"Do You Know a Christian?"

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

          1 John 3:1–7 ¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

          Do you know a Christian?  You might think this a strange question to ask to a congregation, however it might get you to take a closer look at yourself.  I got to admit some days I don't feel like a Christian.  Especially when I haven't been in God's word for awhile.  I start to fade from the joy I receive every time I find something that encourages me in God's word, especially when it really gives me a shot of the gospel in a way that I had not heard it or hadn't remembered it.  I stop to think during those times that I slip away from reading the Holy Scriptures, what is a Christian?

          We would most likely say a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus.  Some might even say believing that Jesus is our savior. We might possibly think that saying we believe is enough to get by.  But where is the joy in just saying we believe if we do not know our Lord intimately through His word. 

Most people even in the Church do not know Christ and what he has done for us not only on the cross but what He teaches us as well and how He intercedes for us daily.  Most non-Christians look at Christians as bullies because we talk about sin.  Obviously if we call someone a sinner we probably are a bully, however if we admit that we too are a sinner then we might show all are equal in the eyes of God.

A real Christian knows that they are not a better person than a non-Christian because we all sin.  However a real Christian knows having a real relationship with Christ through His word is essential to knowing the salvation that Christ sacrificed through His suffering and death so that we might have eternal life.  I receive more joy every time I am in the word because the more I study it the more I see and understand God's love for us.

          1 John 3:4–7 ⁴Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. ⁵You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ⁷Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

          It is important to get the key words here, "⁴Everyone who makes a practice of sinning,” this could be confusing but it doesn't have to be.  It is talking about people who plan on sinning as a motif to living their lives.  Certainly we sin and at times we know we are going to sin before we do, however most people do not make it a practice to live their life in sin all the time. 

It is also important to know that when we sin we do practice the lawlessness of God's laws whether they are man's laws or not.  So for the most part we try to practice righteousness and in our righteousness we should practice repenting.  As we repent we know we are forgiven and can embrace the love God has for us as He calls us His children.

Luke 24:47 ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 ⁹ As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

¹⁰ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

          A Christian suffers grief from sinning and this grief is our conscience that we receive from the Holy Spirit that leads to repentance.  And repentance leads to forgiveness that leads to salvation.  I cannot imagine anyone not wanting forgiveness, because even the worst of sinners, as Saint Paul called himself wants to be forgiven. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ set out to accomplish four tasks.  One was to reach and teach His people.  Two was to suffer and die to pay the ransom for our sins.  Three was to rise from the dead defeating death and showing all there really is eternal life.  And, fourth was to reach and teach the whole world of God's love for them all.

1 John 3:2–3 ²Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

          Do you know a Christian, I hope you will say yes as you look at yourself.  Do you know you are saved, you should, because you are saved?  We believe we are saved into eternal life and even better, that we will have a real eternal relationship where we live in His word and feel firsthand the awesome and great love our God has for us.  Amen.

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed!