Offertory scripture:
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%206:38&version=NKJV
God uses the measure we give to bless us back. He doesn’t force us to give but allows us to decide what we give. He wants to bless us, but to do so we must give cheerfully.
Sermon message:
Thesis: what is a biblical Christian?
Reason for discussing this to address some of the new forms of Christianity
Social justice - focus on good works
Red letter - focus on part of the Bible
Conversation - question biblical truths
East vs west - all gods are the same/gurus
Pantheism - God is in everything (east)
New age - cosmic - contemplative
In 2008: 70% of churchgoers say many religions can lead to heaven
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Timothy%203:16&version=NKJV
Doctrine
Reproof
Correction
Instruction
Jesus warned us about the coming deception
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. … Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Matthew 24:3-5,11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2024:3-5,11&version=NKJV
Apostle Paul also warned us:
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%2011:3-4&version=NKJV
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Timothy%204:3-4&version=NKJV
How do we keep from being deceived?
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%2017:11&version=NKJV
DNA statement (“we found Jesus’ bones”) vs 1 Corinthians 15:17
And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
1 Corinthians 15:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:17&version=NKJV
Some deceptively tantalizing questions:
1 Corinthians 15:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:17&version=NKJV
Some deceptively tantalizing questions:
How can a God of love send people to eternal damnation and punishment?
How can god ask us to forgive people when He refuses to forgive and sends them to hell?
These questions are based on a false assumption!
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:18-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%205:18-19&version=NKJV
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Luke 4:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%204:5-7&version=NKJV
The devil lied, saying the kingdoms were handed over / delivered unto him. Well, Adam through his sin did hand the earth and to humanity over to Satan. This is why it was a temptation even to Jesus although He successfully resisted.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16-18&version=NKJV
Why is the non-believer already condemned?
Because of what Adam did.
How can god ask us to forgive people when He refuses to forgive and sends them to hell?
These questions are based on a false assumption!
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:18-19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%205:18-19&version=NKJV
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Luke 4:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%204:5-7&version=NKJV
The devil lied, saying the kingdoms were handed over / delivered unto him. Well, Adam through his sin did hand the earth and to humanity over to Satan. This is why it was a temptation even to Jesus although He successfully resisted.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16-18&version=NKJV
Why is the non-believer already condemned?
Because of what Adam did.
But through Jesus, God can get you out of it.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:36 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:36&version=NKJV
Why is God’s wrath on the non-believer?
Same as before. B/c of what Adam did.
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
John 8:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:24&version=NKJV
Why will the non-believer die in their sins?
Same as before. B/c of what Adam did.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:36 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:36&version=NKJV
Why is God’s wrath on the non-believer?
Same as before. B/c of what Adam did.
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
John 8:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%208:24&version=NKJV
Why will the non-believer die in their sins?
Same as before. B/c of what Adam did.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%206:23&version=NKJV
God provided eternal life for all through Jesus!
And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:11-13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20John%205:11-13&version=NKJV
Eternal life with God is only through Jesus!
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:6&version=NKJV
Jesus Himself says He is the only way to our heavenly Father!
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:3-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:3-5&version=NKJV
Jesus: mediator, go-between, reconciler
Why doesn’t everyone believe?
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:3-4&version=NKJV
The Bible calls Satan the god of this world.
Your enemy Satan wants to destroy you
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luke 8:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%208:11-12&version=NKJV
Eternal life is only for believers in Jesus!
What do you and your family believe?
Remember the Bible clearly teaches:
Because of what Adam did we were born under a damnation sentence. Our eternal destination was hell and punishment.
This is the current status of non-believers.
But the Good News is this:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%205:8-9&version=NKJV
God showed Hid love for us by sending Jesus to die for our sins and provide believers with eternal life!
Do you believe in the Biblical Jesus?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%201:16&version=NKJV
This message is so simple but so powerful!
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%201:18&version=NKJV
What is a biblical Christian?
Believes that Jesus is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, died on the cross as a substitute, for our sins, then rose from the dead, and is our only way to heaven.
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.
Romans 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:9&version=NKJV
Amen!
John 14:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:6&version=NKJV
Jesus Himself says He is the only way to our heavenly Father!
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:3-5 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:3-5&version=NKJV
Jesus: mediator, go-between, reconciler
Why doesn’t everyone believe?
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:3-4&version=NKJV
The Bible calls Satan the god of this world.
Your enemy Satan wants to destroy you
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luke 8:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%208:11-12&version=NKJV
Eternal life is only for believers in Jesus!
What do you and your family believe?
Remember the Bible clearly teaches:
Because of what Adam did we were born under a damnation sentence. Our eternal destination was hell and punishment.
This is the current status of non-believers.
But the Good News is this:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%205:8-9&version=NKJV
God showed Hid love for us by sending Jesus to die for our sins and provide believers with eternal life!
Do you believe in the Biblical Jesus?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%201:16&version=NKJV
This message is so simple but so powerful!
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%201:18&version=NKJV
What is a biblical Christian?
Believes that Jesus is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, died on the cross as a substitute, for our sins, then rose from the dead, and is our only way to heaven.
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.
Romans 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:9&version=NKJV
Amen!