done. And surely, he did
the best he could. It came. Surely, God will accept
that. Sincerity. What did his brother bring? Blood. Blood. Something that God had
provided. A lamb. He had nothing to do
with the growth of this lamb. God provided it. And he brought
that which God provided. Blood before the Lord. God accepted
him and his sacrifice. Genesis 22. Young Isaac knew
more than most preachers do today, doesn't he? Look at verse seven. Isaac, you know, they were going
up the mountain with that. He and his father were going
up the mountain to make that offering unto the Lord. Look at verse
seven. Isaac spoke unto Abraham, his father, and said, My father.
Abraham said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire. Here's the fire, father. You
know, the sacrifice had to be burned, had to be killed, had
to be put on an altar and burned. Here's the fire, and here's the
wood. Behold the wood, we have the
wood. Question of all questions, isn't
it? Where's the lamb for a burnt offering? This young boy knew
more than theologians today. Daddy, we can't approach a holy
God without blood. You've taught me that from the
beginning. We've got to have a blood sacrifice, and men and
women and People are trying to worship God all over the world
today without blood, aren't they? They've got the fire. Holy Ghost
fire revival, you know. Fiery cloven tongues of fire.
They've got the wood. They've got our buildings and
all this paraphernalia that goes with religion. Where's the lamb?
Where's the talk of Christ's blood, his shed blood? They don't
mention about the blood, do they? Huh? You know, we're fundamentalists. This is the fundamentals of the
faith. Where's the blood? Without the blood, there's no
remission of sin. They may call themselves fundamentalists. We're
the fundamentalists. The foundation of God, what did
that tabernacle rest on in the wilderness? What did the tabernacle,
that tent, it was put down, you remember our study on it? It
was put down in silver sockets. What does that represent? Blood. Blood. Silver. That's Christ's
blood. The price he paid for the redemption
of his people. A Christian knows and believes
Jesus Christ is his Lamb. Look at verse 8. Oh, Abraham
prophesied of Christ, didn't he? Christ said, He rejoiced
to see my day and saw it. My son, God will provide himself
a Lamb for a burnt offering. God will provide. Jehovah, Jehovah,
Jireh. God will provide. God was going
to do the providing. Of God are you in Christ. God
sent Christ. In the fullness of time, God
sent his Son, made under the law, made of woman, made under
the law to redeem them, to pay the blood atonement for them.
God sent them. God provided his Son. God sent
Christ. God will provide for himself
a lamb. You know the blood, and boy,
this is missing today. You know that Jesus Christ died
principally for God. I haven't heard anybody say this,
that Jesus Christ died for God. What do you mean? He enabled
God to be just, and yet the justifier of the ungodly. In other words,
God cannot clear the guilty. How is he going to clear us?
He's got to pay for those sins. My sins have to be paid for.
They have to be bled. The soul that sinneth must what? Surely die. Jesus Christ died. He paid the price. This is why we believe in particular redemption.
It's a must. God's justice demands it, that
everyone that Christ paid that penalty for must go free. They must. The penalty's been
paid. The price has been paid. Somebody
says, well, he just offered it. It's like this. Here's what they
say. that Jesus Christ, and it's like
we're in prison. See, we come down here and he
offers us deliverance and he says, whoever wants to, now you
can go free. He opens the door, whoever wants
to can go free. There's one problem with that. You show me a jail
anywhere that's keeping boarders. You show me a jail where if somebody
is not supposed to be there, they can just stay. That costs
$40,000 a year to keep them. If Jesus Christ paid the price
for a sinner's sin, they must go free. And here's the good
thing about it. They want to go free. They'll
be made willing in that day of his power. They'll be made willing. God, my son, God will provide
for himself. God will provide himself a land. God was in Christ reconciling
the world to himself. See that? It's all right there
in that one verse. God was in Christ, reconciling
the world to himself. God was in Christ. God provided
himself. God was manifest in the flesh. Why? With man, it's impossible. But with God, you can't save
yourself. Nobody can. Nobody has. And it
says in Isaiah 25 and 9, that the people are going to say,
ìThis is our God. Heíll save us. Weíve waited for
Him. Weíve tried all these years and
couldnít and failed. He must save us. Only God can
save us.î And so God came. God became a man to come down
and do for men what they couldnít do for themselves. All right,
lastly, and Christ says that He purchased the church He purchased
with His And lastly, a Christian. A Christian is one who knows
and believes Jesus Christ died as his Lamb, his blood sacrificed.
And lastly, he is, as I asked in the beginning, he is a lover,
a follower, a disciple, a student, an admirer, an imitator, an adherent
to. He's a Christian. He's the follower. That's what they say in derision
about different people when they follow. He's a Calvinist. You
know, he adheres to. He's a disciple, a student. He
believes what Calvin... I'm a Christian. You know that?
I'm a Christian. They say Calvin's name, right?
Why don't they say Christ's name, right? I'm a Christian. I'm an
adherer to. I'm a believer in. I'm a disciple.
Everything he says, I believe it. How about you? If you don't,
you're not a Christian. Huh? He says, My sheep hear my
voice, didn't they? They shall all be taught of God.
Well, they taught the same thing about the same one. They all
believe the same thing. They all have different degrees
of knowledge, maybe, and they all may not be able to perfectly
articulate or say what they believe, but they believe the same thing.
Same what? The same one. They are disciples, believers,
followers, adherents of followers of Jesus Christ. They're the
bride. They're like the bride. They're called the bride, the
wife of Christ. The bride is like a young bride
who falls in love with a young man. She's all starry-eyed for
him. She only has eyes for him. Right? That's a Christian, isn't
it? They only have eyes They look
to Christ and Christ alone. They look to him. Christ becomes
their all. When a young woman marries a husband, she totally
submits herself into his hands. She becomes, or he becomes her
everything, doesn't he? Her provider, her protector,
her companion, her friend, her confidante. That's Christ. That's the bride of Christ. If
he's not all things to you, you're not the bride of Christ. that
if he is, if you see Christ as your all, all your righteousness,
was I split, was I, is that just a theological term, Brother Jim,
huh? Or is that the basis of the gospel? The Lord, our righteousness. He said there, I didn't read
it all there in verse three, he said, many have gone about
to establish their own. That un-Christ-ing, doesn't it?
What that's saying, is Jesus Christ didn't need to come here.
I can get to God on my own. God doesn't take lightly to that,
does He? It means Christ died in vain. God put His Son to death
in vain. That angers God. He's all their
righteousness, all their hope, all their salvation, all their
desire. One thing have I desired of the
Lord, that's what I seek after. He's all. Christ, he summed it
all up by saying that, a Christian is one to whom Christ is all. Okay, stand and I'll dismiss
this in a moment.

Christians

What does the Bible say about being a Christian?

How do we know election is true?

Why is understanding Christ as Lord important for Christians?

What must we believe to be considered Christians?

How does one become 'in Christ'?

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Christians

What does the Bible say about being a Christian?

How do we know election is true?

Why is understanding Christ as Lord important for Christians?

What must we believe to be considered Christians?

How does one become 'in Christ'?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

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