I suppose that everyone here
tonight who professes to be a Christian has been asked at one time or
other in your lifetime, how long have you been a Christian? Has anyone ever asked you that?
How long have you been a Christian? Well, I don't think that is nearly
so important as the question that I'm asking you tonight in
the title of this message. I ask you not how long have you
been a Christian. I ask you tonight how long Will
you be a Christian? How long have you been a Christian
will have nothing to do with whether you enter God's kingdom
or not. How long you have been a Christian
will have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you
are saved. Judas Iscariot walked with Christ
three and a half years and he entered not into the kingdom
of God. The thief on the cross was a
believer for only a few hours, and yet he entered paradise with
Jesus Christ our Lord. So how long you have been a Christian,
and some of you may boast tonight of thirty years of profession,
or twenty-five or twenty years, how long you have been a Christian
will not enable you to enter the kingdom of God. But how long
you continue in the faith, how long you continue to walk with
Christ, how long you continue to rest in the Son of God, has
everything to do with whether or not you enter heaven's glory. Let me show you that from the
Word of God. First of all, from 2 Timothy,
chapter In 2 Timothy 4, verse 7, Paul the Apostle came to the
end of life's journey, and he had just said, The time of my
departure is at hand. In verse 7 he says, I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness. I have kept the faith. Turn to Hebrews chapter 10. In
the tenth chapter of Hebrews, verse 38 and 39, now all of you
are familiar with the Scripture which says, He that endureth
to the end, the same shall be saved. Look, if you will, at
Hebrews 10, verse 38. Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who
draw back unto perdition, but unto them that believe," or keep
on believing, to the saving of the soul. Now turn to I John. In the first epistle of John,
chapter Verse 19, the Apostle John writes about those people
who believed for a while, who were church members for a while,
who were faithful for a while, and then departed from the faith.
And he says of them in I John 2, verse 19, They went out from
us, they left us, but they were not of us. For if they had been
of us, if they had been really born again, if they had been
children of God, if they had been truly believers, if they
had been of us, they would no doubt have continued, have continued
with us. But they went out that they might
be made manifest that they were not all of us. Now our text tonight
in Hebrews 3, What I'm saying is this, how long you have been
a Christian will not make you a Christian. How long you have
been a Christian will not enable you to enter the kingdom of God.
How long you have been a Christian will have absolutely nothing
to do with whether or not you enter heaven. But how long you
continue in the faith, how long you continue in Christ will have
everything to do with whether or not you are saved. In Hebrews
chapter 3, verse 6, the Scripture says, Christ as a son over his
own house, whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence
and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Now verse 14, For we are made
partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence
steadfast unto the end. The Amplified Version gives that
Scripture this way, and I think it's a little easier to understand.
We are made partakers of Christ, and we share in all that He has
for us only if we hold our first newborn confidence and original
expectation firm to our death. Faith in the beginning, faith
at the close, faith all the way. That's the important and the
one important matter. And as I read in Hebrews 3, Israel,
though they left Egypt, Israel, though they made an effort, And
for a number of years they moved in the direction of the promised
land, yet did not enter that land. And the Scripture says
they were shut out because of unbelief. You say, but they believed
when they left Egypt? Maybe they did, I don't know.
But they believed when they stopped at the mountain? Maybe they did.
But they believed when they ate the manna and drank of the rock.
Maybe they did. But they didn't believe when
they stood outside Canaan and they stayed outside Canaan and
they perished in the wilderness. We are made partakers of Christ
and share in all that he has for us only if we hold our first
newborn confidence and original expectation firm to our death. I have no hope for a man who
starts out in the Christian journey and does not continue. I have
no hope for a man or a woman or a young person who makes a
good start and runs a good race if they do not come to the finish
line having grown in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ
and holding fast that original faith with which they began.
And that's what this Bible is declaring in Hebrews 3, 6, and
14. No hope. No hope. I have three
important parts tonight to this message. Number one, a great
privilege. A great privilege, or what is
it to be a Christian? Number two, a great question. And thirdly, a great test. Now let's take them one at a
time. First of all, our great privilege. Look at verse 14 again. For we are made partakers of
Christ. What is very significant there
to you when you're talking about what it is to be saved, what
it is to be a Christian, what it is to truly be born again? I think the key word is a two-letter
word. It does not say we are made partakers
with Christ. That would be true. That would
be a very precious truth also. For we are partakers with Christ. We are joint heirs with Christ. All things are His and all things
are ours with Him. The Scripture tells us that.
