This morning I brought the lesson and the title was Things That Dont Make You A Christian, But All Christians Must Do What are some things that dont make you a Christian? Attending worship services You can be at worship services three times a week every week and still not be a Christian. You can set up a tent and live in a church building and it doesnt make you a Christian if you arent doing the other things required by God. But All Christians must attend worship services. To choose not to attend worship services when youre able to be there is forsaking the assembly of the saints. And that is sin. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. ------- Studying the bible doesnt make you a Christian. There are atheists who study the bible. There are people in denominations who study the bible. There are many many false teachers who study the bible and either dont understand it correctly or twist it to try to make it say what they want to believe or what they want others to believe. But all Christians must study Gods word. Its how we know how to please Him and how we make sure we are saved. Knowing His word allows us to teach it to others so they can be saved as well. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. --------- Baptism doesnt make you a Christian. You may be saying, wait...Baptism IS what makes someone a Christian. But that is only true if that person is being baptized for the right reason. Just being lowered into the water and raised back up again doesnt make someone a Christian. If that person hasnt learned the reason for being baptized or if their heart isnt right with God then the baptism isnt going to do anything except make them wet. Baptism IS the point where God allows the blood of His precious Son to wash away our sins and save us. If its done as He tells us to do it in His word, it IS the point where we become Christians. Its being immersed into Christs body, His church. But it only does that when we are following Him as we should. Acts 19: 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto Johns baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus -------- Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized intoChrist have put on Christ. ------- 1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: ------- Belief in Jesus. John 3:16 is a wonderful beautiful verse that is too often taken out of context and used for false teaching. Its used by people who want to believe they can be saved without living the life of a Christian. If we truly believe in Christ we WILL follow His example and His teachings. If we just think that believing He is real will save us without us accepting His teachings and living our lives for Him we will be lost to eternal damnation in judgment day. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -------- Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ------- James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. -------- Being a good person. Many think that just being a good, moral person will save them. They think if they do nice things and dont hurt others that surely God will save them. They dont understand how God could send a good person to hell. They dont understand that we have ALL sinned and God has given us the ONLY way to obtain forgiveness of our sins and that if we reject His way we are lost. Christians MUST be good people. You cant follow Gods will without being good. God is the one who defines what GOOD is. The bible is filled with instructions for us to help others and to be honest and kind and loving. We MUST be good. But being good isnt enough if we dont obey Him. Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. -------- Giving. Some feel they can buy their way into heaven. There is no amount of money we can give to God that can earn us salvation. But we must give as we have been blessed. We must contribute on the first day of the week when we gather to worship Him. We must put what we give to Him before any other obligations we have. He must come first. 1 Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. ------- None of those things above make us Christians. We can do them and still not be Christians. We must do all of them and we must have our hearts right with God to be Christians. 1 Corinthians 13: 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. ------- The word translated charity in the verse above can also be translated as love. We must do all the things mentioned above to be Christians. And we must have love in our hearts for God and for one another. Following His example and His teaching with love for Him and for one another makes us a Christian and makes sure we will be saved and be with Him eternally in heaven.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 18:07:16 +0000
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