What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

Introduction

Well, good morning to one and all.

For those who are visiting with us this morning, we welcome you and are delighted that you have taken the time to come out and worship with us this morning. Give you a little backstory to me being up here by two weeks ago, realizing Greg was going to be out of town, Barbara is going to be out of town. We were in the back, and it was almost like we were drawing straws. And somehow I guess I ended up with the short end of it. But as you see up on the screen, Romans chapter twelve and verse one. If you were here last week, you’ll remember that Greg put that up too. So when that went up, I said, oops, what am I going to talk about now?

But Romans chapter twelve, verse one and two, Paul writes, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the winner of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I asked the question, and you may have trouble seeing that, but what what does it mean to be a Christian? And I want to look at that question from three points. One, what does it mean to be a Christian when it has to do with our relationship with one another? What does it mean to be a Christian, let’s say, under the oversight of shepherds? And what does it mean to be a Christian with our relationship? As it has to do with our relationship with the world. You know, I would say, like the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 12, for this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things. Though you know and are established in the present truth.

1. Our Relationship With One Another

Yes, I think it is right. Miss my spot here. Yes, I think it is right as long as I am in this tent to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent. Just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have reminder of these things after my disease. Yes, many of the things that I will say this morning, there may be things that you know already. Some you might be hearing for the first, some people might be hearing these things for the first time. But however, if there are things that you know, it’s a matter of being put into remembrance. Now, in terms of our relationship with one another, the word of God is filled with things about how we are to be treating each other, the things that we are responsible for for one another.

First thing, love. Love one another. There are a few passages that we’ll look at. First, in John chapter 13 and verse 34 and 35, Jesus said, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.

Chapter 4 and verse 9, Paul writes, but concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. And first Peter 1 and verse 22. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, to sincere love of the brethren, he says, love one another from the heart fervently. And in first John chapter 4 and verse 11 and 12. John writes, Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

I went a little too far ahead of myself there. But comfort and edify one another. And let’s look at 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 15 to 18. Paul writes, for this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means proceed those who are asleep.

Therefore, comfort one another with these words. In the next chapter and verse 11, Paul said, Therefore, comfort and then edify one another, just as you’re doing. Bear with one another.

Ephesians chapter 4.

Paul writes verse 1 to 3. Therefore, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. With all lowliness and gentleness and long suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the peace, or the bond of peace. In Colossians 3, he would add to that, saying, Therefore, from verse 12 to 15, Colossians chapter 3, verse 12 to 15. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, you also must do.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts that you also, to which you also were called in one body, and be thankful. We’re to bear one another’s burdens. Galatians chapter six and verse two. Simply ask us to bear one another’s burdens, burdens, and so fulfill the law. We’re to be kind to one another. Our little kids will know this passage from Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 32. Paul says, be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Two things we see there being kind and we’re to forgive one another. We’re to admonish one another. In Colossians chapter three and verse sixteen, Paul says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

We’re to admonish one another. We’re to teach one another. We’re to exhort one another. In Hebrews chapter three and verse thirteen. Hebrews three and verse 13. The scripture says, but exhalt one another daily while it is called today. Lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. And in verse 25 of chapter 10, Hebrews 10, 25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as a man of some, but exalting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

We’re to consider one another.

Let us consider one another to stir up unto love or to provoke one another unto love and good works.

He says, confess your trespasses to one another. Pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. We’re to have compassion for one another. In 1 Peter chapter 3, 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 8. The scripture says, Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. We’re to be hospitable to one another. And minister our gifts to one another. First Peter chapter 4, verse 9 and 10. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. We’re called upon to serve one another. To serve one another. Galatians chapter 5 and verse 13.

Paul writes, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty. Only do not use your liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, serve one another. We’re to have the same care for one another. First Corinthians chapter 12, verse 25. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to the part that lacks it. That there should be those kissing in the body. But that the members should have the same care for one another. With all these one another passages, brethren, we ought to ask ourselves with the time that we we meet, let’s say on the Lord’s Day, the first few hours that we’re able, the first the couple of hours that we are able to spend together. Is it enough for us to accomplish all these things?

What does it mean to be a Christian when it comes to our relationship with one another? It means that we we do have a lot of work to do.

2. A Christian Under the Oversight of Shepherds

And then the next day come and the resolutions are being made. We realize that we don’t get much accomplished like that. But as we think of ourselves as members of each other, it’s something that we have to look at even more closely. The next thing I want us to consider is what does it mean to be a Christian under the oversight of shepherds? You know, the apostle, and I know there are there are some congregations that do not have shepherds, but I trust that is things as we look into the word of God, as we have seen in Acts chapter 14 and verse 23. Paul sought to establish elders, shepherds, wherever the church was established. In Acts chapter 14 and verse 23, it reads so when they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

So as we think of what it means to be a Christian, let us look to be a Christian under the oversight of elders. Let us consider what elders are about. What do we have in scriptures that tells us about them? In Philippians chapter 1 and verse 1, Paul, in writing to the brethren there, he addressed the congregation, saying, Paul and Timothy, bond servants of Christ to the saints, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops and deacons. In Acts chapter twenty and verse seventeen and twenty-eight. Paul called for the elders from Melidas, he called for the elders who were at Ephesus. And in verse 28, he says, Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood.

