Jack Graham - What Is A Christian?

January 5, 2025 | S25:E1

Dr. Jack Graham's mission is to glorify God by introducing Jesus Christ as Lord to all people.

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Power Point with Jack Graham | Jack Graham - What Is A Christian? | January 5, 2025
  • ♪♪♪
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  • There is no person that god cannot save!
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  • There is no promise that god will not keep!
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  • There is nothing that our god cannot do!
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  • We are beginning a brand-new series of messages called
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  • Distinctives for disciples. and what this is about... it's not
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  • So much a doctrinal series as to what we believe, but more
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  • Why we believe and how we live out what we believe. it's a
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  • Christian living series. it's a basic christianity series.
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  • When vince lombardy, the head coach of the champion green bay
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  • Packers back in the day came off a winning season again in
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  • Those days, he gathered his team at the summer practice and
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  • Before they did anything, he got the group together and he
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  • Held up a football and he said, "gentlemen, this is a
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  • Football." and what he was saying, was he was just
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  • Reminding everyone that football is about the basics,
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  • The fundamentals of blocking and tackling and running and
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  • Catching... and you can do all the sizzle but, in the end,
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  • It's all about the football.
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  • And in the end, the church... the lord jesus christ... those
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  • Of us who are followers of jesus, it's all about the faith
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  • And what we believe. our faith in the lord jesus christ. so
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  • We're going to be talking about things that every christian
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  • Should know. for some of you who are seeking to know what it
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  • Is to be a christian, we'll be talking about some of those
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  • Things as well, but really this is about believers and what it
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  • Means to belong, to believe and to battle for the lord day
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  • After day.
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  • So take you bible and turn with me to the book of acts. this is
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  • Where we're going to start because our first topic is a
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  • Question: “what is a christian?” acts chapter 26,
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  • And just hold your place there because you might find it
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  • Remarkable that in all the bible the word christian is
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  • Used only three times. now the followers of jesus were called
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  • A number of things: believers, people of the way because jesus
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  • Said, “i am the way, the truth and the life. and no one comes
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  • To the father except by me.” they were called soldiers; they
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  • Were called disciples. various ways in which christians were
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  • Described.
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  • But rarely in the new testament are we called christians. three
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  • Times, but these three times are really the marks of
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  • Discipleship. what it means not only to be a christian, how to
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  • Become a christian, but then how to be a christian. and
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  • We're going to take a look at these three times that the word
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  • Christian is used because we are to build this message and
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  • Answer the question: what is a christian?
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  • Now that is the most important question really that you can
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  • Answer. or to ask you the question this way: am i a
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  • Christian?
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  • Paul said, "for to me, to live is christ and to die is gain."
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  • So christianity is christ. you talk about all kinds of
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  • Christians today, mainline christians and evangelical
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  • Christians and... and presbyterian christians and...
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  • And there are many opinions, and most people believe that
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  • Being a christian is being a good person and living a good
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  • Life which is commendable to all, that we would live a good
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  • And godly life, but living a good and commendable life,
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  • Going to church, taking communion, being baptized...
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  • These are all important things, but being a christian is having
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  • A relationship with god through jesus christ.
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  • You're not born a christian; you become a christian, and
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  • There's a big difference. and that's why this very first
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  • Verse and time that i'm mentioning to you regarding
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  • What is a christian is found in acts 27... or acts 26 and verse
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  • 28. when agrippa said to paul, and this is a king, "you almost
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  • Persuade me to become (what?) a christian." so paul is before
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  • This king agrippa. he's a jewish king; he is responsible
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  • For israel under the auspices and the authority of the roman
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  • Government.
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  • There is also a governor of the roman's there by the name of
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  • Festus and his wife bernice and they were living in immorality.
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  • And paul had already confronted them because paul is on trial
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  • For his faith. he has been arrested for being a believer
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  • And follower of jesus. he had preached the gospel all over
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  • The known world... between kings... before kings and
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  • Princes and powers and in small synagogues... jewish people...
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  • Synagogues, everywhere he went. but it wasn't always that way
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  • With the apostle paul. and so paul is telling this man, this
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  • King agrippa, about his life. he is sharing his testimony as
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  • He is on trial for his faith.
