## Alive in Christ

## I John 3:5-10

Revelation 3:1b, "...I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

This is quite a thought provoking statement made by our Lord. Especially when we realize that He is making it to a local New Testament church. I am confident that the church in Sardis was not unlike many churches today. They no doubt had worship services where the Word of God was preached, songs were sung, and offerings of praise were made. But Jesus said that they were dead! How can this be?

Last week I was watching an episode of CSI-Miami. The opening scene was of a beach area filled with people. Then a sound was heard. A small aircraft came into sight, it appeared to be headed directly for the beach and people began to scatter. The first thought was that the pilot was intentionally flying directly into this crowded beach. But of course, after investigation it seems the pilot was already dead. The plane had been placed on autopilot and flew until it eventually crashed into this beach.

Many churches are on autopilot, they have the appearance of life, but sad to say…they are dead. The same is true of many folks who call themselves Christians. The have an appearance of life, but in reality they are dead!

Some might think that is too harsh, but it is a reality. Jesus warned of this very truth in Matthew 7:22-23

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Talk about a sobering thought! I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to the end of this life and stand before the Lord Jesus Christ only to hear those words. "…I never knew you…depart from me…" The good news is that I don't have to wonder if that will be the Lord's response to me or not. I can be sure that I am truly alive in Christ, and not just have an appearance of life!

Read: 1 John 3:5-10

I. Spiritual Life = Salvation.

A. Evidence of Life

1. There are certain signs that are present when a person is alive.

2. Medical personnel use the term "vital-signs".

3. When in the hospital they will take these vital signs periodically and compare them with a standard.

4. These may include:

a. pulse: indication of a heart that is working.

b. blood pressure: indicates how well your heart is working.

c. temperature: indicates if there is any infection that the body may be fighting.

5. Note: When the nurse comes in to check these signs she doesn't ask the patient if they are all right; she personally checks them and compares with the standard.

a. 72 beats per minute

b. 120/80

c. 98.6 F.

B. Evidence of Spiritual Life.

1. This is not determined by what we say.

2. Many people are talking Christ, but how many are actually walking Christ?

3. We are not saved by what we do, but what we do, or don't do, is an indication of whether or not we are saved.

Mt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

C. Satan is a deceiver.

1. Satan will bring you down an aisle to pray a prayer and get false assurance in order to send your soul to hell.

2. He will try to convince you that you don't need to repent!

3. Sign a card, pray a prayer, be baptized, do this or do that; but don't repent.

4. Jesus said, "...Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." cf. Luke 13:3

II. Religious Works = Death

A. Insight from the Apostle Paul

1. Found within the pages of the New Testament are several books which we refer to as the 'Pastoral Epistles.

2. These are personal instructions given to men like Timothy and Titus by the apostle Paul

3. He gives much practical information about the ministry of the local church.

4. We find in his letter to Titus a discussion of those that "profess to know God, but in works they deny Him" cf. Titus 1:16

5. Where? in the church!

B. The greatest enemy.

1. Not theological liberalism…

2. The greatest enemy of the local church is imitation Christians!

3. You have to beg them...

a. to serve God...

b. to come to church and Sunday School...

c. to pray...

d. to tithe and give to missions...

e. to witness...

4. Imitators are seldom upfront about it!

5. Imitators are criticizing, infecting the body with their wicked bitter spirit.

6. Like all enemies of Christ, they plant little seeds of discord…over things that are really not important!

7. Judas was an imitator, Jesus called him a devil, but he was such a good fake that none of the other disciples had any idea that he would be the one to betray Christ.

Pr 6:16-19, "These six things doth the LORD hate … he that soweth discord among brethren."

III. Salvation = Change

A. A Changed Life.

2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1. When a person gets saved, then their life ought to show it!

2. Ever hear someone use a phrase like this? "Boy, he really got saved!"

3. There are no degrees of salvation.

4. No one is left half saved and half lost.

5. The Word tells us that there is a complete transformation at salvation.

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." Colossians 1:13

B. A Chastened Life.

1. God chastens His children when they do wrong!

Heb 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

a. If you can sin and God doesn't convict you of that sin and chastise you for it, then you better check your spiritual birth certificate, because it may be a counterfeit!

b. God only disciplines His own children!

c. No chastening = no relationship

2. A true believer cannot be happy in sin!

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

3. God's chastening begins with the heart.

a. We sin and God breaks our hearts about it.

b. That's when we come to God and confess our sins to Him

c. He is always faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. cf. 1 John 1:9

4. If we harden our hearts toward God's conviction, He may bring a catastrophe into our lives to bring us to our knees.

C. A Committed Life

1. Remember the Lord told us that we could know people by the fruit we see in their lives.

2. A person, who has truly trusted Christ, will have a desire to commit their life to Him.

3. They will want to see others come to know Him and to know the wonderful transformation that it brings.

4. Selfish Christians are suspect…to be a Christian means we are to be Christ-like, and He wasn't selfish.

5. He was committed to others.

1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Are you spiritually alive today? Check your vital signs against this standard. Don't be deceived into thinking that it isn't important that your life change. Don't be fooled today. You can know that you are saved. God's salvation isn't a think so, hope so, or maybe so. It is a know so salvation.

If you aren't sure you are saved today, you need to come in repentance and faith accepting the blood of Christ as the only way of salvation. Christians, what kind of fruit is in your lives?