Unsaved Christian Pt3

Fruit

Week 3 Text:Matthew 7:17–23 Topic(s): Fruit, Repentance Big Idea of the Message: People can know if they’re saved, but a biblical litmus test is the best way to ensure they’re not living in self-deceit. Application Point: A person can know they are genuinely saved by the fruit they bear in their life.

intro ;

Man what a journey we have been on the last 2 weeks. We’ve hit some pretty tough issues that bring a lot of our walk into perspective.

1. The Test

Sermon intro:          man what a journey we have been on the last two weeks, Talking about Cultural christianity 1. The Test

If it’s possible for someone to think they’re a Christian and not actually be one, how does one know whether or not they’re a cultural Christian? At the beginning of this series, was referenced briefly.

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’  ( NLT)  Now since this passage brings up questions and concerns such as “Do I/we fall into this category”   I can give you a testing point in order to answer that.  

Litmus Test; A test in which a single factor (such as an attitude, event or fact) is decisive      

one of the best ways to make sure you’re not the people discussed in is to make sure you’re the ones bearing the fruit, as in .  17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. ( NLT) While the Bible never calls for works-based salvation, it does speak of evidences for knowing whether or not one is saved.

illustration:

When i was very young i would spend time with my Great-Great Aunt Louise, (GG because of generation difference not because she was awesome)… She lived on Lake Bisteneau , cypress trees with hanging spanish moss everywhere. In her back yard were two things i vividly remember #1 a plumb tree and #2 GOATS. Stupid goats.  Back to the plumb tree. I wold pick and eat plumbs, throughout my life i have purchased plumbs at the store just to eat one and realize once again that they aren’t as good as what that tree produced in aunt louise Backyard. Occasionally i get some that are close tho.  now I do not remember what that tree looked like but I absolutely remember the flavor of its fruit.  And to this day i could not tell you what a plumb tree looks like from a distance, just another leaved earth accessory. But get me close enough to smell and see the fruit and i can tell you exactly whether or not its a plumb. 

the best way to identify a type of tree it is to actually see the fruit that is on the tree.  That is the concept being taught by Christ in .  When fruit is visible, then it’s obvious that the tree is not only bearing fruit, but it testifies to the exact fruit that it is bearing. All one has to do is look

2. Fruits of Salvation

From Scripture, we are provided examples the fruits of saving faith.   

First you can know you’re a true Christian because you live a life of repentance.  4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? ( NLT) God doesn’t lead his children to repentance with a gavel but through his kindness .

As a result, we can approach responding to our sin by going to God honestly and seeking him for forgiveness and help.

 We All mess up and fall short, we all need forgiveness.  Second, you can know you’re a Christian because you’re eternally minded. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.      ( NLT)  A person who is eternally minded understands that we may lose some things now but have much to gain in heaven as a result of our obedience to Christ  Third, you can know you’re a Christian because you search for sound doctrine.   9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. ( NLT) A Christian will protect the integrity of the gospel and other biblical teachings  Fourth, you can know by spiritual disciplines:  2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ( NLT) this inner pulling and desire for God’s Word so that you can grow in your faith   Fifth, by our generosity. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (

 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. (2 Corin 9:7 NLT) If your heart is on God’s kingdom, your money will be too (; ). A generous giver flows from the generous heart of God.  Sixth, a heart for the lost.  10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” ( NLT) . This is awareness that leads to action for those who do not know Christ  Last, a love for God and his church (). 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ( NLT) This is a person who loves the ministry of the church, the people, and the praise that takes place during worship

 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. (2 Corin 9:7 NLT) If your heart is on God’s kingdom, your money will be too (; ). A generous giver flows from the generous heart of God.  Sixth, a heart for the lost.  10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” ( NLT) . This is awareness that leads to action for those who do not know Christ  Last, a love for God and his church (). 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ( NLT) This is a person who loves the ministry of the church, the people, and the praise that takes place during worship (Inserra, The Unsaved Christian, 188–91).

