Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19

What Kind of Christian Are You?

Intro.

1. Bible teaches who is a Christian, Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16.

a. Born again, converted, saved, Jno. 3:3-5; Acts 3:19; 2:37-38; 22:16.

b. Disciple of Christ, Jno. 8:31-32.

c. Child of God, 1 Pet. 1:13-16.

d. Kingdom citizen, Col. 1:13.

e. Member of the church of Christ, Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22-23.

2. America’s culture war has produced another view of the Christian, one who compromises with evil (world), 1 Jno. 2:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:10.

-LGBTQ, moral relativism v. absolute truth, psychology v. Scripture, evolution v. creation, etc.

3. “How the New Christian Left is Twisting the Gospel” (by Chelsen Vicari) – Evangelicalism is facing this phenomenon. So is the Lord’s church.

I. THREE TYPES OF CHRISTIANS.

A. Couch-Potato Christians.

1. These Christians adapt to the culture by staying silent on the tough culture-and-faith discussions. cf. Acts 4:20

2. Typically this group will downplay God's absolute truths by promoting the illusion that neutrality was Jesus’ preferred method of evangelism.

3. This Christian is a spiritual pacifist, willing for others to fight, but will not engage the spiritual conflict himself, 2 Cor. 10:3-6 (1 Kgs. 18:21). [1 Tim. 6:12; Eph. 6:10-13]

B. Cafeteria-Style Christians.

1. This group picks and chooses which Scripture passages to live by, opting for the ones that best seem to jive with culture.

2. Typically they focus solely on the “nice” parts of the gospel while simultaneously and intentionally minimizing sin, hell, repentance and transformation.

3. This Christian pays lip service to the word of God, yet easily ignores the parts that identify, rebuke and correct his own transgressions. Judges harshly those who advocate careful obedience to God’s word, as not believing in grace, with being “legalists”, etc., Rom. 2:1-2, 21-24; Gal. 4:16; cf. Jas. 2:10-13. [Lk. 12:57; 2 Cor. 13:5]

C. Convictional Christians, 1 Pet. 4:16.

1. In the face of the culture’s harsh indictments, these Christians refuse to be silent. Acts 5:29

2. Mimicking Jesus, they compassionately talk about God’s love, divine grace and man’s faith, Eph. 2:8-10.

3. Teach their neighbors the need to recognize sin, repent and be saved, while being committed to putting sin to death in their lives, too, Matt. 28:20; Col. 3:1-5.

Conclusion

1. Who do people say you are? (cf. Matt. 16:13)

2. Who does God say you are? 1 Pet. 2:9-10

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: January 18, 2017