We are with Him in the Father's favor. We are with Him in eternal
glory. We are with Him in the heavenly
places. But that's not what it says.
We are partakers, it doesn't say, with Christ. And it does
not say we're partakers of rich blessings by Christ, though that's
certainly true. We are partakers of rich spiritual
benefits. We have pardoning mercy. We have,
through Christ, redeeming grace. We have, because of Christ, adoption
into the family of God. We have, because of Christ, wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. But the text
says we are made partakers of Christ, and that's the key. We are made partakers of Christ,
of Himself. As I said this morning, Christianity
is not a philosophy, it's a person. It's not just a way of life,
it's a person. It's not just a destination,
it's a person. And those who are redeemed are
made partakers of a person. We are one with Christ, and this
union with Christ is an intimate, personal, vital, living union. We are partakers actually of
Himself. Now this is set forth in the
Bible in several ways, and if you miss this, you've missed
the gospel. If you miss this, you've missed salvation. You've
missed the very essence of life. Christ is our life. Paul said,
I prevail till Christ be formed in you. Not a doctrine, but a
person. Not a principle, a person. Not a direction, a person. Not a morality, a person. Not a law, a person. Till Christ
be formed in you. Christ in all of His love and
grace and mercy and truth and beauty and compassion and humility. Christ in you. That's the hope
of glory. Christ is not in you, you have
no hope of glory. You may believe He died on the
cross, the devil believes and trembles. You may believe that
He was buried and rose again, the devil believes and trembles.
You may believe that He's coming again, the devil knows He's coming
again. For the demon said, Art thou
come to torment us before our time? But when you're saved,
you're made a partaker of Christ, of Himself. The Bible says he's the foundation
stone on which we are built, cemented to him, resting upon
him, joined to him, one as a spiritual house for the habitation of God. He is the cornerstone, and we
are the living stone built on him, part of him as the stone,
the foundation is part of the building. Then the Bible says
He is divine, and we are the branches. The branches have no
sap, the branches have no life, the branches have no strength
of their own. They draw everything from the
vine, and without the vine they're nothing. They're dead, they're
lifeless. All of our grace is in and through
and by and because of Him. Is the branch part of the vine? It certainly is, and that's the
only reason it's living. And if it's not part of the vine,
it's fit for the burning. And then the Scripture says he's
the head and we're the body. It's a great mystery. But we're
partakers of Christ just as much as the body is a partaker of
the head. We're one with Christ in everlasting
covenant mercy. We're one with Christ on earth
in flesh and bones and obedience. We're one with Christ on the
cross in sacrifice. We're one with Christ in glory
at the right hand of the Father. We're one with Christ coming
again. Christ and the believer is one. We're made partakers of Christ
himself. That's what it is to be saved.
That's what it is to be redeemed. That's what it is to be a Christian.
It's not believing doctrines. It's not making a decision. We
are made partakers of a living person who controls, who dominates,
who is sovereign, and who reigns where he sits. And this is the
work of God's Spirit. Notice another key word here
in this statement, verse 14, Hebrews 3, we are made partakers
of Christ. I didn't make myself a partaker
of Christ. My mother and father didn't make
me a partaker of Christ. My preacher didn't persuade me
to become a partaker of Christ. This is the work of God's Spirit. This is the work of God's grace. This is the work of Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, who Himself made us partakers of Christ. Turn to I Corinthians. In I Corinthians
chapter 1, verse 30, here is a key verse. I Corinthians 1.30,
But of him are you in Christ Jesus. Not just of him, but in
him. Not just aware of him, in him. But of God are you in Christ
Jesus. who of God is made unto us wisdom,
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. You are partakers
of Jesus Christ. That's the great privilege. Now
notice the second thing, the great question. Am I a partaker of Christ? What
is my religion? What is my hope? What is my profession? I've reformed my life. I live
better than the average man or woman. What is my religion? I was brought up in the church.
When I was young, my mother and father took me to church. When
I reached a certain age, I felt that I ought to unite with the
church, so I made a profession of faith and joy. What is my
religion? What is my Christianity? What
is my profession? Well, I walked down the aisle
and took the preacher by the hand and told him I believed
the doctrines and I was baptized. I didn't want to go to hell.
