The Mark of A True Christian
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· 61 viewsAt the close of His ministry, Jesus looks forward to His death on the cross, the open tomb and the ascension. Knowing that He is about to leave, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is to come. It is here that He makes clear what will be the distinguishing mark of the Christian.
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Scriptural Text:
Scriptural Text:
Our Scriptures will be taken from where we have Jesus addressing the disciples about His departure from this world. His death and departure from this world was most significant:
1. Jesus' death brought a threefold glory (v.31-32).
a. The Son of Man's glory: The cross (v.31)
b. God's glory: Jesus' obedience (v.32a)
2. Jesus' death demanded a new commandment (v.33-35).
c. Jesus' glory: The resurrection (v.32b)
2. Jesus' death demanded a new commandment (v.33-35).
3. Jesus' death revealed a stumbling loyalty (v.36-38).
a. Cause 1: Misunderstanding Jesus' death (v.36)
b. Cause 2: Carnal commitment (v.37-38)
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Outline - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Outline - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
The Mark of A True Christian
The Mark of A True Christian
3203 Feeding One Another In Heaven
3203 Feeding One Another In Heaven
A man had just arrived in Heaven, told Peter how grateful he was to be in such a glorious place, and asked Peter to give him one glimpse into Hades in order that he might appreciate his good fortune even more. This Peter did.
In Hades he saw a long table extending as far as the eye could reach, laden down with the most delicious of all varieties of foods. But everyone around the table was starving to death. When asked for an explanation, Peter said, “Everyone is required to take food from the table only with four-foot-long chopsticks. They are so long that no one can reach the food from the table to his mouth, and therefore each one is dying of starvation.”
Quickly they returned to Heaven, and behold, the new arrival saw an identical table, laden down with identical foods, but everyone around the table was happy and well fed. Then he said to Peter: “With what do they take the food from the table?” and Peter answered, “Only with four-foot-long chopsticks.” At that the new arrival inquired: “Then why are all those in Hades starving to death while all those up here are so well fed and happy?” Whereupon Peter replied: “In Heaven we feed each other.”
—Harry C. Mabry
Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 758.
The Mark of the Christian
Through the centuries men have displayed many different symbols to show that they are Christians. They have worn marks in the lapels of their coats, hung chains about their necks, even had special haircuts.
Nothing is wrong with any of this, if one feels it is his calling. But there is a much better sign—a mark that has not been thought up just as a matter of expediency for use on some special occasion or in some specific era. It is a universal mark that is to last through all the ages of the church until Jesus comes back.
What is this mark?
What is this mark?
At the close of His ministry, Jesus looks forward to His death on the cross, the open tomb and the ascension. Knowing that He is about to leave, Jesus prepares His disciples for what is to come. It is here that He makes clear what will be the distinguishing mark of the Christian.
Little children, yet a little while I am with you... A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ()
Little children, yet a little while I am with you... A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. ()
A new commandment I give unto you…: next slide
(NKJV)
(NKJV)
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
The New commandment : to love as Christ love (1) It is not a human, neighborly love (2) It is spiritual love (3)the love of Jesus Himself shed abroad in our hearts ()
The New commandment : to love as Christ love (1) It is not a human, neighborly love (2) It is spiritual love (3)the love of Jesus Himself shed abroad in our hearts ()
a. This is not the old commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." It is not a human, neighborly love being commanded. This commandment is a new commandment being given to disciples only. It is the spiritual love that is to exist between believers as brothers and sisters and as servants of God who minister together.
b. The love being commanded is the love of Jesus Himself which is the love of God Himself, the love that can be shed abroad in our hearts only by the Holy Spirit (cp. ). It is not the normal physical love among human neighbors which is being commanded by God. It is a spiritual love that is wrought only by the Spirit of God.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
The love of Jesus is… (1)the love of spiritual being: the love that causes one to hunger after union with God and God's people. (2)the love of spiritual life: the love that shares the same life with all believers, both abundant and eternal life.
The love of Jesus is… (1)the love of spiritual being: the love that causes one to hunger after union with God and God's people. (2)the love of spiritual life: the love that shares the same life with all believers, both abundant and eternal life.
(3)the love of spiritual union: the love that binds and ties believers together in life and purpose. (4)the love of spiritual attachment or fellowship: the love that shares needs and blessings and joys and sorrows and gifts together.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
(3)the love of spiritual union: the love that binds and ties believers together in life and purpose. (4)the love of spiritual attachment or fellowship: the love that shares needs and blessings and joys and sorrows and gifts together.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
• the love of spiritual life: the love that shares the same life with all believers, both abundant and eternal life. • the love of spiritual union: the love that binds and ties believers together in life and purpose. • the love of spiritual attachment or fellowship: the love that shares needs and blessings and joys and sorrows and gifts together.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
The Holy Spirit can create such a love, but believers have to receive it. When the love of Jesus dwells in the heart of a believer, several things happen.
The believer has a love that causes him... • to bind his life to the lives of other believers. • to tie his life to the same purpose as other believers. • to surrender his will and to be of the same mind as other believers. • to understand and feel with other believers. • to forgive other believers—always.
The believer has a love that causes him... • to bind his life to the lives of other believers. • to tie his life to the same purpose as other believers. • to surrender his will and to be of the same mind as other believers. • to understand and feel with other believers. • to forgive other believers—always.
• to sacrifice himself for other believers—always. • to seek the welfare of other believers before his own. • to deny self completely.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
• to sacrifice himself for other believers—always. • to seek the welfare of other believers before his own. • to deny self completely.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
The new commandment is the mark of a true disciple. The distinguishing mark of a true believer is not the normal human love of neighbors, not even the love of brothers and sisters or of husband and wife. It is the spiritual and supernatural love of Jesus Himself that dwells within the life of the believer. By this love shall all men know that a person is a true disciple of the Lord.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – John.
That they all may be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ()
That they all may be one as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ()
In short, we are to practice and exhibit the holiness of God and the love of God, for without this we grieve the Holy Spirit.
Love—and the unity it attests to—is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father.