I hope you are not offended by this question, but
“Are you a true Christian?”
Are you absolutely sure about your answer?
And if so, how do you know?
How does the Bible define a Christian?
Does it say there are requirements?
And if so, what are they?
Is there more to it than repeating the sinner’s
prayer?
Please be patient with me as I ask another personal
question.
Is it possible that you could be deceived?
After all, doesn't the Bible say that Satan has
deceived the whole world?
But how can that be when the world’s largest
religion is professing Christianity?
And what about Jesus’ warning to beware lest we
be deceived?
On today’s program I'll be exploring according to the
Bible what is a true Christian.
And I'll be offering you
a resource that gives more
detail on this subject than I have time on this
short program to give.
Our study guide, What Is a True Christian?
can be yours absolutely free of charge, so be sure
to have writing material available to take down our
contact information that will be shown during this
program.
Now stay with me, as I'll be right back to give you
four signs of a true Christian and reveal the
best one-verse description of what it means to be a
Christian.
♪
A warm welcome to all of you from all of us here at
Tomorrow’s World, where we look to the Bible for
answers to life’s most important questions.
We also tell you not to believe us just because we
say it, but believe what you see in your own Bible.
And, of course this advice applies to other ministers
as well.
Believe what you read in your own Bible.
On today’s Tomorrow’s World program, I'll be
giving you four signs of a true Christian, and I'll
also reveal the best one-verse description of
what it means to be a Christian.
I'll also be offering a free resource to help you.
What Is a True Christian?
gives more detail than I have time to give, so be
sure to take down our contact information.
Most people have regrets over things they've done.
They instinctively know that some things are
wrong.
Furthermore, they know that they are guilty of
doing wrong.
So how does one undo the wrongs he or she has
committed?
Some turn to what they think are good works to erase their
past--volunteering at a homeless shelter, giving
money to feed the poor,
or becoming a warrior against climate change.
But does that make them a Christian?
By that standard, secular humanists and atheists
could be considered Christians.
But are we saved by good works?
Paul explained in Ephesians 2, verses 8 and 9...
"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
It takes more than good works to be a Christian,
but is God against good works?
Absolutely not!
Notice the next verse:
"For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
No, God expects good works from those who are saved
through faith.
Others think that they can be saved by observing
ritualistic laws, such as vain repetition of
memorized prayers.
Again, what do the scriptures say?
Breaking into a thought, Paul wrote in Galatians 2:16...
"Knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we
might be justified by faith in Christ and not by
the works of the law; for by the works of the law no
flesh shall be justified."
There is only one name and one way that we can be
saved, and that name is spelled out in Acts 4,
beginning in verse 10:
"... let it be known to you all...
that by the name of Jesus Christ...
this man [that is the one that had been healed]
stands here before you whole....
Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among
men by which we must be saved."
Salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, Sign #1 is: A True Christian
Recognizes Jesus as His Savior.
And this leads us to our second sign of a true Christian:
Sign #2: A True Christian Keeps the Law of God.
A misunderstanding occurs as
a result of not knowing
the meaning of justification.
While justification is needed for salvation,
justification does not mean salvation.
Justification means our past sins have been
forgiven.
But what is sin?
Dust off your Bible and look it up in 1 John 3:4...
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
That's from the King James Version.
Now let’s go back to the passage I quoted earlier
in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, a verse that is
often quoted by those who teach that everything has
been done for us and that we no longer need to keep
the law.
As with other passages used to abrogate the law,
this one is taken out of context.
Galatians the 2nd chapter once again, and verse 16...
"... a man is not justified by the works of the law
but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have
believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified
by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law;
for by the works of the law no flesh
shall be justified."
Was Paul advocating the abolition of law because
of grace?
Not at all, as we read the verses that follow.
But if, while we seek to be justified [that is, have past
sins forgiven] by Christ, we ourselves also are
found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of
sin?
Certainly not!
For if I build again those things which I destroyed,
I make myself a transgressor.
