When Am I Really A Christian?
090503 When Am I Really A Christian?
Acts 11:19-26
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
· I am supposed to start preaching into the upcoming Children’s conference at the end of May, but God has led me a different direction this morning.
· I have been excited about the number of people who have been coming forward over the last few weeks to give their lives to Jesus Christ. I congratulate you! If you have rededicated your life to Christ or gave your heart to Jesus this year, would you please stand. I want to celebrate your decision.
· What I am about to share is for everyone in this room. It is not just for those who just stood. In fact if those of you sitting would get what I am about to say and take it seriously our work as believers would be easier and more compelling to the world who is watching us.
· Now that you have made that decision for Christ, I want to examine the question “When do I actually become a Christian?”
o Many people think you become a Christian when you make the trip down front here. Others think you become a Christian when you pray the ‘sinners prayer’.
o Being a Christian is a whole lot more than just praying a prayer.
o Being a Christian means you take on a certain lifestyle, or a certain way of living life.
· Let’s answer the question at hand, when do I become a Christian?
1. When Do Most People Believe They Become Christians
a. The majority of people believe they become Christians when they pray the sinner’s prayers. That is just not true. The sad part is that most Christians believe that. To earn the title of Christian is far deeper and far more rewarding than just praying a sinner’s prayer.
b. Jesus commissioned us in Mt. 28:18 to make disciples. Matt 28:19 Go thereforeand make disciples of all the nations, NKJV
c. Common deceptions that stop us from becoming Christians. The problem is that many who have prayed the ‘sinner’s prayer’ stopped there. They went no further. The church was content to stop there, thinking it had done its job. They think they are Christian because they have been called certain misunderstood names. Such as…
i. Convert—defined in its lowest form and slang usage simple means some who has prayed the prayer. There is a positive side to this term which we shall look at in a few moments. But just because you are a convert does not make you a Christian.
ii. Believer—that is an interesting term and it too has an element of truth to it. Just because you are a believer does not make you a Christian. James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! NKJV If being a believer makes you a Christian then we have to start calling demons, who according to this scripture believe, Christian.
iii. Born again—now that is a cool term. It, like the others, has a lot of life in it but if misunderstood makes you only part of the club. A way to be accepted among a group of people who call themselves the church. John 3:3 (must be born again); 2 Cor. 5:17 (new creation)
iv. These terms are great terms when understood but they are mere ‘doorway’ terms. They exist a long way from the place we call ‘Christian.’ These are starting points.
d. Lies we believe, I am a Christian because:
i. I was born into a Christian family, therefore I am a Christian.
ii. I go to church regularly, therefore I am a Christian.
iii. I prayed that prayer before, there for I am a Christian.
iv. Being a Christian is much more than going to church or being a part of a family/friends that are Christian or having prayed a prayer. Let’s look at some interesting discoveries in the Book of Acts.
2. The Road to Becoming a Christian Acts 11:19-26
a. Acts 11:19-21 Two steps—believe and turn. Acts 11:21 And the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number [learned] to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him. AMP The NKJV says they believed and turned.
i. They believed-this simply means they put their faith in the message that was being preached to them.
1. Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. NKJV
2. Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. NKJV
3. How do we know if someone truly believes? James 2:14-15 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? NKJV James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. NKJV James 2:18-19 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without yourworks, and I will show you my faith by myworks. NKJV They will have works. You will see something different in their lives. What they do will line up with what they believe.
ii. They turned—simply means they repented. They had a change of heart and mind. It is a change that is so solid it results in a different way of living. They actually converted to a new way of believing, thinking, and acting.
iii. Radical shift
1. Jews were only preaching this message to other Jews until this time.
2. They started preaching to Greeks and the Greeks started giving their lives to Jesus.
3. It is radical that the message to the Jews was now touching the Greeks.
4. It is radical because the former Greek belief system is beginning to unravel with their believing and converting.
5. It was so powerful that way back in Jerusalem, word is out what is happening in Antioch and surrounding areas. That should be the testimony of one who make this walk down here and prays the pray. Radical is when your life is no longer your own and you start living it for Him!
3. Acts 11:22-24 Continuing with Confidence
a. Barnabas saw something. What did he see? Vs. 23—he saw the grace of God! Grace-is God’s ability to do what cannot do in and of myself. What does that look like?
i. Luke 19:8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." NKJV
ii. Luke 7:44-47 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? … she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 … but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 … but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." NKJV
iii. Mark 5:18-19 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." NKJV
b. Barnabas encourage them two ways.
i. Purpose in your heart.
1. Purpose-come from Greek work prothesei. = two words thesis-statement of purpose and pro meaning before. Barnabas was saying to the converts, the believers. “State your purpose in this new found walk! Know what you are doing and why you are doing it. State it up front! Be clear about—first and foremost in your heart. Announce it. So that everyone now knows that you have a new course.
1 The verb denotes human resolve. In another place in Acts the word is used of Paul as they set sail for Rome. The wind was right and all adjustments were made to reach the intended destination.
2 It connects with the Kairos/predestination message. God foreknew and now that you have stepped into the boat adjust your sails to get to your God given destination.
2. Heart –kardia- was the main road through the city. The core of the city or heart of the city. Make this statement of purpose from the core of your being.
ii. Continue with the Lord.
1. Means to continue with. To stay on. It is an aorist verb, which means a past action that has continuing results. It is not a past action that stopped. It continues.
2. Barnabas is encouraging the new believers to continue in their new found faith. It is not good enough nor is it accurate to stop what you have started. Finish it. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” Paul says in Philippians 1, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.”
4. Make Him Famous! Acts 11:26
a. Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. 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. God is not made famous by converts!
ii. God is not made famous by believers!
iii. God is not made famous by the born again crowd!
b. God is made famous by disciples! This passage does not say that the converts were first called Christians. Nor does it say that the believers were first called Christians. It says the disciples were first called Christians. If you want to be ‘high society’ in the Kingdom you have to be a disciple.
i. There is a big difference between a disciple and (convert, believer, ‘born againer’)
ii. Those three are powerful when they are understood to be the doorway to the finished work of becoming a disciple.
c. What is a disciple? A disciple is a person who has put their faith in Jesus/ govern their live by Jesus teaching/ and passionately pursue His mandate—make disciples. Three parts:
i. Put your faith in Jesus
ii. Make Him Lord of your life. Live by his teachings. Love God passionately and others like you do yourself. Let your life do the preaching! Be a living letter that tells everyone about your relationship with God.
iii. Make it your business to love others into the Kingdom by sharing God’s heart with them.
d. Paul and Barnabas ‘locked in’ for one full year assembling with and teaching the word to a great many people.
i. They assemble with and taught the church. Ekkleesia-church- a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place; an assembly(from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) This term often referred to those who governed a city or region.
ii. Paul and Barnabas spent a whole year investing in those who were willing to govern their lives by the teaching of Jesus. That is why we get you started on Bible Studies asap.
e. A Christian is not born. A Christian is made over time, with devotion, single mindedness, and fruit in keeping with repentance.
Conclusion:
· You are not a Christian because you prayed a prayer.
o You are a Christian because your life reflects Christ.
o You are a Christian because you continue with the faith you started in when you believed.
o You are a Christian because you are committed to the one who loved you and gave himself up for you.
· When do I actually become a Christian? When you chose to become a disciple and it is evident you have been with Jesus.
· Invitation to become a Christian.
· Invitation to pledge your life to Christ.
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