Let’s Give God Some Praise
Our message today is going to brief but to the point. I want us to take a look at some of the key scriptures that the bible gives reference to when it comes to knowing Christ, serving Christ and loving Christ.
The most popular vs in the bible John 3:16 says 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.
Such a simple verse and so simply put, whosoever believeth in him. The problem that the world runs into is how you show that you believe in him. What is required of you to substantiate your belief in Christ?
One of the first things that Christ said is that my sheep know my voice John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
I need to express this, because people don’t really want to follow Christ. We are all going someplace together, we are a group and we represent one another. All eyes are on us and the way we conduct ourselves. When any member in the group starts to act differently or disrespectfully, if a member behaves in a way that is embarrassing or degrading to what the group is about, chances are this person will be kick out of the group because they do not represent what the group stands for.
Well so it is with Christ. We are all one body, we are all in the body of Christ. When a member in the body of Christ is not representing the body of Christ correctly then this shows that they do not believe in the teaching of the body of Christ.
John 15:4 (KJV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
1 John 1:6-8
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
I can look around at my own children and can honestly say that each and every one of them know of Christ but only one of them to this is Believes in Christ. You see when you begin to believe in Christ you begin to live like Christ and that means to live a life that is free of you willfully committing sin.
1 John 2:4 (KJV)
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
The word of God is straight forward when it comes to this understanding, to know Christ is to keep the commandments of Christ. How can you have love for Christ buy yet not have love for your brother, how can a man say I love the lord but yet sin against my own body.
How can you praise God one day and with the same mouth later that day cuss men. This walk is not easy one yet it is not hard, if you say that you have fellowship with Christ, if you say you love the Lord, if you profess your sins before God and have given your life to Christ than honor what Christ has asked of you, keep my commandments for this is the only way of proving and showing God that you believe in his son Jesus Christ, this is the only to maintain your name being written in the lambs book of life
Revelation 3:5 (KJV)
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
This commitment to be saved is not a joke, this is not something to play with or to take nonchalant, and this is the difference between everlasting life in heaven or hell. In order to get there you are going to have to overcome those things that have a hold on you, you can’t think that because this branch of people over there on the other side of the tracks say that this way that I am living is acceptable to God.
But I need to tell you if you were on that side of track and being bought up under their interpretation and denomination, and it did not line up exactly with what the word of God says then know this and know this clearly, you and that entire group would not have your names written in the lambs book of life, you would not have Christ standing by your side at the day of judgement. You would have to stand there and convince God that no one ever told you the truth, so therefore you did not know.
But I have got to inform you right now, you have the truth and the truth shall set you free.
John 8:31-32 (KJV)
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Be not deceive to believe on him is to walk with him in fellowship making your life and your body a living sacrifice under God. This is how you know you have fellowship one with the father, this is how you strive for perfection in God.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believe in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Make sure that you have your everlasting life secure. Believe in him, just don’t know of him.