For I through the law died to the law that I might
live to God.
Therefore, while a true
Christian has faith in Christ’s sacrifice for the
forgiveness of sin, he also recognizes that he is
obligated to stop sinning,
and that means, keep the law of God.
Frankly, friends, the whole concept of doing
away with the law of God is ridiculous.
Why would anyone go back to do the very things for
which Christ died to pay the penalty of on our behalf?
Most rational people understand that a
Christian should not murder, commit adultery,
steal, worship idols, etc.
What it comes down to with those who are against law,
is which laws, and they have
an aversion to the next sign of a true Christian.
I'll give you that third sign in a minute, but I
first want to tell you about today’s free offer
What Is a True Christian?
This resource contains far more information than I
have time to cover in this short program.
One section asks and answers the question:
Are Denominations "Christian"
Because They Do Good Works?
Another section addresses this important question:
Is There Hope for Me?
And still another section describes:
The Fruits of a True Christian.
There's much more vital information in our resource,
What Is a True Christian?
Many people are deceived on this subject.
That may not be you, but what do you have to lose
by ordering this free resource?
So, pick up the phone and call the toll-free number
shown on your screen, or go to our website at
TWTV.org/Christian to order your free copy of
What Is a True Christian?
And when I come back I'll give you another sign of a
true Christian--one that totally undermines
attempts to do away with God’s law.
For today’s free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
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Before the break I said I would give you another
sign--one that
totally undermines attempts to do away with
God’s law.
Above all else, a Christian is
a follower of Christ,
but what does that entail?
Here it is in Sign #3:
A True Christian Walks in Jesus’ footsteps.
How many professing Christians
today believe what Jesus taught and walk as He walked?
In other words, lived as He lived.
Do you realize that believing in Christ and
obeying Him are two different matters?
Many people dismiss obedience.
Yet, how long will someone keep his job if he doesn't
do what the boss tells him to do?
Dear friend, consider this statement in Luke 6:46...
"But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do
the things which I say?"
Lord means boss or master.
The disconnect between what Jesus instructs and
what people actually do is found
in Matthew 5:17-18...
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law
or the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but to fulfill
[meaning, to fill to the full].
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth
pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means
pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
Jesus then went on to show by
examples how the Ten Commandments are even more
binding than before.
After explaining the spirit of the law against
murder, He then gave this example regarding
adultery...
"You have heard that it was said to those of old,
“You shall not commit adultery."
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to
lust for her has already
committed adultery with her in his heart."
James, the brother of Christ,
tells us that we cannot break one commandment
away from the others.
Notice what law, what group of commandments he
refers to in this context.
"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble
in one point, he is guilty of all.
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery," also
said, “Do not murder."
Now if you do not commit
adultery, but you do murder, you have become a
transgressor of the law.
Clearly, James is speaking of the
Ten Commandments as a whole.
You cannot break one without being guilty of
breaking them all.
And one of those commands is to remember the Sabbath
day to keep it holy, and that brings us to Christ’s
example and whether we are going to follow it.
Are we going to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, or the
footsteps of apostate Christianity and that of
the sun-worshipping Roman Emperor Constantine?
The New Testament record shows us that Jesus kept
the seventh day Sabbath.
It's true that He violated some of the
humanly devised restrictions the Jews put
on the day, but nevertheless, He kept the
Sabbath as intended by God, and as shown in many scriptures.
And three times, He declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath.
Not once did He
call Himself Lord of Sunday, or Lord of the
first day of the week.
Furthermore, we see that He observed the biblical
Holy Days and Festivals of Passover, the days of
Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Tabernacles, and
the Last Great Day.
We're often told that the Sabbath day was
changed to Sunday and these annual Sabbaths were
done away at the death of Christ.
There are clever justifications, human
reasonings, twisted scriptures, and scriptures
taken out of context, but what is the example of
Jesus’ followers after His death and resurrection?
Paul kept the Sabbath day with Gentiles.
That's found in Acts 13.