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  • And he said, "you know, i was a jew. i was a bonified jewish
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  • Person. i even was so strong; i was a super jew. i was on fire
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  • For my faith and a rabbi, and i was so angry at these
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  • Christians... these people that said they were followers of
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  • Jesus, that i was actually leading a terrorist
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  • Organization to kill christians." he was taking out
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  • Christians wherever he could go. and he was on his way to a
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  • Place called damascus, and once again, to imprison christians
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  • Or to kill christians. and on that road he met jesus christ,
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  • The risen lord. christ who is risen came into the presence to
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  • Apostle paul, literally knocked him off his horse. he was
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  • Blinded in the presence of god. and he's telling this story to
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  • This jewish king, agrippa. he's talking about what happened to
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  • Him.
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  • He said, "you know, i was going in one direction and jesus
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  • Changed my life! i was going in the wrong direction. i was
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  • Rabid, i was religious, but i was wrong about jesus! and
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  • Jesus changed my life." and then he said something to this
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  • Agrippa. he said, "agrippa, i know that you know all about
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  • This story about jesus," because he said... i think
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  • About verse 18 or 19, "these things weren't done in a
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  • Corner; this is public knowledge, this story of jesus
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  • That's going around. so you know full well this story of
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  • Jesus." he went on to say, he said, "and i know you know and
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  • Believe the prophets... i know you believe the prophets."
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  • So here's a man... agrippa... who knew about jesus. he had
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  • Heard about jesus. he believed the bible to some extent,
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  • Because he believed the prophets. he was religious, but
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  • In the end, after paul shares his faith and shares his
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  • Testimony, he says, "paul, you almost persuade me to become a
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  • Christian." he was saying, "paul, are you trying to
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  • Convert me?" yes! everywhere he went, paul was trying to bring
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  • People to jesus. that's what christians do. and christians
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  • Who don't are a contradiction. so he's saying, "look, you
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  • Almost... and just these words, you think i'm going to become a
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  • Christian?" but the point that i'm driving home to you is that
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  • This man needed to be convicted of his sins, to be converted to
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  • Jesus christ and to become a christian.
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Powerpoint ministries began over three decades ago when god
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  • Placed a burden on my heart. and my wife, deb's, to use
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  • Media to reach more and more people across the world.
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  • And over the years, we've been blessed to receive phone calls,
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  • Letters, and personal stories from people sharing how god has
  • 00:08:48.006 --> 00:08:52.410
  • Given them a deeper understanding of scripture
  • 00:08:52.410 --> 00:08:55.447
  • Through our broadcast ministry. though it's my voice you hear,
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  • It's god's message that i'm proclaiming. and all the
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  • Credit, all the honor goes to him. when people hear the good
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  • News of jesus, that's the gospel.
  • 00:09:05.890 --> 00:09:07.892
  • When the bible is opened and taught, and when they explore
  • 00:09:07.892 --> 00:09:11.296
  • Its message, it absolutely changes lives. and that's what
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  • We are here to do. we take the gospel, the word of god, and
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  • The testimony of jesus, and we share it across television,
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  • Radio, youtube, facebook, instagram and more. all for one
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  • Singular purpose to bring the message of hope to the world,
  • 00:09:28.947 --> 00:09:32.784
  • The message of jesus christ to as many people as possible
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  • Right now.
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  • Now here's where i need you. i want more and more people,
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  • Especially those who are far from god, who don't know jesus
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  • To hear the right message. this message of hope at the right
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  • Time, which is right now. but we can't do it without your
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  • Help. will you join us today by giving a financial gift to help
  • 00:09:52.771 --> 00:09:57.075
  • Us reach this important goal?
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  • You can call or you can text cye. that's cye to 59789 or
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  • Visit jackgraham.org for your best gift. i'd like to send you
  • 00:10:08.586 --> 00:10:13.558
  • A copy of my brand new book, the jesus book, which is all
  • 00:10:13.558 --> 00:10:17.762
  • About reading and understanding the bible for yourself as well.
  • 00:10:17.762 --> 00:10:21.332
  • It's incredible what god can do when we get together, when we
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  • Work together, when we pray together to share the message
  • 00:10:24.235 --> 00:10:27.906
  • Of jesus to the world. so please give your best gift
  • 00:10:27.906 --> 00:10:30.975
  • Today at jackgraham.org or by texting cye to 59789
  • 00:10:30.975 --> 00:10:38.917
  • And we'll send you a copy of my new book, the jesus book.
