What is a Christian?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Pastoral Reminder: Head Heart Hands
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Please turn to Chapter 8 of Romans today.
What is a Christian? Such a simple question but one that seems to allude many of what it means and who is and who isn’t one? A topic of debate, disagreement, even at times war and genocide. A title first used in the early church at Antioch.
26 … The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
The term simply applied to those that followed Jesus. Those that believed in his teachings, who trusted in his message, and shared the good news that Jesus saves sinners. In 2 thousand years we would think that there would be growing clarity on who is and who isn’t a follower of Jesus, a Christian.
Today in the world one group has recorded of 45,000 different groups that label themselves Christian. Obviously this number is not exact depending on what the criteria is for defining a group. But, just in Spokane there are 20-40 specific, different, denominations that claim to be Christian.
If Jesus has not changed and will never change, If he was and is and is to come, if he is the Great Shepherd, the Great High Priest, the savior of our souls, the man who laid down his life, the one who mediates and intercedes for us. If He is the king of kings and the lord of lords, if he is master, friend, and brother.
If he is all of this, why can no one agree on who he is and what he has done.
Who can legitimately claim this title as their own? Who can say this is who I am?
Is it those that have the right genealogy? Go to the right church? Practice the right traditions? Live good enough lives? Say the right things?
Paul has worked through the answer to this question and as we come to Chapter 8 we will see the answer to the question. What is a Christain?
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
A Christian is In Christ
A Christian is In Christ
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
Who is a Christian? The simple truth is that they are those in Christ Jesus. This is the only dividing line in all of humanity. Those that are in Christ Jesus and those who are not.
The answer to the question “Am I in Christ Jesus” is the most important truth a person will come to know. All will know the answer in the end either in this life or the next. This is not a fill in the blank and justify your answer type of question. It isn’t an argumentative essay or a math problem where you have to show your work. It is not pick a number between 1 and 10 on how close or far away you are.
It is a simple yes or no. Am I in or am I out? Why are those whom are in Christ true Christians? Because the Scriptures tell us that everything depends on this. For only those that are in Christ will be Justified before God.
22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
God’s own righteousness is credited to each and every person who believes in the saving message of Jesus. These are the sons and daughters of God, by faith.
26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
Only those in Jesus will be made right before the law of God. When the books are opened will you find your name in the book of life.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Whose name is found in the book of life. They are those that will not experience the second death. They are those that have been made alive in Christ. Turning back to chapter 6 we find the truth that those that are in Christ have been united with him in his death burial and resurrection.
1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.
Buried with him in death, united with him in the likeness of his death and resurrection. Old self was crucified with him. Those that are in Christ have recieved these great blessings and graces. Privileges and honors that were never earned or acquired by the works of man. With the gift of the father a share of the inheritance, the gift of eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Many claim to have eternal life. Many can claim to be millionaires as well. Just because I claim to be a millionaire doesn’t make it true. Likewise, I cannot just claim to have eternal life , this is a gift that must have been recieved in Christ Jesus.
A person who has not recieved this gift will, work, increase his earnings, his payment, his due, his wages. The wages of his sin. A person who is not in Christ increases his punishment each and everyday. No matter his strength or intelligence, he will find that his name is not in the book but instead all of his works have been recorded and now he must pay the bill by eternal death.
A Christian is one who is “in Christ” and in that place and position, there are many great blessings. But the greatest is that there is no condemnation for those that are Christians.
A Christian is Not Condemned
A Christian is Not Condemned
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,
For the one who is “in” he will now and never receive the condemnation that he deserves. The are two Greek words translated into condemned in the English here. This one speaks to the condemnation one receives as the judgment is carried out.
A lawbreaker has been accused. They enter into the court of God as the King sits on his throne to judge the defendant. The charge is brought forth, “This man is a liar” “I object”. The book is opened and the prosecutor reads “on this date you lied to you parents”. On this day, you… As every deceitful word though or action is brought before the judge. The lawbreakers heart sinks lower and lower.
The judge asks “would you like to change you plea”. “I plead Guilty your honor”. The next charge is brought and the with the same result, each and every law of God is read and each one finds the same conclusion, guilty. Finally the judge makes his judgment, I find the defendant guilty of all charges of breaking the law and the sentence is death. He has been condemned. He is dead man walking. But he has not recieved the fulfillment of the sentence yet.
There are no appeals or higher courts. The man will be fully condemned once he has received his punishment.
Those that are in Christ will find the flesh at work. They will see their great sin before the judge. They will know that they deserve death, but the also know that, God has saved them. For by his son there is no condemnation for those that are in the son. They are covered by his sacrifice by his blood. When the Christian stands before the court of heaven. He will stand before the judge and be found not guilty by the son’s righteousness and will not ever receive the punishment because Christ has already paid for it. He stood in our place and recieved the death penalty on our behalf. For the Christian there is no condemnation.
This is the continuation of the thought that Paul started in Chapter 5.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. 17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
By one man’s trespass all have died and through one man’s act of obedience there are those that receive the gift through God for those that are in Christ. And why is there no condemnation, because a Christian has the Holy Spirit who is working in and through him.
A Christian Has The Spirit
A Christian Has The Spirit
2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
The highest principles of the highest court lie in the law of the Spirit of life. The one who is in Christ has the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him.
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.
There is not life without the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, dwelling in the Christian. Only those that have the Spirit are called Christians. As those who have has God’s own love poured out in us through the Holy Spirit.
5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
He speaks of three great things the Spirit accomplishes in the Christian.