14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.      ( NLT)  A person who is eternally minded understands that we may lose some things now but have much to gain in heaven as a result of our obedience to Christ  Third, you can know you’re a Christian because you search for sound doctrine.   9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. ( NLT) A Christian will protect the integrity of the gospel and other biblical teachings  Fourth, you can know by spiritual disciplines:  2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, ( NLT) this inner pulling and desire for God’s Word so that you can grow in your faith   Fifth, by our generosity. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. ( NLT)              7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. (2 Corin 9:7 NLT) If your heart is on God’s kingdom, your money will be too (; ). A generous giver flows from the generous heart of God.  Sixth, a heart for the lost.  10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” ( NLT) . This is awareness that leads to action for those who do not know Christ  Last, a love for God and his church (). 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ( NLT) This is a person who loves the ministry of the church, the people, and the praise that takes place during worship (Inserra, The Unsaved Christian, 188–91). I must be quick to point out not all lost people are cultural Christians. There are other kinds of unsaved Christians.  The first he mentions is the wolf in sheep’s clothing (). 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. ( NLT) These people sneak into the church because they look like Christians. They appear to be innocent.  See A cultural Christian is not going to go out of their way to cause trouble in the church. Remember, the cultural Christian wishes to blend in as much as possible, when it’s convenient.  The wolf in sheep’s clothing desires to create division (), deceive with flattery (), appease people by departing from sound doctrine (), lead people astray (), take people captive through bad philosophy and theology (), appear to have spiritual authority while they do not (), and are bringing upon themselves a swift destruction () (Inserra, The Unsaved Christian, 24).

3. The Other side of Unsaved Christianity

I must be quick to point out not all lost people are cultural Christians. There are other kinds of unsaved Christians. 

The first is

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.( NLT)

Jesus warned us about this in

Burk Parsons said “false teaches crep into the church not because they look like false teachers but because they look like angels.”

they dig deep into a community of believers and can pose a serious threat to the curch by manipulating and misguiding people.

There are tons of scripture on this type of person... These people sneak into the church because they look like Christians. They appear to be innocent.  See A cultural Christian is not going to go out of their way to cause trouble in the church. Remember, the cultural Christian wishes to blend in as much as possible, when it’s convenient.  The wolf in sheep’s clothing desires to create division (), deceive with flattery (), appease people by departing from sound doctrine (), lead people astray (), take people captive through bad philosophy and theology (), appear to have spiritual authority while they do not (), and are bringing upon themselves a swift destruction () (Inserra, The Unsaved Christian, 24).

The second type of lost person is

The Hypocrite. 5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. (-6NLT) This person is a person who wears a mask to appear one way in front of certain people, but they do not desire to follow or worship Christ .

This is called Skin deep holiness. This type of person wishes to deceive people for their own benefit, pride, and appearance. “Cultural Christianity is largely based on confusion, whereas the hypocrite and the false teacher have a ‘Christianity’ based on deceit” (Inserra,The Unsaved Christian, 25).

Music Meg…My Gosh ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION. Lord its like you’re commenting on fb posts that Sheri Smith is posting durring MY SERMON. Love you

Closing

I know We’ve hit on some tough topics the last three weeks but I have a rule for sermons especially for this series.

It Never preach a sermon that would still be true if Jesus Christ hadn’t risen from the grave.

and I stand by that and I’ll stick with it.

but those types of intellectual coaching sermons empty of the gospel are being preached in mainline protestant churches across the nation.

AND THEIR ATTENDANCE NUMBERS ARE DROPPING.

people are in the pews sitting on their blessed assurance..

Why? Why are people leaving if easy church, no conviction Cultural Christianity is really what most people want....Because thats not truly what the human soul wants and neither does the Holy Spirit guiding you.

The presentation of the Bible is what drives people to church…you may not agree but I promise you if you go somewhere its absent and you’ll have no drive to continue.

A study was done on this exodus from mainline churches and what was found was this

People are leaving because the bible isn’t present....which also means the gospel isn’t either.

This is theological liberalism....and it is losing souls.

why?????

Because Theological Liberalism is this.

A God without wrath, brought men without sin, into a Kingdom without judgement through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross

God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

That motivates our loving actions—and our only rational response—as shown in the following verse: “if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another” ().

While loving acts and morals are certainly good for human flourishing, apart from belief in the gospel they have no foundation; they are merely secular acts for the common good.

Make no mistake, there are mainline Protestant churches in your community that are mission fields because they put more stock in the desires of humanity than the Word of God.

Inviting friends from these churches to come to your gospel-preaching church is not an act of “sheep swapping,” but rather, evangelism.

You are inviting them to a church where they will truly hear and experience the love of God as revealed in the Bible, through the person and saving work of Jesus Christ.

end