Now i get It!
080713 Now I Get It!
Acts 8:30-31; Acts 8:36-37
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
- This morning I want to explain some common Christian terms used frequently in the church. Because they are used in the church does not mean that people who do not attend church understand them.
- Several years ago when we were starting FCC, we led two young girls to the Lord. They were teenagers and had never heard of Jesus, had never been in a church and had never heard the Gospel.
- That has happened to us on several occasions.
- I particularly want to refer to terms used in the church to describe what happens to a person when they believe in Jesus for the first time. You have heard them before but they are quite refreshing to know of.
- When I say believe, I am referring to a person who is putting their total trust in God. Like the Ethiopian in our scripture: “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
- Many people say they believe in God. In fact recent polls that asked, “Do you believe in God revealed that nearly 80% of American believe in God. If 80% of Americans believed in God, this nation would be a different nation. Look at this scripture:
- James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! NKJV
- James 2:19-20 Are there still some among you who hold that "only believing" is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too-so strongly that they tremble in terror! 20 Fool! When will you ever learn that "believing" is useless without doing what God wants you to? TLB
- I want to take our faith deeper today. For some, when I finish preaching today your faith will be renewed. For others you will realize that you need to update your relationship with God. Others will finally see for the first time what “those Christian” have been talking about all this time. Lets look at them: “I was born again. A got saved. I became a Christian.
1 I was Born Again-Jesus was first to use this term. I like to think of it as a new start.
A John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again , he cannot see the kingdom of God." NKJV
B Born again
i Gennathee-Gr. for ‘bear, beget’ cause to be born.
ii Anothen-Gr. for, ‘from above, or from an earlier time.”
C What do I get in being born again?
i Let me show you what you don’t get. If you are not born again you will not see the Kingdom of God.
a Key: The Kingdom of God is much more than just seeing heaven.
b The Kingdom of God is the ability to see God’s Kingdom on earth. That is awesome!
ii If you are born again you get to see the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom?
a The Kingdom is heaven. It is a real place.
b Rom 14:17-18 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. NKJV Righteousness, Peace and Joy.
c Place of new beginnings. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation ; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV Ie. Peter was given a new start. John 21-Feed my sheep. Paul was given a new start-Damascus Rd experience. When I was born again—I was given a new start in life.
d You get a totally new spirit man! The first one was dead, tormented, doomed. When you are born again you now see life from God’s perspective. You have hope, faith, everything is possible.
e To be born again appeals to people want a fresh start in life, a new perspective of living. Etc. Then next term:
2 I got Saved-
A If you are not familiar with Christianity this one can catch you off guard. The first question that comes to mind is: saved from what? From sin. A person has to realize they are perishing or being destroyed by something before this one has much significance to them. An alcoholic who hits bottom knows he is being destroyed. A man/woman who are a part of a failing marriage knows they are doomed as a couple without rescue. When you begin to see that if you keep on living life as you are and you keep destroying it you are a candidate for being saved because your very life is being threatened.
B It is used through out the OT. Saved-Heb. –yashab- resued, liberated, delivered, saved.
i Ex 14:30 So the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, NKJV
ii Num 10:9 you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. NKJV
iii 1 Sam 14:23 So the LORD saved Israel that day NKJV
iv 2 Chron 32:22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, NKJV
v Ps 80:3 restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved ! NKJV
vi Isa 45:22 Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. NKJV
C It is used throughout the NT.
i Matt 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved NKJV
ii John 5:34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved . NKJV
iii Acts 2:40-41
iv And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." NKJV
v 1 Cor 3:15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved , yet so as through fire. NKJV
D Most people know/realize when they need saved. You know how I know? Many people who come to Christ, come to Him at a point of desperation--A failing marriage, death in the family, loss of job, bad medical report, fearful circumstance, deep depression, and loneliness. It is during these times we realize that we are not our own saviors and that we cannot save ourselves and we need a God bigger than our circumstance or situation.
3 I became a Christian –
A Acts 11:26 So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NKJV
i What is a disciple? A disciple is someone who has put their faith in Jesus, they govern their lives by Jesus teaching, and passionately pursues Jesus mandate as his own personal mission.
ii When you look at these people their lives are different. They look like God in many ways and longer you know them the more they look like God.
B Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian ." NKJV
i To become-Gr. poieo—to make, or to cause to become. To make something out of something.
ii Agrippa was saying that Paul almost persuaded him to make of himself a Christian or a disciple of Christ.
C A Christian is a follower of Christ.
i They seek to have the kind of heart Christ had
ii They seek to live their lives by his teaching. It is more than what politicians are making of it. That is how you can tell if a political candidate is really a Christian or just trying to get votes.
4 What do all three of the above have in common?
A All three realize their lives are empty, they are dead or dying, and that they are eternally separated from God.
i They understand or come to the understanding that sin has them captive. They know that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Ro. 3:23
ii They know that sin has lead and is leading them to death. Ro. 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.”
iii They know all about temptation as James explains, “Each one is dragged away by his own evil desire. When desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown it leads to death.
iv They know that God has to punish sin. And ultimately that is an eternity separated from God and reserved for a Lake of fire.
B All three realize the need for a Savior.
i Jn 10:10 I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.
ii Jn 3:16 That whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
iii Jn 3:3 If you want to see the Kingdom you must be born again.
C All three realize the importance of faith and of putting their total trust in Jesus for their salvation.
i Eph, 2:8,9 we are saved by grace through faith, that not of ourselves it is a gift of God so that no man can boast.
ii Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." NKJV
iii Luke 8:12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved .NKJV
Conclusion:
- When I got saved, I became all three at once. I know I needed a new start. I know I was headed for a devil’s hell. I know I became a son of God, a Christian when I believed. Rom 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. NKJV. I know I needed to delivered from death—the devils wages. What he paid for what I earned.
- Thanks be to God that Jesus gives us a gift we do not deserve called life. I can serve a God like that. So can you.
- All it requires from you is the faith to believe! Is 45:22 Look to me and you shall be saved.”
| 
