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Biblical
references in Gahanna-Jefferson Church of Christ's nondenominational sermon
outlines are linked directly to text of the King James version of the Bible.
Bible quotes you hear in the streaming audio may be from the New King James
version of the Bible.
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Introduction:
1. What day stands out in your memory as the "biggest event in your life?"
a) Birth
b) Graduation
c) Marriage
2. If one were to ask a Christian, it would have to be the day they were
baptized into Christ.
a) Because it affects both the Christian and those with whom they live for
eternity.
b) Because it was the day when they were, "Born again."
3. Sadly, too many of us who are Christians may let that important day slip into
the backs of our minds, we tend to allow other things to overshadow the worth
and the joy that day brought, and continues to bring.
4. Today, we will seek to help bring that day back to our minds and learn again
some very important truths that will help us appreciate what it means to be a
Christian even more: We will notice some BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.
a) As with a job, there are certain benefits of employment.
b) There are also responsibilities each employee must assume.
Body:
I. GOD AS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER
"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God. . ." (I John 3:1)
A. The Benefits Of God As Our Father.
1. He gives what is perfect and good to His children:
a. "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how
much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask
Him?" (Matthew 7:11).
b. "Every good gift, and every perfect gift cometh. . ." (James 1:17).
2. He provides comfort in all our afflictions. "Blessed be God, even the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
(II Corinthians1:3-4)
3. When needed, He chastises us (Hebrews 12:5-11).
4. He has promised to never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6).
B. Yet, There Are Responsibilities In Having God As Our Father.
1. We must submit to God; "Submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the Devil
and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
2. We must also "draw near" to God (James 4:8).
a. Just as an earthly father delights in his children drawing near unto him,
asking of him love, protection, and care; so does the God of Heaven.
b. We draw near to God by cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts (
James 4:8)
II. JESUS AS OUR LORD AND OUR HIGH PRIEST!
"But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in
him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (I Corinthians
8:6)
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
A. Think For A Moment About This Blessing. . .
1. He who is LORD is also He who rules over the kings of the earth
(Revelation 1:5-6)
a. All authority is given Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).
b. All have been made subject to Him (I Peter 3:22).
c. Yet, He calls us brethren! (Hebrews 2:11-12). What a blessing indeed!
2. As High Priest, He intercedes in our behalf. . . "Who is he that condemneth?
It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34)
a. Our high priest understands our every feeling (Hebrews 2:17-18).
b. Our high priest ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:24).
B. The responsibility Is ...
1. That We Must Accept And Believe In Him (John 8:24, 58)
2. That We Obey The Captain Of Our Salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9)
III. THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO INSTRUCTS AND DWELLS IN US THROUGH FAITH
A. Benefits Of The Holy Spirit's Instruction
1. The new birth (John 3:3-5;
1 Peter 1:22-25 "For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14).
2. Strength to face the problems of life "That he would grant you, according to
the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God"
(Ephesians 3:16-19).
B. Benefits Of His Indwelling
1. Not a matter of whether He dwells in us, but how? (The same way that Christ
and the Father dwell in us, through the word of God!).
Colossians 3:16;
Ephesians 5:18.
Something WE do!
2. Through the medium of His indwelling, the word, we have the strength to put
to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:2, 11-14).
C. Benefit Of The Holy Spirit's Intercession (Romans 8:26-27).
D. Responsibilities In Having The Holy Spirit Dwelling In Us
1. We must keep the "Temple" pure and holy.
b. The temple, the church (I Corinthians
3:16-17;
5:1ff).
2. We are to glorify God with our bodies, through adherence to the Spirit's
message (I Corinthians 6:18- 20). Ye are not you own, bought with a price, therefore,
Glorify God in your body.
4. We are to bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Set affections on
things above (Colossians
3:1).
IV. THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY
"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself
in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and
ground of the truth" (I Timothy 3:15).
A. The Benefits Of Having The Church As Our Family.
1. Each member becomes as a mother, father, sister and brother to us: "Rebuke not
an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The
elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity" (I
Timothy
5:1-2)."
2.
Proverbs 18:24 states: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
3. Often church family will replace family that we lose in becoming Christians
(Matthew 10:28-30;
12:46-50).
B. Responsibilities Of Having The Church As Our Family. . .
1. We are to "edify one another. . ." (Hebrews 10:23-25).
a. Must assemble to do this!
b. Requires each member doing his/her share.
2. We are to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:1-2).
a. Are to be our brother's keepers!
b. Such is to fulfill "the law of Christ."
c. This requires that we get to know each other well; truly our best friends
should be our brethren in Christ.
Conclusion:
1. There are certainly many, many more benefits than Responsibilities in being
Christians.
2. It is my prayer that this lesson has helped each of us to see two important
things:
a) How blessed we are to be a Christian. Not all in the world have this
privilege!
b) How important it is for us to fulfill our responsibilities, lest we lose the
blessings we have! "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil
heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another
daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the
beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if
ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." (Hebrews
3:12-15).
3. If you are not a Christian today , please take this opportunity to become all
that God desires you to be by submitting to Him today in repentance and
obedience to His command to be baptized into Christ.
Don Treadway,
March
2003 |
