The title of my message today is - "What is a Biblical
Christian?
Why would I ask such a question as this? Is there any other kind of
Christianother than a Biblical Christian?
Of course the truth of the matter is - you are right - there is only one kind
of Christian - and that is a Biblical Christian.
BUT - unfortunately there is another side to this matter that makes the
answer to this question a little more complicated.
That problem is that there are many out there walking this world who claim
they are Christians - they claim they are followers of Jesus Christ. And yet
when it come to doing the things God demands of them they fall short. They
disregard God and the way He wants things done to follow their own pursuits -
their own human nature instinct.
I am not just talking about keeping the Laws of God such as - thou shalt to
this - thou shalt not do that. I am talking about believing the fundamental
doctrines of God's Holy word such as what we refer to the doctrines of grace -
election - the eternal security of the believer and of course the right and
proper method of practising the ordinances - baptism and the Lord's supper.
These are very important subjects - and if wrong in the way they are remembered
is good evidence of one's spiritual condition.
Here are a few
scripture that warns us of false professors --
Titus 1:16 -- They profess to know God; yet in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Lets read - Matthew 7:15-16 -
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Now lets jump
down to - verses 21-Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? Then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Just look at that - here Jesus stated there are those that will actually cast
out devils in His name and do many wonderful works in Jesus' name - and yet they
are not of God. This should remind us that Satan has power too - he can
heal also. Satan is a deceiver - so if he can decieve one into thinking a work
he did was that of God then he will do just that to get people to follow him
rather than the Lord Jesus Christ. This we read here is
a very clear warning from Christ that not all professor's of Christ are truly
regenerate people. He warns us to look for the fruits that will definitely show
themselves a in person who does possess the Holy Spirit in his heart - and
that those professors only in fact God will judge and they end up in hell for
all eternity.
Another warning found in - 2
Timothy 3:5 - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
This is warning us of what people will be like especially in the last days
before Jesus' return for us to take all His chosen ones to heaven. Note - from
such turn away from those who have a form of godliness - a good life style,
those washed on the outside of the cup and made themselves look clean and
wholesome to those about them, but do not possess the Spirit of God in
them.
What is the difference between those who profess to believe only - but there
is no evidence to indicate that indeed they are a child of God? Have you ever
heard some one say about another person "He is a professor but not a
possessor?"
Well that is an accurate statement of the very thing we are talking about. It
means of course that this person is professing to be a Christian - but judging
from their lifestyle there is no evidence of the Holy Spirit being present in
their life.
Lets take a look at some scripture to see if we can find out the difference.
It says In - Ezekiel 36:26-27 -
And a new heart also will I give you; and a new spirit will I put within you:
and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an
heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and CAUSE you to walk
in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Then in - John 3:3&5 - Jesus
answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Verse 5 -
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
These scriptures tell us - 1. That God will put in His saved people a new
spirit (or nature) and that that new spirit He puts in us will cause us to seek
God and do what He wants us to do - obey His laws and follow His
instructions.
2. In John 3:3&5 it
clearly states we MUST be born again - we MUST have this new Spirit that God is
talking about in Ezekiel 36 implanted in us in order for us to be able to "see"
or "comprehend" or "understand" the Kingdom of God - and if we can not
comprehend the things of God we certainly will never enter it.
So that is clearly the difference between a "Biblical Christian" and a false
professor of Christ.
A Biblical Christian has God's Holy Spirt dwelling in him as a new nature causing all the changes in him that makes an obvious distinction between us and those who don't have the Holy spirit residing within their heart. In God's own word it makes us a peculiar person - different from others that makes us stand out as differenct. That is found in --
Titus 2:14 -- Who gave Himself for us, that He might reeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a PECULIAR PEOPLE, zealous of good works.
Not a bunch of odd balls as some might read that to mean - but a people who are surely different from the rest of the world around them. No wonder the worlds hates Christians so much - for that is a trait of mankind in general - they hate anyone that is different from them.
It says in - Romans 8:13 - If ye live after the flesh,(our human nature) ye shall die: (go to hell) but if ye through the Spirt do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Eternally in heaven)
This makes it clear that those who are saved
have the Holy spirit dwelling in them - those who do not have the Holy spirit in
them are not a child of God hence their lot is an eternity in hell.
How can we tell if a person is born of God? Is there evidences we can look
for to indicate that a professor is indeed a possessor?
Of course no one can tell for absolute certainty if another person is born of the new nature from God - that is God's business and we should leave that finallity in God's hands - but still there is plenty of evidence (or lack of it) you can note that would indicate whether that person has the Holy spirit in him. Although we should not say dogmatically that a person is unsaved because of their lifestyle or what they believe we do have to judge them up to a point. For instance we should look for that of salvation evidence before we fellowship with them or allow them as a member of our church. Letting a person into our church who is living a life of sin can ruin our own credibility as well as the church's. So we do have to be careful of whom we accept as a friend or a member in our church.
The reason we should look for a change is explained here --
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
You are a new creature - a creature with two natures -
1. - the human nature which is only interested in following after human interests -
2. but we now have a second nature - God's nature that definitely will influence you to willingly follow God's interests.
You can read about the conflict between these
two natures in Romans 7:14-25 and Galatians 5:17 which I
will quote here:
Galatians 5:17 -- For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that
ye can not to the things tha ye would.
From these scriptures it is quite clear that our own rebellious sin What are some of these evidences of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us? Here are
a few of the changes that will take place.
Under the influence of the Holy Spirit you will -
ful
depraved nature is no friend of that other nature God puts in us - His own.
There is a constant warfare between these two natures as long as we live in the
flesh.
A) willingly - want to become a Christian, want to be baptized, and make the following differences in your life --
a) want to read the Bible
b) want to go to church and learn more of God and His ways.
c) you will seek your friends from among other Christians and church members
d) your concept of right and wrong will improve
- be more acute. You will understand better what God does not like without
being pressured into doing or not doing - even about things that are not
specifically mentioned as wrong in the Bible. Ie. Abortion, homosexuality,
smoking, dancing, going to shows, spending the evening with "the gang" at the
bar or gossiping with the girls at some girly meeting, spending your hard earned
money at bingo halls or at casinos.
e) your tastes - your likes and dislikes of
most things in your life will all change.
These are all things that the influence of the Holy Spirit will cause you to
loosen interest in, but rather be more interested in following things that are
pleasing to God such as going to church, prayer meetings or other church
functions. I could go on and on - I would just like you to note that all this does not
take place with a twinkle of the nose or the blink of an eye. Understanding may
take years - in fact is a life time of growing in grace. Some take longer
than others to get a real grasp on what God likes and what is an abomination to
Him.
I will close with this - should we associate or fellowship with those who
make a profession but do not have the evidence of salvation and have a belief
that is far different from what the Bible teaches?
I will read: 2 John 1:9-11 -
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the
Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is
partaker of his evil deeds.
What could be clearer than that. Whoever transgresses the law and do not
stick to the doctrines Jesus Christ taught - and the way He taught to carry out
the ordinances are not of God. Stay away from them. Sure try to win them to
Christ if you have an opportunity to, but while doing so be careful you are not
won to them.
Remember this - in evaluating whether a person's profession is genuine - whether he is truly a child of God look for two things
1. Look at his profession - what are his beliefs in comparison to Bible truths.
2. Look at his lifestyle - has his way changed at all since he made that profession.
These two will tell you better than anything if that person is truly -- "a
Biblical Christian."