  • 00:10:38.917 --> 00:10:43.388
  • Together we'll be sharing the life changing message of christ
  • 00:10:43.388 --> 00:10:47.492
  • And christ alone till the whole world hears.
  • 00:10:47.492 --> 00:10:54.065
  • ♪♪♪
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  • So what is a christian? there is decision to make. now god is
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  • Sovereign; god works by his holy spirit to bring people to
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  • Conviction. he works through the word. nobody's here by
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  • Chance or accident. nobody's watching... viewing online
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  • Apart from divine appointments. we believe god brings people
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  • Together... his holy spirit. but there is a human
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  • Responsibility to make a choice, a decision of your will.
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  • Jesus talked about these choices. he said, "no one can
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  • Serve two masters because you will either (what?) love the
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  • One and hate the other... hate the one, love the other, but
  • 00:11:33.271 --> 00:11:35.373
  • You must make a decision. you can't serve two masters." jesus
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  • Talked about two roads... a road that is wide and broad and
  • 00:11:40.411 --> 00:11:46.050
  • Leads to death and destruction; and he said, another road which
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  • Is narrow. and he said few are on that road and yet it leads
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  • To live. he said, "you must make a choice." don't be like
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  • Yogi berra, wonderful baseball player, he had so many
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  • Yogi-isms. he was talking about one restaurant. he said, "you
  • 00:12:03.067 --> 00:12:06.204
  • Know, that place is so crowded, nobody goes there anymore."
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  • [laughter] but he also said things like this: "when you
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  • Come to a fork in the road, take it." [laughter]
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  • Now when it comes to jesus and the fork in the road, you must
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  • Choose life. that's why in the old testament, moses, the
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  • Prophet said, "choose life! i set before you life and death,
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  • Therefore, choose life that you must live." joshua stood before
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  • The children of israel and he said, "choose today... he said,
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  • "as for me and my house, we will serve the lord." "choose
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  • You this day who you will serve."
  • 00:12:50.915 --> 00:12:53.751
  • And there's a choice to make; there's a decision to make to
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  • Become a christian. you don't... you know, it's not
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  • Like you're walking down the road one day and god just zaps
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  • You, and poof! you're a christian. you're not born into
  • 00:13:04.729 --> 00:13:08.933
  • The christian family; you are born again into the family of
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  • God. you become a follower of jesus. there is this... this
  • 00:13:13.371 --> 00:13:15.039
  • Clear line, a decision to make. you say, "well, how do i make
  • 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.374
  • That decision? what decision are you talking about?"
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  • It's all about jesus. that jesus is the son of god and god
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  • The son who died on the cross for your sins. he was buried
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  • And on the third day he arose again. he came out of the
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  • Grave. he is alive. "and if we confess with our mouths the
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  • Lord jesus and believe in our hearts that god has raised him
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  • From the dead we will be saved." "whoever calls upon the
  • 00:13:42.467 --> 00:13:45.637
  • Name of the lord will be saved." he doesn't reject
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  • Anyone who comes to him. "whoever calls upon the name of
  • 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:51.809
  • The lord will be saved." and whoever means you... and
  • 00:13:51.809 --> 00:13:54.646
  • Whoever means me, as we call upon the lord. but you must
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  • Make that decision.
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  • Jesus said, “i stand at the door and knock and if anyone
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  • Hears my voice and opens the door, i will come in.” the
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  • Spirit is knocking, the savior is knocking at your heart's
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  • Door, but you must, as an act of will, invite christ into
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  • Your life. paul describes it as the gift of god's grace. but to
  • 00:14:12.563 --> 00:14:17.235
  • Receive a gift, you must open the gift; you must take the
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  • Gift. and so god has provided this gift of salvation which is
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  • The forgiveness of all of our sins and christ lives in our
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  • Lives and the hope and the promise of eternal life. it
  • 00:14:28.046 --> 00:14:30.815
  • Begins now and never ends because we're going to heaven.
