The "S" Christian
Notes
Transcript
What Kind of Christian are You?
What Kind of Christian are You?
There should be only one kind of Christian, at least in our regular thinking. We are either a Christian because we are Saved, and indeed we are saved by God’s grace, OR we are not saved and so not a Christian. And yet, the people who know us see that many who won’t call themselves Christian behave more like Christians should than most who proudly carry the name of Christian. I have known too many people who call themselves Christian who don’t live like they are. I want you to think more of being a Christian because of how you behave, not just what you believe.
That’s really where we get the term “Christian”, which means a Christ-follower or even a “little Christ”. Acts records that “they were first called Christians in Antioch.” In other words, they didn’t take up the name Christian, because in some ways it was derogatory with the outsiders naming them Christian because all they could talk about was Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, and they saw how they lived out their salvation.
In this series during the season of Lent, I’ve talked about the “N word” as it is used by the enemies of Christians as a way to brand them “Nazarines”. I talked about the “Bs” of living with Jesus: Believing in Jesus, Being saved, and Being Baptized to show our salvation has taken hold; Then one Sunday we talked about Becoming what we should be as Saved Believers. Last week we shared about being “A” Christian, Alive in Christ, his life in us and ours in his. Next week is Palm Sunday, so our focus moves back to who Jesus is and what his last week in the flesh was all about, then on Easter Sunday, we are inviting you to join us IN PERSON in the church building in Covina or connect with us online again as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus together.
>>>So lets get into what is...
The “S” Christian
The “S” Christian
As I talk about the “S” Christian, I am not talking about a Saved Christian, I am talking about the live of Surrender, Submission, Self-Denial, and being Servants to Christ.
We are going to hear what Jesus tells us about what it means to follow him. And we will see the examples from his own life for us.
>>>But first Jesus gives us . . .
The Set Up From a Seed
The Set Up From a Seed
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Talk about what Jesus is getting at here. Why does the Bible say these things?
The Surrendered Life
The Surrendered Life
>>>Our Surrender Seems a Paradox, in Jesus’ words:
25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
The Servant Life
The Servant Life
26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
>>>Jesus said his disciples must be surrendered to serve him, as it says in Luke’s Gospel,
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
The Submitted Life
The Submitted Life
>>>The Example is given by Jesus, even as his sacrifice was looming:
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
God’s Response to Full Surrender
God’s Response to Full Surrender
28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
Selfish Rebellion Doesn’t Last
Selfish Rebellion Doesn’t Last
30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
Jesus’ Self-Denial for Our Salvation
Jesus’ Self-Denial for Our Salvation
>>>Because Jesus shows his own self-denial for us
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
Our Savior’s Life Gives the Example For Us
Our Savior’s Life Gives the Example For Us
Jesus Shows Us Submission
Jesus Shows Us Submission
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
Jesus Shows Us Self-Denial
Jesus Shows Us Self-Denial
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Salvation Is Tied to Serving Jesus
Salvation Is Tied to Serving Jesus
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
>>>Still, we aren’t a Christian because we act like one. Always and forever,
Salvation Only Comes By Accepting God’s Grace
Salvation Only Comes By Accepting God’s Grace
But if we do all the things a Christian should be doing, and yet we haven’t given ourselves to Jesus, we might miss the whole point; we will continue to do things our way instead of God’s way. We might look like Christians but are not truly saved by our individual acceptance of forgiveness, our surrender to him and our trust in him.
So I want to invite you once again to truly come to Jesus and give yourself to him. . .