Practical Christianity - What is a Christian

Opening of Lesson:

Prayers and Blessings (Highs and Lows)

Recap Series we are in - new series for summer ( Practical Christianity , how do we walk in our faith effectively)

Todays Lesson we are looking at what it means to be a Christian. We will look at what a Christian is and who Jesus was.

If you had to give explain what a Christian was to somebody in as little words as possible, how would you describe it?

Someone who follows Jesus and strives to be like Him. Not someone who goes to church or does all the right stuff, but someone who has had their life changed and their sin paid for and is now living their life for God.

When looking at what a Christian is, there are a lot of fundamental things we have to understand. This whole lesson is basically a broken down explanation of the gospel.

If you were starting to explain the gospel (the good news), where would you start?

You have to start with sin. There is no way to effectively explain the gospel, without explaining to people why they need a savior. We are all sinners and dead in our sin. In the beginning, we were created to be with God. We were able to walk with Him and talk with Him just as I am interacting with you now. We were created to be with God. This was great until sin entered the world, which we see in Genesis 3. Just as I think we could all admit that we have done things that we probably shouldn’t have, whether that is lying, stealing, being selfish, prideful, lustful, or a number of any other things, sin separates us from a holy God.

We see in Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 CSB

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

and in Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We see in these passages that we all sin. There is not one of us that is without sin, and because of this sin, we have earned death. This is not very encouraging. That is why we need good news. Romans 6:23 continues with “BUT GOD”

There is nothing that we can do to escape sin on our own. I’m sure that most of us would even be willing to admit that we have intentionally chosen our sin at times. Without God coming in to save the day, we are trapped in this endless cycle of sin and not having the power to change it.

What does this mean for us practically?

You cannot, and will not save yourself.

Your sin is inescapable. At times your sin will seem fun or freeing. It will seem that it allows you to live a more exciting or fulfilling life. That is not true. You are trapped in your sin, and the proof that it is a trap is when you try to break free on your own.

This means that on your own you have no hope.

So now, where does this leave us? We are trapped in sin, and there is no way to escape it on our own. We need some outside help. Luckily, God sent his only son, Jesus to come and pay the penalty for our sin.

Ephesians 2:4–9 CSB

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

In this state of hoplessness, we have to look to Jesus, the one God sent to save us.

Who was Jesus?

outside of scripture, a well documented figure, who despite what you believe, was confirmed to have been born, lived, and killed on a cross.

Let’s look at some scripture to get a deeper understanding:

John 1:1–18 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

John 14:1–10 CSB

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works.

Romans 8:34 CSB

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

What do we learn about Jesus from these scriptures?

Jesus is God and is eternal. He was there during creation, and is part of the trinity

Jesus came down to earth and took on flesh to make us grace and truth (freedom from sin)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, meaning He is the only way to experience eternal life in heaven

Jesus died, was raised from the dead, and now intercedes for us at the right hand of God (justification) - your sins are paid for, Jesus claims you as His

So, now that we know who Jesus is, what now? Well, you have the oppurtunity to be free from your sin. Not just free from your sin, but free from the burdens of life, and having to have all the answers, and having to feel like you are enough. Everything that makes life feel cumbersome and not freeing can be laid at the foot of the cross and you can live life unburdened.

How?

Romans 10:9–13 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

All that is asked of you to receive this new life is to confess that you are sinner and Jesus is now the Lord of your life. Being Lord does not mean that it is just something you say just incase or its there if you need it. Being Lord means your life completely changes and everything you do is put through examination of how Christ would have you live. If you do this and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.

We believe that genuine salvation is permanent, it cannot be lost. We also believe that after salvation, there is no condemnation for sin. There is nothing looming over you counting your every screw up once you get saved. This is backed up in scripture.

Romans 8:1–11 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:33–39 CSB

33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally, we believe that after salvation, you recieve the Holy Spirit that empowers you to fight against your sin, and to begin looking more like Jesus. We believe that scripture calls us to be baptized after salvation to show our friends, family, and church that there has been a major change in our life, and we are living for Jesus now. Baptism is not required for salvation!!

Acts 2:37–42 CSB

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

Are there any questions??

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