I wanted to go to heaven when I die. I didn't want to perish
under the wrath of God. I didn't want to come to the
judgment. I wanted to be a part of heaven's glory. What is my
religion? What is my profession? All men are not partakers of
Christ. You can be a partaker of religion
and never partake of Christ. All church members are not partakers
of Christ. All ministers are not partakers
of Christ. It is one thing to hear about
and know about a banquet. It's another thing to be fed
at the table. It's one thing to know of streams
in the desert, and believe in streams in the desert, and talk
about streams in the desert, and confess to believing there
are streams in the desert. It's another thing to come as
a thirsty, hungry, sinful soul and drink of that stream. It's one thing for a prisoner
to close his eyes in the depths of a dark, damp dungeon and dream
of liberty and talk of liberty. It's another thing for him to
walk the hills of home. That's another thing. Am I a
partaker of Christ? Am I just a believer in religion? Am I just a believer in miracles? Am I just a believer in heaven
and hell? Am I just a searcher or am I
a partaker? Does Christ live in me? Does He reign on the throne of
my heart? Is His very person living in
my soul and in my mind? Does Christ live in me? That's the question. It's a question
that we'd better hurry up and answer. We are made partakers
of Christ, of Christ. Christ is my sacrifice. His blood maketh atonement for
my sin. Outside of Christ there is no
sacrifice. Christ is my righteousness. His
obedience satisfies God's fearful law. Out of Christ I am filthy
ragged. Christ is my Mediator, only one
Mediator between God and men. Out of Christ I stand alone,
condemned by God under eternal wrath. I know all those things,
I believe all those things, but does Christ live in me? Is He my life? Is He my lover? Is He my friend? Is He my brother? Is He my thought? Is he my hope? Is he my breath? Is he my blood? Is he my strength? Does Christ
live in me? That's the question. Am I a partaker
of him? We are made partakers of Christ. We are made partakers of Christ. You can go to hell from the church
pew. You can go to hell from a church
pulpit. You can go to hell from a church
baptismal pool. And you can go to hell from the
table of the law. But the only way a man who is
a partaker of Christ can go to hell is for Christ to go to hell. He's a partaker of Christ. All right, let's look at this
great test now, the last thing. For we are made partakers of
Christ only if Only if we hold the beginning,
the beginning of our confidence, the beginning of our confidence,
that's such a key right there, the beginning of our confidence,
steadfast to the death. That man is a Christian, is a
partaker of Christ, who holds fast that faith and that which
he had in Christ when he first believed. How did you come to
Christ? What was the beginning of your
confidence in Christ? Well, I am a sinner. Christ is the only Savior. I
am a needy, naked, broken sinner. I rest entirely on Him. When we began the journey of
faith We were nothing at all. When we began the journey of
faith, Jesus Christ was all and in all. And we are not partakers
of Christ unless we hold fast that beginning, unless we can
say right now, the same thing that was true of me at the beginning
is true of me right now. Turn to Philippians chapter 3.
Christ was all then, Christ is all now. I was nothing then,
I'm nothing now. Christ was my hope then, He's
my hope now. Let's see how Paul started out.
Philippians chapter 3, in verse 7, he says, "...what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." Philippians 3, 8,
"...yea, 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 I do count them but done, that I may
win Christ and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness
which is the law, but the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus
my Lord." That's how Paul started, and that's how Paul wound it
up. He held fast that same confidence, that same attitude, that same
dependence, that same personal emptiness. That same longing,
oh, that I may know Him. Him. In the beginning of our
confidence, we didn't rely on ceremony. We didn't rely on work. We didn't rely on prayers. We
relied on Christ. He was strong enough. He was
sufficient enough. We relied on Him. It was Jesus
only in those days of beginning. How is it today? Did you begin
in the Spirit and you're made perfect by the flesh? In the
beginning of our confidence we loved Christ. His name was the
theme of our song. There's none other name given
among men, there's none can with Him compare. All others are marred
by sin, they're scarred. He's fairer than all the fair. on a cross lifted high, went
my Lord forth to die, and the arm of God was revealed. In sorrow
forlorn, my grief He hath borne, and with His stripes I am healed. This Lamb that was slain has
risen again, and His triumph we all shall see. Once dying
in shame, soon He is coming again, this Savior my King. Is He Jesus,
the Lamb of God, has died opening the door to heaven wide. All
who believe are justified freely from every stain. That's the
beginning. And brethren, we're partakers
of Christ only if we hold that same confidence steadfast to
the day of our death. Now let me ask you two or three
questions, myself and you. When we were first converted
to Christ, if the Lord had said, ìIíve taken you into my house. Iíll make you a lowly servant.
