Christians in the world.

Christians iI the world

Acts  11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Genuine Christ followers or Bible believing believers are called Christians.

They are Christians because they are light in the world.

Matthew  5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

In addition they are Christians because they hear the voice of Jesus Christ our Master and Lord and they follow Him whatever the cost.

John  10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Very very unfortunate, there are counterfeit churchgoers, who are almost a Christian but are not.

Acts  26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

There are distinctive marks  that differtiate a true Christian. They are:

1. They are not following the multitude to be doing evil.

Exodus  23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

2. They don’t learn the abominations in the world, they are obedient to God’s words in the Bible.

Deuteronomy  18:9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

3. They don’t marry unbelievers.

Deuteronomy  7:1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;  7:2 And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:  7:3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.  7:4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

4. They live by the doctrines of the word of God and avoid those who do not.

Romans  16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Timothy  4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

2 John  1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

5.  They don’t defile their bodies which is the temple of God.

1 Corinthians  3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians  6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.  6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.  6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s

6. They separate themselves from ungodly people, and not having fellowship with them.

1 Corinthians  5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:  5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.  5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Ephesians  5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

7. They are not unequally yoked together with unbelievers in business, worship, marriage, friendship etc.

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2 Corinthians  6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

James  4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

8. They avoid worldly pleasures 

1 Timothy  5:6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

James  1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

9. They abhor worldly practices.

1 John  2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Beloved, pause and sincerely examine yourself. Are you a genuine Christian or almost a Christian?

If you are a Christian, continue till Christ comes.

But if you are not, repent now, to avoid hearing from Christ, I don’t know you.

Matthew  7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  7:22 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?  7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

May the good Lord help you to be wise now, because of your latter end and your precious undying soul.

Deuteronomy  32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Let us pray.