Take heed, says we see that rendering in the New King James. Pay careful attention to the English Standard Version says, keep watch over the NIB renders it. Be on guard for yourselves. The New American Standard Bible.

Peter also writes, the elders who are among you in 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 1 to 4. I exhort, I who am a fellow elder, and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly, not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock, and when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory, that does not fade away. And we can read in First Timothy chapter three, verse one to seven, and Titus chapter five, Titus chapter one, verse five to nine.

Paul writes, for this reason I left you in Crete that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you. If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accuser of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just holy, self-control, holding fast the faithful words, as he has been taught, that he may be able by some doctrine both to exhort and convict those who contradict some of the qualities of these men. So, what is the response of a congregation to its elders, to its shepherds, to its bishop?

As we see in Acts chapter 20 and verse 28, that the Holy Spirit made them overseers, the same word used for bishop, that they were to shepherd the flock, to feed the flock, to tend to the flock, or to be pastors, and we see the this word pastors, it’s been only used once in the New Testament in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11 to 17. We’ll read that later. But we see that these men are to shepherd the flock to feed the flock. It’s like nurturing the flock. And the question is, what is our response? What is our response to the shepherds of the flock? There are two passages that I could think of, or the ones that I’ve seen. In 1 Timothy chapter 5, verse 17 to 19.

Paul writes, let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in word and in doctrine. For the scripture says, You shall not muzzle an ox while it threads out the grain. And the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not be seived. Do not receive, sorry, an accusation against another except from two or three witnesses. Next would be Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. The scripture says, obey those who rule over you and be submissive. For they watch out for your souls as those who must give account.

Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden. For that would be of no benefit to you. You know, I looked at the idea of the word watch out for, and to find out what does that really mean? The Greek word, maybe I’m going to be butchering it right now, trying to say the Greek word here, but it’s a group male to watch out for.

3. Our Relationship With the World: Salt and Light

Shepherds of a local church also watch for the things that are spiritually harmful to the flock. Now, what about our relationship with the world? Where to be salt and light.

But if salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled on the foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light the lamp and put it on their basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. We’re to be salt and light to the world. We’re not to conform to the world. We’re in a battle, as of the passage in Romans chapter 12 and verse 2. We’re in a battle each day where the world is forcing on us the ideas and the ideologies that are presented, but we’re not to conform to the world.

Conclusion

So when we look at these things, how can we make application for us today? Being a Christian, what does it mean in terms of our relationship with one another? With all the things that are involved, in all the exhortation, the one another exhortations that are given in the scriptures. The question is, will a few hours a week cut it for us? Here in this local body, we have tried to have groups where we can get to know one another better. To accomplish these things can never take place in the short time that we’re here spending. We have to invest ourselves in one another. And yes, you may not be a member here.

But hopefully, you can see that our lives as Christians, it’s much more than, oh, every time the doors are open, I’m here. And some people don’t even avail themselves of that. When we’re called to exhort one another, to stir up unto love and good works, the idea of stirring something, that means you’re going to move it. It’s going to be shaken. We all like to be in a spot where we’re comfortable. But if all that I’m doing is on Sundays, I get up early and I’m here at 9 o’clock. By 12 30 or so, I’m gone and I don’t see anybody else. I don’t talk to anybody else until Wednesday evening I see them for a few hours. If that is all that my life is as a Christian, as it comes to our relationship with my fellow brothers and sisters, we need to stir that somewhat.

We need to provoke one another unto love and good works. And I’m not saying this like it’s not happening. I know it’s happening in this congregation where a lot of people are involved in the lives of other people. But look at us here. Look at the number of people are here. And I know there’s so much more that can be done. And the idea of us as Christians, we have to stir one another up. And there is a reason for this. As we lead towards making application to reaching the lost.

Or elders, or pastors or overseers, whatever name you want to refer to them as.

For they must give an account as one who is serving as an elder. That that scares me so much. You know, if you you remember, I remember I remember saying this. You know, you get married, you you have kids, and the idea of raising a child, it is it is scary, especially in this day and age, and I used to think that some 25 years ago, that it was scary, and there are some responsibility that even though you know that child will stand before God for himself, that you have to give an account for him, and the idea of being a shepherd, that you have to give an account. What does that mean? I wrestle with that. What does that mean to you, brothers and sisters?

That shepherds must give an account.

Not being a burden. Do you look at shepherds as I know there is a setting where shepherds of a flock, they may be seen as the executives or the people, yeah, the people in charge.