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  • This is salvation... to know christ. "christ in you is the
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  • Hope of glory." it's not just getting us out of on earth and
  • 00:14:38.790 --> 00:14:43.494
  • Into heaven; it's getting god out of heaven and into our
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  • Hearts. and that's what christ has done for us. he lives in us
  • 00:14:46.097 --> 00:14:50.501
  • And we become by faith in god's grace. and grace is god's hand
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  • Of mercy and salvation reaching out to us and faith is when we
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  • Reach up and take the gift and receive the gift. if somebody
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  • Gave you a gift and you just left it on the table and never
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  • Opened it, the gift is not applicable. and so jesus offers
  • 00:15:05.149 --> 00:15:09.687
  • Us this gift. god says, "this is my salvation." "the wages of
  • 00:15:09.687 --> 00:15:13.091
  • Sin is death but the gift of god is eternal life through
  • 00:15:13.091 --> 00:15:16.494
  • Jesus christ our lord."
  • 00:15:16.494 --> 00:15:18.629
  • So there's so much that can be said about this, but i hope
  • 00:15:18.629 --> 00:15:21.599
  • You're hearing what i'm saying... that you must become
  • 00:15:21.599 --> 00:15:25.636
  • A christian. "almost you persuade me to become a
  • 00:15:25.636 --> 00:15:29.307
  • Christian." some of you are almost christians but you're
  • 00:15:29.307 --> 00:15:36.447
  • Not fully persuaded. let today be the day that you are
  • 00:15:36.447 --> 00:15:40.685
  • Persuaded. but that's the first mark of a believer.
  • 00:15:40.685 --> 00:15:46.190
  • The second thing is turn to acts chapter 11. go back in the
  • 00:15:46.190 --> 00:15:49.327
  • Book of acts the acts chapter 11 and here we meet some
  • 00:15:49.327 --> 00:15:54.766
  • Believers at antioch. and god was doing a great work at this
  • 00:15:54.766 --> 00:15:58.102
  • Place called antioch. as a matter of fact, the center of
  • 00:15:58.102 --> 00:16:01.072
  • The christian faith is moving from jerusalem at this point,
  • 00:16:01.072 --> 00:16:04.042
  • Scattered through persecution, and at antioch god had done an
  • 00:16:04.042 --> 00:16:07.211
  • Incredible, powerful work and many people came to christ. and
  • 00:16:07.211 --> 00:16:11.182
  • From antioch really it became a mission point... a launching
  • 00:16:11.182 --> 00:16:14.052
  • Point to the gospel mission around the world. but it all
  • 00:16:14.052 --> 00:16:17.688
  • Started and described in verse 26 of acts chapter 11. so
  • 00:16:17.688 --> 00:16:23.294
  • "...when he found him, he brought him to antioch. it was
  • 00:16:23.294 --> 00:16:25.596
  • A full year that they assembled with the church... (notice the
  • 00:16:25.596 --> 00:16:29.367
  • Importance and the significance of the church right at the
  • 00:16:29.367 --> 00:16:31.736
  • Heart... in the heart of this) "... and taught a great many
  • 00:16:31.736 --> 00:16:34.872
  • People, and the disciples were first called (what?) christians
  • 00:16:34.872 --> 00:16:40.144
  • At antioch."
  • 00:16:40.144 --> 00:16:41.646
  • First time! this is before paul talked to agrippa. agrippa knew
  • 00:16:41.646 --> 00:16:48.553
  • About the christians. but they were first called christians at
  • 00:16:48.553 --> 00:16:54.759
  • This place, at this church called antioch. how? why? not
  • 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:59.697
  • Because they had a "let's name the church" contest and came up
  • 00:16:59.697 --> 00:17:06.137
  • With christian. no, they were not called christians until
  • 00:17:06.137 --> 00:17:11.409
  • This day. and why were they called christian? because the
  • 00:17:11.409 --> 00:17:16.447
  • Word christian means christ-in-you... little christ.
  • 00:17:16.447 --> 00:17:20.885
  • Christianity is christ in you and me. [chuckles] christ in
  • 00:17:20.885 --> 00:17:27.758
  • You. paul said, "i am crucified with christ, nevertheless i
  • 00:17:27.758 --> 00:17:30.895
  • Live, yet not i, but christ lives in me."