Paul also taught the Gentiles of Corinth to
keep the Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread.
That's in 1 Corinthians 5.
Jesus’ followers kept Pentecost--Acts 2.
And the Day of Atonement was a
time marker for Luke, who wrote the book of Acts.
That's in Acts 27:9.
These are only samples and there are many
more scriptures supporting this.
The point is that Jesus’ followers walked in His
footsteps.
They kept the same laws that Jesus kept.
And that's why Jesus’ beloved apostle John tells us in
chapter 2 and verse 6 of his first letter...
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to
walk just as He walked."
We read in Revelation 12:9 that Satan
has deceived this whole world, and that includes
the majority of what is thought of as
Christianity.
And that should not surprise students of the
Bible as that warning comes from Christ Himself,
as well as Paul, Peter, John, and Jude.
So, whose steps are you following?
Are you following traditions handed down to
you, or what you read in the Bible?
What Is a True Christian?
is not for the cowardly, but for those who are
courageous enough to look in a mirror, comparing what they
see in scripture and then act on what they see.
It exposes misconceptions professing Christians have
about what the Bible says.
That's why we're offering to you our free
resource--What Is a True Christian?
So, pick up the phone and call the number on your
screen, or go to our website at
TWTV.org/Christian and order your copy of
What Is a True Christian?
And when I come back after this very short break,
I'll give you another sign of a true Christian.
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
Call now!
Or go to...
So far we've seen three signs of what it means to
be a true Christian.
Before the break I said I would give you one more,
but first, let’s review the ones I've already given.
As we've seen, Sign #1:
A True Christian Recognizes Jesus as His Savior.
#2: A True Christian Keeps the Law of God.
And, #3: A True Christian Walks in Jesus’ Footsteps.
Now we're ready for another
important sign to look for in true Christianity.
This sign is similar to the previous two, but it
needs to be emphasized as it will determine eternal
life or eternal death.
As already shown, sin is the transgression of the law.
That's the Bible definition of sin as shown
in 1 John 3 and verse 4.
Of course, the very term sin is a term originating
in the Bible.
Our second sign of a true Christian is that he keeps
the law of God, but let’s take that one step
further.
We know that there was only one human being who
lived perfectly, and He gave His life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
Through faith in Christ’s shed blood we do have that
forgiveness, but does that mean we have it made, that
we really don't have to overcome the pulls of our
nature?
Sign #4: A True Christian Must Overcome Sin.
When a young man came to Jesus asking what
good thing he could do to have eternal life,
what was Jesus’ answer?
Read it in Matthew 19:17...
"But if you want to enter into life,
keep the commandments."
Notice that He did not tell him to acknowledge
the commandments, but to keep them.
Why is it then that some believe, by their actions,
and some by their words, that overcoming the pulls
of our flesh, and of the mind, are not necessary
for salvation?
Forget the clever justifications.
What does the Bible tell us?
Note this stern warning from the Apostle Paul to
the Church of God at Corinth...
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,
nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
The next verse shows that some
in Paul’s audience had these problems before
coming to the truth...
"And such were some of you.
But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and
by the Spirit of our God."
Notice, that Paul says
that such were some of you.
In other words, they were no longer caught up in
those behaviors.
They were overcomers.
Notice also, that they were justified--their past
sins had been forgiven through Jesus Christ.
They were washed, as it were, by the blood of Christ.
And they were therefore sanctified or set apart.
At the very end of the Bible, God explains
that unrepented sin would keep one out of the
Kingdom and condemn him to the second death.
Again, these are not sins of occasional weakness
that are sincerely repented of and covered by
the blood of Christ.
But, we must nevertheless, with the help of God,
overcome our weaknesses, as Revelation 21 tells us,
beginning in verse 6...
"And He said to me, “It is done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega.
He who overcomes shall inherit all things.""
Notice that.
This is not something we can remove from the Bible.
It is...
"He who overcomes [that] shall inherit all
things.... But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their
part in the lake which burns with fire and
brimstone, which is the second death.”
