3 Aspects Of A True Believer

Here are some funny things that were found on church signs:

Don’t let worries kill you, let the church help.

The fact that there is a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.

Honk if you love Jesus. Text and drive if you want to meet Him.

Historical/Cultural Context -

The Gospel of John was written between 90 AD and 100 AD. Scholars also believe that John wrote the three Epistles and the book of Revelation around the same time-frame as he wrote this Gospel. The Gospel of John was written after Matthew, Mark, & Luke had been written and circulated. John has been dubbed by most scholars as “The Spiritual Gospel.”

Biblical Text -

John 14:22–31 NKJV

Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - True Christians Do What Jesus Says, Experience True Peace & Know He Is Coming Back One Day.

Life Point- True Christians Do What Jesus Says

Exegetical -

John 14:22–24 NLT

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

Homiletical -

So Jesus is asked a point blank question. “Why reveal yourself only to us and not the world at large?”

This disciple is thinking about what he has been taught his whole life. That the Messiah would be a conquering king of all the earth. Which Jesus will be, upon His second coming but not at that time.

At His first appearance He is our sacrificial lamb, which cleanses us from all sin. Whereby we are made right with God and the brethren.

Jesus responds with All who love me will do what I say. My father will love them and we will come and make our home with each of them.

All those that truly love Jesus practices what He preached.

The core of which are the beatitudes:

Matthew 5:3–12 NLT

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

The beatitudes are not something that is just worked up but it is something that poor out of the believer do to a changed heart and mind. To do as Jesus asks we must learn our Bibles and we must allow the Holy Spirit to help us practice what is in it.

You know what else is an overflow of the Spirit of God out of a heart that loves Jesus?

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–26 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

What is the consequence of loving Jesus and out of that love having our hearts overflow into the works of love?

“My father will love them and we will come and make our home with each of them.”

Through Holy Spirit we are indwelt by God. He comes and makes His abode within the believer.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Anyone who doesn’t love Jesus will not obey Him.

Why?

Because they can’t. A sinner can not do anything but sin. That is what it means to be a sinner. They can’t truly obey Jesus because they haven’t truly been saved.

How do we know if someone is truly saved. Well their life will start to grow the Fruit of the Spirit. Where there is no fruit there is no Spirit.

What will be in their lives is the deeds of the flesh:

Galatians 5:19–21 NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 BSB

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

These things will be first and foremost in their lives. They can profess all day long they are Christians, but if their heart was not in it and there was no change in their lives, they aren’t Christians.

I can say all day long I am a refrigerator. It doesn’t make me a refrigerator.

Life Point - True Christians Experience True Peace

Exegetical -

John 14:25–27 NLT

I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Homiletical -

This goes back to Holy Spirit. He will teach us everything and remind you of the words of Christ.

But let me say this, if you aren’t reading the Bible how can He teach you to practice the words found in it?

If you aren’t reading the Bible how can He remind you of the words that Jesus spoke?

You can’t learn about Christ solely by going to church on Sunday and Wednesday. You must read and study for yourself as well or you will never get off the milk of God’s Word and into the meat of God’s Word.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Jesus also says that He is leaving us with a gift. Which comes through the Holy Spirit.

The gift of peace of mind and heart.

The gift of peace is because we are made right between us and God. We are no longer enemies of God, but are adopted into His family and peace in our minds and heart is the result.

The world did not give this gift and it can’t take it away. That is why so many when they are martyred for Christ have a peace when they go to their end.

Illustration -

On May 19, 1558, Thomas Hudson was taken out of prison and led to a place called the Lollards’ Pit, just outside the bishop’s gate at Norwich, along with two other condemned men. Just before the chain around him was made fast, Hudson stopped, slipped out from under the chain, and stood a little to one side. This caused many to wonder if he was about to recant or if he was coming forward for his parents’ blessing. But no one knew the real reason: Hudson had suddenly been afflicted with doubts and felt his faith growing weak. Therefore, not willing to die while feeling this way, he fell upon his knees and prayed to God, who sent him comfort. Then he rose with great joy as a reborn man and cried, “Now, thank God, I am strong and care not what man can do unto me.” So going to the stake again, he put the chain around himself, and they were all burned together.

Life Point - True Christians Know He Is Coming Back

Exegetical -

John 14:28–31 NLT

Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

Homiletical -

Jesus looked at His disciples and told them He was going away, but that He will come back.

Someone will say, it has been 2,000 years since He has come back.

Yes and He will come back. You have to remember that God exists outside time and space.

2 Peter 3:8–9 NLT

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

When the last person who is to be saved in this dispensation of grace is saved, then the end will come. We don’t know when that is or who that is. So we must trust His promise that he made:

Acts 1:9–11 NLT

After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

There is coming a time when Jesus will return in victory to this earth and will reign supreme!

Life Principle– True Christians Do What Jesus Says, Experience True Peace & Know He Is Coming Back One Day.

Call to Action – altar call….