  • 00:17:30.895 --> 00:17:33.664
  • And so they were called christians. why? because
  • 00:17:33.664 --> 00:17:36.701
  • They... listen up... they resembled christ. they were
  • 00:17:36.701 --> 00:17:40.505
  • Reproducing christ. they were remarkably like jesus. people
  • 00:17:40.505 --> 00:17:46.911
  • Were looking at the folks and saying... "this... this is like
  • 00:17:46.911 --> 00:17:50.248
  • Jesus. these people remind me of jesus." so they reflected
  • 00:17:50.248 --> 00:17:58.389
  • Christ; they reproduced christ. they revealed christ with their
  • 00:17:58.389 --> 00:18:03.261
  • Lives and their work because salvation doesn't end at the
  • 00:18:03.261 --> 00:18:07.198
  • Cross and the tomb and the resurrection; it goes forward.
  • 00:18:07.198 --> 00:18:10.334
  • "for by grace are you saved, not of yourselves, it's a gift
  • 00:18:10.334 --> 00:18:13.304
  • Of god." but then it goes on to say in verse 10 of ephesians 2:
  • 00:18:13.304 --> 00:18:16.874
  • "we are his workmanship created in jesus christ unto good
  • 00:18:16.874 --> 00:18:20.912
  • Works." good works that god is creating for us before the
  • 00:18:20.912 --> 00:18:26.317
  • Beginning of time.
  • 00:18:26.317 --> 00:18:27.585
  • So to be a christian is first a decision to make, and then (get
  • 00:18:27.585 --> 00:18:32.456
  • Ready), therefore there is a life to live... there is a life
  • 00:18:32.456 --> 00:18:38.062
  • To live. "if anyone be in christ (2 corinthians 5:17) he
  • 00:18:38.062 --> 00:18:42.400
  • Is a new creation. old things are passed away. everything
  • 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:45.836
  • Becomes new." we've passed from darkness to light. we have this
  • 00:18:45.836 --> 00:18:50.641
  • Assurance because we know, we're not what we used to be,
  • 00:18:50.641 --> 00:18:54.245
  • But praise god, we're not what we're going to be. because we
  • 00:18:54.245 --> 00:18:57.515
  • Are saved by the grace of god and christ is living in us. and
  • 00:18:57.515 --> 00:19:00.918
  • This is a growing process. and we keep growing in our faith,
  • 00:19:00.918 --> 00:19:05.323
  • But we become more and more like jesus as we grow, as we
  • 00:19:05.323 --> 00:19:10.528
  • Go. because somebody looked at you, your kids, your wife, your
  • 00:19:10.528 --> 00:19:17.501
  • Husband, your neighbor, your co-worker and says, "you must
  • 00:19:17.501 --> 00:19:24.508
  • Be a christian." anybody ever said that to you?
  • 00:19:24.508 --> 00:19:31.182
  • There were a group of college students... that were having
  • 00:19:31.182 --> 00:19:33.751
  • A... you know, they were having a... you know, they were having
  • 00:19:33.751 --> 00:19:35.653
  • A session after... you know they had just talking
  • 00:19:35.653 --> 00:19:37.755
  • Philosophy and life and religion. the subject of
  • 00:19:37.755 --> 00:19:41.259
  • Religion came up in their conversation. i think it was in
  • 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:44.161
  • A dorm room, and so they started talking about
  • 00:19:44.161 --> 00:19:47.431
  • Christianity and somebody said, "well, i think this is
  • 00:19:47.431 --> 00:19:52.503
  • Christian." and they said, "well, what is a christian,
  • 00:19:52.503 --> 00:19:54.839
  • Anyway?" and so they said, "well, i think this is a
  • 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:57.074
  • Christian, that's a christian." and they were talking religion.
  • 00:19:57.074 --> 00:19:59.744
  • And finally, somebody said, "let me tell you what a
  • 00:19:59.744 --> 00:20:01.646
  • Christian is. a christian is oscar westover." funny name,
  • 00:20:01.646 --> 00:20:10.821
  • But it's going to make my point. because you see, oscar
  • 00:20:10.821 --> 00:20:16.160
  • Westover was a guy that that guy knew who lived for christ.
  • 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:22.400
  • He was like christ in so many ways. there was this
  • 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:25.803
  • Christ-likeness about him. and so when the discussion was
  • 00:20:25.803 --> 00:20:30.808
  • "what is a christian?", oscar's a christian.