Shepherds are servants. When you see an actual shepherd, someone who tends to sheep, you know what? They smell like sheep. Sheep. All the smell and everything that comes with it. And I’ll say the shepherds here of this flock have sought and still continue to seek to get to know one another, to get to know you. So using that term to smell like you. What does it mean? When we look at our responsibility now as we as we make application to these, to the lost. Even times like these, or times where we come together, I know the main purpose is for us to come here to worship the Lord. And especially on a day like today, we remember the death of Christ. But is this something that you enjoy?

Do I do I love it to the point that I want to tell those who are without. We think about gospel meetings, and sometimes I wonder, do they do they still make sense? We we put out the effort, someone is be here to preach for us. Do we spread the word? Do we try and invite our friends? What will it do for me if I go out and invite my friends or people that I may just meet and have a cordial conversation with that the chance make may be that that person may show up that night. Then I’m gonna make sure that I’m here to to greet them. We look for all the opportunities to spread the gospel. There’s so many things going on in the world today.

Um I remember seeing, and I think I have it here. And I’ll read just an excerpt from it. Look at what’s going on in our world today. And the election that is coming up and things like that. We as Christians must never never forget who we are, why we’re here. Our words should mean something. They should be seasoned with salt, as the Apostle Paul said. From last week’s bulletin, I came across this note. It says, it is easy to speak in an evil way about people with whom we have disagreements. We think the worst about some politicians, and those thoughts quickly turn to words, into words. Christians should not be characterized by evil words or abusive language. Instead, we should be careful we should be careful to avoid strife and be ready to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

All souls are minds, says the Lord. We have a responsibility to reach out to those who are lost. When the incident took place, just down the street, and 49 people were killed. What was your reaction? Do you do you did you feel the same way about, let’s say, the incident in Colorado where people got massacred in the theater or Sandy Hook or some other? We know of the lifestyle that some were living, but they’re souls. And our job is to preach the word, to sow the seed, to water it, knowing that it is God who gave the increase.

So as we think about this as we bring this lesson to a close, ask yourself, what does it mean to be a Christian? Other than the usual, yes, to be a follower of Christ. And we say we’re Christians. But what does it mean when it comes to me dealing with the local body that I’m a part of? Do you see your shepherds as people just heckling you whenever you’re not here or something like that? What is your relationship to the world? Do you shine as a light? Are we seeking to do that? Now if you’re not if you’re here this morning, and you’re not a Christian, when you think of all the things that we spoke about earlier.

But I would like us to look at one other passage in Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter four, verses eleven, eleven to sixteen. Ephesians four, eleven to sixteen. Paul writes, and he himself gave some to be apostles and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, some teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the statue of the fullness of Christ. That we should be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.

But speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things unto him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by the whole by every joint by which every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share? Cause growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

When we look at that, there are a few things why, few reasons given why they’re evangelists and pastors and teachers. He says, one for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, including all the things that we’re to do to one another, including the things that we’re responsible in teaching the lost, for the edifying of the body of Christ, to bring all to unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, that we’re no longer tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. So that every part of the body does its share, causing it the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. You know, when we’re working like that, as Jesus said in John 13 and verse 33 to 34 about us loving one another, that the world may know that.

You know, people looking for something new in life.

Man, if we could master those, this place would be radiating all the time, and people will be looking for that. It’s opportunities for us to spread the gospel. So if you’re here this morning, not it not a Christian, don’t you want to be part of a group where people are striving to truly love each other, to care for one another, to be considerate of one another. All these things. With what in mind? That we draw closer to Christ with heaven with eternity in mind. If you’re here this even this morning, never obey the gospel. That call, this call is for you. Jesus said to his disciples to go and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved. He who does not believe will be condemned.

The invitation, the great commission, the great call is for all. And if you’re here this morning, having not done that yet, we implore you to do that. And if there’s any other way where we could help you, if you’re here being a Christian, realizing that you need to be stirred. Let the word of God do that for you. If we can help, if we can pray with you, we’re here to do that. Whatever your needs might be, be willing to step out and come forward. We can do that. We can help you. You know, I must say something about the idea of coming forward. You know, there are times our brothers and sisters might be struggling with things. And there is maybe a stigma today of getting up and coming forward and seeking the praise of brothers and sisters.

You know, I I would say, as one who is serving as a shepherd here, I need your praise. I need your praise. And not just me, but the eldership here. For Jim and Bob and Ralph. Even our deacons who serve, who put in time, who do, and many of our members who are doing things that we do not know about. But so much more could be done if we all get together more. There’s no stigma in coming forward and seeking for help. Sometimes we’re afraid to do that. We probably get it get an idea. Well, maybe everybody, all these people, they’re so good. Nobody’s getting up. Nobody’s seeking praise. We know that is not true. But when we grow to love one another, when we grow to get to know one another, we may not need for someone to walk up front and say, Pray for me.

We will know about that. What if you’re here this morning and you have that desire? Please come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.