Iíll make you a mat for the saints to wipe their feet upon.î What
would you have said in that early day? What would be the beginning
of your confidence? While you would have said, so
be it, Lord, so be it. I'll be a mat, let the saints
wipe their feet upon me. Only God let me be a servant,
and let me eat the crumbs that fall from the table. We're partakers
of Christ only if we hold fast that same confidence to the end. If we're partakers of Christ,
we'll continue in that same meek and lowly spirit. When we first
came to Christ, listen to me, oh, how we hungered for a few
words of exhortation from his book. Oh, how we thirsted for
just a word from his lips. The sermon may be a little rusty,
but we found something good in it. The sermon may be a little
unpolished, but if it was full of Christ, that's enough for
us. We heard about our Lord. Well,
a starving beggar has become a food taster, and even a food
refuser. Once they were satisfied with
crumbs, and now they loathe the light bread. We're partakers of Christ if
we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. A man who's a partaker of Christ
is still hungry, and he's still thirsty, and he'll still walk
a mile to hear somebody talk about his Lord. When we first
came to Christ, we were so careful to guard our testimony. We wanted
to be a witness to those at home and those at work. We watched
our language, we watched our conduct, we watched our attitude,
lest we give offense. How is it now? If we're partakers
of Christ, we'll still hold fast that same watchfulness, that
same concern, that same desire to bear somebody else's burden
and see somebody else come to the knowledge of our Lord. when
we first came to Christ, when we first opened the door of blessing,
when God first embraced us in His arms of eternal love, when
first the sweet Spirit of the living God filled our hearts,
when first the Lord Jesus Christ came into our souls, everything
was well between us and all men. There was flooding our soul a
spirit of forgiveness, a spirit of grace, and a spirit of mercy. We were generous with our love
and our words of encouragement. We were willing to overlook the
afflictions of others and even bear their burdens and even make
excuse for their infirmities, realizing our own, and remembering
the pit from which we were dug. How is it now? How is it now? We've become critics. We've become holier-than-thou.
We've become self-righteous. We've become murmurers and complainers. No, not if we're partakers of
Christ. For we are made partakers of
Christ only if we hold fast the beginning, the first sweet days
of sweetheart love, the first sweet days of grace that flooded
our souls. We are partakers of Christ only
if he's just as sweet or sweeter, if he's just as necessary or
more necessary, if he's just as precious or more precious
than he was in those early days when we sang just as I am, without
one plea, just like I am. Without one plea, but that thy
blood was shed for me, and that thy abyss may come to thee, O
Lamb of God, I come. That's forty years ago, or thirty
years ago, or twenty, or ten, or five years ago. But Lord,
it's all the same, just like I am today without one plea. But that thy blood was shed for
me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come. And when God sends his messenger
to take me home, And I'm lying there in old age upon that bed,
and my eyesight's dim, and my body's weak, and the breath comes
with more difficulty. I lift my eyes to heaven's glories,
and I say, Just as I am, without one plea. But that thy blood
was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to thee, again,
O Lamb of God, I come. We are made partakers of Christ
only if we hold fast and continue with the beginning of our confidence
unto the day of our death. Brethren, that's true. And I
don't care what men preach or what they say or how they argue,
that's true. No unbeliever will ever enter
the kingdom of God. I don't care how far he is away
from Egypt, how long it took him to get there. If he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God in body and soul with undying
faith in Jesus Christ, he cannot enter because of unbelief. That's the only reason. He that
believeth not on the Son hath not life. hath not lie." Our
Father in Heaven, the revelation to our hearts of our sins, was
by Thy power, by Thy Spirit, and by Thy grace. When our eyes
were opened to behold Christ as the only Savior hanging on
that cross, bearing our guilt and our shame, it was by Thy
Spirit and by Thy grace. And when repentance toward thee
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was given to our hearts, and
we received him and believed on him and rested in him, it
was by thy grace and by thy Spirit. And our perseverance and the
days that are ahead of us, Lord, if you don't keep us, we'll fall.
If you don't give us faith and increase our faith, we'll depart
from the faith. Leave us not to ourselves, all
things are a gift of thy love. We want to come to the end of
life's journey, a partaker of himself. Christ in you, the hope
of glory. Give us the glorious, wonderful
gift of perseverance in the faith, that we might share eternal glory
with our beloved. In his name we pray, amen.