A Christian Has Been Set Free By the Spirit
A Christian Has Been Set Free By the Spirit
The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. How does one overcome sin? How does a person go from constantly breaking the law at all times, to live in obedience to God, to live in righteousness. It is by the Spirit. Who will save a Wretched man from his sin, it is by God through Jesus as the Spirit is sent to give the divine power necessary to live for God and to produce the fruit of God.
As the fallen and desperate state of those that are dead in their sin and without God. That through this man Jesus, through the man called the Christ, the messiah the savior. Through him the, the captive is set free, the lost are found, the wounded are healed, the blind see, the lame walk, and dead are made alive.
The end of chapter seven ended with the proclamation of Paul,
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.
Paul who could be describes as the prototype of a Christian. A depraved sinner, who murdered those that followed Jesus, blasphemed God, as he violently persecuted the church. The only man that boldly says imitate me as I imitate Christ. This man who could use his life as an example to other believers pens the words imitate me.
It is this man who just wrote the about his own conclusions to his life as a believer. That in the new man, his mind delights in the law of God, sees it good, hates what it hates and loves what it loves. But when he goes to live out the law of his mind, he finds that evil is with him, that he does what he hates and hates what he does.
That nothing good dwells in his flesh and that even when he wants to do good or resist evil he has no ability in himself to accomplish what is in his mind. The great conclusion is that even though he loves the Lord and believes in him and want to serve him fully that he is not in control of his flesh, that it isn’t him that is doing it but the sin that lives in him.
The freedom to live for God and to be free from the condemnation of death is through the Spirit. The work man can never achieve the righteousness that would be required to not be a condemned dead man walking because it is by the Spirit.
A Christian has Fulfilled the Law’s Requirements by the Spirit
A Christian has Fulfilled the Law’s Requirements by the Spirit
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.
In the weakness and fallenness, the flesh could never meet the requirements of the law. Without the hand of God and the act of God acting in the heart of men they would all perish in their sin. But God did what man could not do. He sent Jesus to condemn sin in the flesh.
Christ condemned sin by showing it to be evil by not committing sin under the holy law. Sin was in power and control until a man named Jesus walked under every temptation that sin could put before him.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
A group of young men go out for the evening for a night on the town. All behavior is permissible before their eyes as long as they all participate in it willingly. There is no crude language on a pirate ship. There is no debauchery if all do it. There is no drunkeness if all are drinking. But if there is a single man who choses to do the opposite. Chooses to refrain from these behaviors, all of a sudden all of the other behavior is condemned.
Cursing. at home, In collage, at work. Soap, acceptance, conviction
Christ came in the flesh, not in sinful flesh, but in the likeness of sinful flesh. So that he could be the sin offering. So that he could stand in a Christian’s place at the judgment. If he came in sinful flesh then he would have been condemned with mankind. If he did not come in the flesh he would not have been an acceptable sacrifice.
17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
The law is fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
A Christian Walks According to the Spirit
A Christian Walks According to the Spirit
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.
The Christian is freed from the penalty of breaking the law through the Spirit and the Christian has fulfilled the law’s requirements through the Spirit. And the Christian is enabled to walk in accordance with the law and the will of God through the Spirit.
6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.
The Spirit has set us free to live for God. There will still be sin in the flesh where nothing good dwells but the Christian has a new Spirit that is a heavenly Spirit, a perfect Spirit, that is all good, now dwells in the man, and gives the ability to to what the law commands. Gives him the ability to do what he loves and what he desires under the Lord. Gives new desires that are Godly.
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
The new man walks instep with the Spirit. This is the new life of those that are in Christ. There is a new life that must be lived. But this life is not lived in our own power but in the divine power of the Holy Spirit.
And how did he walk, according to the law. This a very high bar but one we are called to grow towards. Maturing and increasing in the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. The fruit of God in our lives. This looks like obedience to his commands as all that Jesus taught and commanded aligned with the will of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Who can legitimately claim the title of Christian as their own? Who can say this is who I am?
I would like to suggest today the idea that those that truly are Christians are not those that claim the title but those who have been made to be one, by the divine hand of God. By no work of there own but by the gracious hand of God. It is those who have heard the gospel and believed.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
Not by works so no one can boast. The gospel is the heart beat of this book.
Who is a Christian? How do you identify them? Jesus said,
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
In 2007 78% of Americans self proclaimed that they were Christians. In 2014 it dropped to 71% and today it stands at 62%. But the issue is a person cannot just identify as a Christian and receive the blessings of the promises of God. A person cannot claim the title and reap the benefits of salvation. A person cannot earn the title, they cannot buy it, steal it, or find it.
A true Christian is one whom the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have done a work on, for, and in. One who is adopted as a son to God, a brother to Christ, and dwelling place and temple of the Spirit. It is the descriptor of a person who will never ever be condemned or receive the punishment for their sin, they are one who has been set free from the law of sin, who has had the law fulfilled in their life by being given the righteousness of God, they are one who walk in the newness of the Spirit, living in the new life of the on who is IN CHRIST.
When we walk in the Spirit we will walk in opposition to the world. We will act different, we will speak different, we will love different. We will be like Jesus. And when we walk do this, when we walk in opposition to the world as we walk in the Spirit we will be persecuted. Why? Because when we walk like our savior we too will be condemning sin. Not in an effective way as he did but in a demonstration of what law we follow that we follow a higher law.
We will be ostracized. We will be labeled as Jesus followers. When we stand for what God stands for when we want what God wants, when we deny what we want we will be set apart from the rest.
Isaac and Thatcher.
When we walk in the Spirit and are persecuted, we will rejoice as it confirms that we are, in Christ.
40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.
Today I ask are you in Christ. Have you been given the Spirt and is the Spirit doing a work in your life. Are one that will never ever be condemned for you sin, past present and future.
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