Yes, the Alpha and the Omega--that's Christ according
to Revelation 1:11.
And He says we must overcome sin if we want to
be in His Kingdom.
This is not easy, and we don't overcome all at once.
But Christianity is a way of life, of overcoming and
following in the footsteps of Jesus.
So let’s not come up
with clever excuses, reasonings, and arguments
around obedience to God’s law.
Instead, for example, someone addicted to pornography
must become un-addicted-- he must overcome it.
This admonition to overcome is also found in the
letters to all seven of the Churches mentioned in
Revelation 2 and 3.
Let’s notice just one of them.
The Laodiceans are mentioned there in chapter 3, verse 21...
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me
on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with
My Father on His throne."
We must follow in the footsteps of our Savior.
Just as He overcame the temptations of the flesh,
so must we overcome with His help.
In a moment I'll reveal what my former college
professor, and my predecessor in this Work,
considered the best one verse description of a
true Christian found in the Bible.
But let me remind you one more time of our vital
resource titled--What Is a True Christian?
As you've heard so many times here at
Tomorrow’s World, everything we have to
offer will be sent to you free of charge, and we
really do mean it.
Let me share with you just one of many similar
comments that we receive.
This one is from Cortez, CO:
"I've been receiving the Tomorrow’s World
magazine for a long time and I appreciate it
very much to be able to
read the truth that you print.
I'm so thankful that you are Sabbath keepers for
very few in this world are keeping God’s Holy Days....
It’s such a blessing to me and all
those who receive your free literature who
otherwise may not hear the truth."
Check up on us and see for yourself, by ordering your
copy of What Is a True Christian?
Just call the toll-free number or go to our
website TWTV.org/Christian.
And when I come back, I'll reveal to you what
my predecessor in this
Work considered the best one verse description of a
Christian that is found in the Bible.
For today’s free offer call...
Or go to...
This clear and straight-forward resource
will help you understand this vital truth--
straight from the pages of the Bible.
If you're calling for the first time, you will also
receive a free annual subscription to Tomorrow's
World magazine.
Ten inspiring issues discussing news, science,
and modern culture will help you make sense of
your world from a biblical perspective.
Call today and join millions around the world
who are turning to Tomorrow’s World for
truth, prophecy, and hope in these confusing times.
Call now!
Or go to...
Today we have very briefly looked at four signs of a
true Christian.
Each one deserves much more attention and that is
why we are offering you our free resource--
What Is a True Christian?
Before closing this program, I want to reveal what
my predecessor in this Work,
said is the best one verse
description of a true Christian found in the Bible.
But I want to first read a scripture that sets the stage.
Paul explains baptism in Romans 6, verses 3 and 4...
"Or do you not know that as many of us as were
baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life."
Yes, baptism pictures a death.
It shows us what Christ did for us and reminds us
of what we must do in response to His
sacrifice--put to death our old carnal self.
We must figuratively die, be buried in the watery
grave, and then come up a new person.
Now here is that single defining verse of a
true Christian-- Galatians 2:20...
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me."
We are crucified with Christ at baptism--
that's what baptism pictures.
Nevertheless, we live, yet it is not our old sinful
past that comes up out of the water, but Christ
living in us by the power of the Holy Spirit,
which is given by the laying on of hands.
And it is the faith of--not in, but the faith of--
the Son of God that we live by.
It is Christ living in us that makes us
a true Christian.
Now, if you'd like to learn more about this verse as
explained by Dr. Roderick C. Meredith,
my former college professor, and my predecessor
in this Work, order your copy of
What Is a True Christian?
And we invite you to join us every week on
Tomorrow’s World.
Richard Ames, Wallace Smith, Rod McNair and I
will continue to share with you the teachings of
Jesus Christ, the good news of the coming Kingdom
of God, and the exciting end-time prophecies and
their meaning.
Join us again next week, right here,
at this same time.
For today’s free offer call...
Or go to...
Call today and join millions around the world
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The preceding program is
produced by the Living Church of God.
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