  • 00:20:30.808 --> 00:20:36.314
  • So i have to ask myself, and i have to ask you today, if a
  • 00:20:36.314 --> 00:20:40.751
  • Group of people were sitting around talking about
  • 00:20:40.751 --> 00:20:42.887
  • Christianity and answering the question: what is a christian?
  • 00:20:42.887 --> 00:20:45.656
  • Maybe in the locker room, maybe in your class room, in your
  • 00:20:45.656 --> 00:20:50.127
  • Neighborhood. if there's, you know, a neighborhood
  • 00:20:50.127 --> 00:20:52.396
  • Get-together and people start talking about christianity,
  • 00:20:52.396 --> 00:20:55.599
  • Even your church group. if people at the office... if
  • 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:03.307
  • People say "what is a christian anyway?", would anybody mention
  • 00:21:03.307 --> 00:21:11.048
  • Your name? it's a good question.
  • 00:21:11.048 --> 00:21:15.920
  • We are to live for jesus christ so that when people think of
  • 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:18.989
  • Jesus, they see jesus in us. his joy becomes our joy; his
  • 00:21:18.989 --> 00:21:24.395
  • Purpose becomes our purpose; his passion becomes our
  • 00:21:24.395 --> 00:21:27.264
  • Passion. and yes, there's one other thing, his enemies become
  • 00:21:27.264 --> 00:21:32.436
  • Our enemies. and that's the last time that i want to
  • 00:21:32.436 --> 00:21:35.740
  • Mention the word christian today, and it's found in 1
  • 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:38.409
  • Peter chapter 4. go to 1 peter chapter 4 and look at verse
  • 00:21:38.409 --> 00:21:42.813
  • 16... chapter 4, verse 16. it says: "if anyone suffers as a
  • 00:21:42.813 --> 00:21:50.254
  • (what? help me. thank you.) "if anyone suffers as a christian,
  • 00:21:50.254 --> 00:21:56.627
  • Let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify god in this matter."
  • 00:21:56.627 --> 00:22:01.298
  • So what is christian? there is a decision to make; there is a
  • 00:22:01.298 --> 00:22:05.136
  • Life to live...a life of christ... alive in us by his
  • 00:22:05.136 --> 00:22:09.173
  • Spirit, and there is a price to pay... "if anyone suffers as a
  • 00:22:09.173 --> 00:22:16.881
  • Christian." the christians that peter was addressing here like
  • 00:22:16.881 --> 00:22:20.985
  • Christians of every generation are suffering in some way.
  • 00:22:20.985 --> 00:22:25.990
  • These were in the fiery trials of physical persecution, but we
  • 00:22:25.990 --> 00:22:29.827
  • All live in the midst of trials and tribulations and tragedies,
  • 00:22:29.827 --> 00:22:32.797
  • Whether we're suffering because of christ... because we have
  • 00:22:32.797 --> 00:22:35.166
  • Faith in christ in some way.
  • 00:22:35.166 --> 00:22:37.201
  • The bible says "all that live godly..." this is 2 timothy...
  • 00:22:37.201 --> 00:22:39.737
  • "all that live godly in jesus christ will suffer
  • 00:22:39.737 --> 00:22:42.673
  • Persecution." if you're not being pushed or pressured or
  • 00:22:42.673 --> 00:22:45.409
  • Persecuted in some way... canceled in some way because
  • 00:22:45.409 --> 00:22:49.380
  • You're a christian, it's probably because you're in some
  • 00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.482
  • Holy hole and don't stick your head out or else, you're not
  • 00:22:51.482 --> 00:22:54.652
  • Living a godly life in jesus christ. because all who live
  • 00:22:54.652 --> 00:22:58.422
  • Godly in jesus christ will face the flack. there will be fire;
  • 00:22:58.422 --> 00:23:02.092
  • You will take fire, incoming. and therefore, when you suffer
  • 00:23:02.092 --> 00:23:06.997
  • Because you are christian or you suffer because of life.
