What Is A Christian? A Quick Look At Some Numbers.

What Is A What Is A Christian?Christian?

A Quick Look At Some A Quick Look At Some NumbersNumbers

What Does Being A What Does Being A Christian Really Mean?Christian Really Mean?

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) - 5 Examine 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV) - 5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. unless indeed you are disqualified.

““Therefore by their fruits you will know Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” them.” Matthew 7:20Matthew 7:20

Don’t All Roads Lead To Don’t All Roads Lead To God?God?

““Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” of God.” John 3:3John 3:3

““He saved us, not because of the good He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.” new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus Titus 3:53:5

““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become away; behold, all things have become new.” new.”

2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17

It’s What’s Inside That It’s What’s Inside That CountsCounts

#1 A Person May Pray And Still Not #1 A Person May Pray And Still Not Really Be A ChristianReally Be A Christian

““Stood and prayed thus with himself” Stood and prayed thus with himself” – Luke 18:11– Luke 18:11

““If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18, KJVPsalm 66:18, KJV

It’s What’s Inside That It’s What’s Inside That CountsCounts

#2 A Person May Make Some Visible Changes #2 A Person May Make Some Visible Changes In Life, And Yet Still Not Be A ChristianIn Life, And Yet Still Not Be A Christian

Acts 8:9-13 (NLT) A man named Simon Acts 8:9-13 (NLT) A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic. astounded them with his magic.

But now the people believed Philip’s But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. Then Simon women were baptized. Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed. and great miracles Philip performed.

Acts 8:17-24 (NLT) Then Peter and John Acts 8:17-24 (NLT) Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. When and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy people, he offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”the Holy Spirit!”

But Peter replied, “May your money be But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. and pray to the Lord.

Perhaps he will forgive your evil Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” “Pray to the Lord for me,” by sin.” “Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!” things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”

Matthew 14:1-11 (NLT) When Herod Matthew 14:1-11 (NLT) When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must Jesus, he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such dead! That is why he can do such miracles.” For Herod had arrested and miracles.” For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). brother Philip).

John had been telling Herod, “It is John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” against God’s law for you to marry her.” Herod wanted to kill John, but he was Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. But at a believed John was a prophet. But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she with a vow to give her anything she wanted. wanted.

At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So John was the necessary orders. So John was beheaded in the prison, and his head beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. girl, who took it to her mother.

It’s What’s Inside That It’s What’s Inside That CountsCounts

#3 You can Live A Good Life, Be Religious And Even To #3 You can Live A Good Life, Be Religious And Even To The Best Of Your Ability Even Keep The Ten The Best Of Your Ability Even Keep The Ten Commandments And Still Not Necessarily Be A ChristianCommandments And Still Not Necessarily Be A Christian

Matthew 19:16-20 (NLT) Someone came Matthew 19:16-20 (NLT) Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”life, keep the commandments.”

““Which ones?” the man asked. And Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I young man replied. “What else must I do?” do?”

Who Then Is A Christian?Who Then Is A Christian?

““Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” you shall be saved.” Acts 16:31Acts 16:31

Acts 2:19Acts 2:19

The Essential Elements of The Essential Elements of BeliefBelief

#1 #1 RealizeRealize That You Are A Sinner That You Are A Sinner

Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”fallen short of the glory of God.”

““I have set before you life and death, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants life, that both you and your descendants may live.” may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19Deuteronomy 30:19

The Essential Elements of The Essential Elements of BeliefBelief

#1 #1 RealizeRealize That You Are A Sinner That You Are A Sinner

#2 #2 RepentRepent Of Your Sins Of Your Sins

““Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” hand.” Matthew 3:2Matthew 3:2

““Unless you repent, you too will all Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” perish.” Luke 13:5 NIVLuke 13:5 NIV

““God can use sorrow in our lives to help God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in repentance is the kind that results in death.” death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

The Essential Elements of The Essential Elements of BeliefBelief

#1 #1 RealizeRealize That You Are A Sinner That You Are A Sinner

#2 #2 RepentRepent Of Your Sins Of Your Sins

#3 #3 BelieveBelieve In And In And ReceiveReceive Jesus Christ Into Your Life Jesus Christ Into Your Life

““But as many as received Him – Jesus – But as many as received Him – Jesus – to them He gave the right to become to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in children of God, to those who believe in His name.” His name.”

John 1:13John 1:13

““For God so loved the world that For God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him should not whosoever believes in Him should not perish.” perish.”

John 3:16John 3:16

The Essential Elements of The Essential Elements of BeliefBelief

#1 #1 RealizeRealize That You Are A Sinner That You Are A Sinner

#2 #2 RepentRepent Of Your Sins Of Your Sins

#3 #3 BelieveBelieve In And In And ReceiveReceive Jesus Christ Into Your Life Jesus Christ Into Your Life

#4 Do It #4 Do It NowNow!!

““Now is the day of salvation.” Now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22 Corinthians 6:2