  • 00:23:06.997 --> 00:23:10.201
  • Some of you are suffering right now. your kids have gone
  • 00:23:10.201 --> 00:23:12.970
  • Haywire; they're not in the faith; they're prodigals. or
  • 00:23:12.970 --> 00:23:15.372
  • Your marriage is broken and you don't know if you're going to
  • 00:23:15.372 --> 00:23:18.576
  • Get back together. or... or your finances are shattered, or
  • 00:23:18.576 --> 00:23:22.146
  • Your dreams are shattered, or you're just going through
  • 00:23:22.146 --> 00:23:25.616
  • Trials and tribulations in your life. jesus said, "in this
  • 00:23:25.616 --> 00:23:31.455
  • World you will have tribulation..." satan opposes
  • 00:23:31.455 --> 00:23:36.227
  • Us. tough times come against us.
  • 00:23:36.227 --> 00:23:40.598
  • So what are we going to do when we suffer? blame god? no!
  • 00:23:40.598 --> 00:23:49.073
  • Glorify god! that's what the scripture says. if you suffer
  • 00:23:49.073 --> 00:23:53.878
  • As a christian, don't be ashamed of this. be like those
  • 00:23:53.878 --> 00:23:57.748
  • Disciples when they were beaten within an inch of their lives;
  • 00:23:57.748 --> 00:24:01.619
  • They said, “we praise god that we were counted worthy to
  • 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:04.488
  • Suffer for christ!” it takes courage and conviction to
  • 00:24:04.488 --> 00:24:12.096
  • Follow jesus in every generation, including ours. and
  • 00:24:12.096 --> 00:24:16.967
  • Yes, if you stand up for christ, there are people who
  • 00:24:16.967 --> 00:24:20.671
  • Want to sit you down and shut you up.
  • 00:24:20.671 --> 00:24:24.742
  • But my view is, churches today in general... christians in
  • 00:24:24.742 --> 00:24:29.413
  • General, we are way too passive. god has called us to
  • 00:24:29.413 --> 00:24:35.319
  • Take up the sword of the spirit which is the word of god, and
  • 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:39.123
  • Storm the gates of hell! we're to "fight the good fight of
  • 00:24:39.123 --> 00:24:44.595
  • Faith!" we're to win people to christ! [applause] we're to
  • 00:24:44.595 --> 00:24:47.565
  • Stand... get up from our knees... get up from our knees,
  • 00:24:47.565 --> 00:24:52.269
  • Having prayed ourselves full and then tell the world to be
  • 00:24:52.269 --> 00:24:55.539
  • Bold and courageous about our faith. tell our friends, our
  • 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:58.275
  • Family about jesus.
  • 00:24:58.275 --> 00:25:02.413
  • You know, some of us are way too concerned about what people
  • 00:25:02.413 --> 00:25:07.985
  • Say about us, rather than be concerned about what god says
  • 00:25:07.985 --> 00:25:11.221
  • About us! be concerned about what god says about you, not
  • 00:25:11.221 --> 00:25:16.860
  • What people say about you. don't let people rebukes or...
  • 00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:20.431
  • Their blasphemies and mockeries in our generation keep you from
  • 00:25:20.431 --> 00:25:24.969
  • Standing for christ.
  • 00:25:24.969 --> 00:25:26.837
  • As christians we're to follow christ without reserve, without
  • 00:25:26.837 --> 00:25:31.241
  • Regret, without retreat. to say, "lord jesus, i will follow
  • 00:25:31.241 --> 00:25:35.179
  • You anywhere, anytime, any cost!" and let me tell you
  • 00:25:35.179 --> 00:25:40.618
  • Something: when you do it's worth it... it's worth it. he
  • 00:25:40.618 --> 00:25:45.823
  • Says... that's why he says glorify god in this. praise god
  • 00:25:45.823 --> 00:25:52.129
  • That you're facing some fire and don't be ashamed... don't
  • 00:25:52.129 --> 00:25:57.735
  • Be ashamed. glorify god.
  • 00:25:57.735 --> 00:26:01.405
  • So what is a christian? there is a decision to make; there is
  • 00:26:01.405 --> 00:26:09.179
  • A life to live; and there is a price to pay. are you willing
  • 00:26:09.179 --> 00:26:17.087
  • To give your life to follow jesus whatever the cost,
  • 00:26:17.087 --> 00:26:21.592
  • Whatever the consequences,
  • 00:26:21.592 --> 00:26:22.793
  • To say “yes, lord, i will follow you.”
  • 00:26:22.793 --> 00:26:26.597
  • ♪♪♪
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