A Closer Walk With God
Blessings & Responsibilities Of Being A Christian
A. EVERY PERSON HAS SOME BIG EVENTS IN LIFE, i. e., BIRTH,
MARRIAGE GRADUATION, DEATH.
B. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IS BECOMING A CHRISTIAN!
1. Why? Because it affects both you and others for ETERNITY
2. Unfortunately, many people become Christians and do not really appreciate it
until late in life, if ever.
3. But our service for Christ would be more productive and infinitely more
enjoyable if we began to grasp the true significance of being Christians, and as
such, the children of God.
B. THIS LESSON IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE
AND INSTRUCT ONE TO HAVE "A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD," AND TO
BE MORE FRUITFUL IN OUR SERVICE AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.
C. TO HELP MOTIVATE US IN FULFILLING THIS GOAL, LET'S SUMMARIZE
JUST A FEW OF THE BLESSINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE AS
CHRISTIANS.
A. CONSIDER THE BLESSING OF HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER.
1. He is the source of every good and perfect gift ( James 1:17; Matt. 7:11).
2. He provides us comfort in all our afflictions( 2 Cor. 1:3-4 ).
3. When needed, in love He chastises us( Heb. 12:5-11 ).
4. He has promised never to forsake us( Heb. 13:5-6 ).
B. THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HAVING GOD AS OUR FATHER.
1. We must SUBMIT to God( James 4:7 ).
a. By submitting to his Son( Heb. 1:1-2 ).
b. By humbling ourselves to his will and care( 1 Pet. 5:6-11 ).
2. We must also DRAW NEAR to God( James 4:8 ).
a. We draw nearer to God by "cleansing our hands"( Rom. 2:4 ).
b. And "purifying our hearts"( Phil. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:22 ).
A. THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THIS BLESSING...
1. He is our "Lord", He who rules over the kings of the earth( Rev. 1:5-6 ).
a. All authority in heaven and earth has been given Him( Matt. 28:18 ).
b. All have been made subject to Him( Eph. 1:20-23 ).
c. Yet, He calls us His "brethren"!( Heb. 2:11-12 ).
2. He is our "High Priest"( Heb. 4:14 ).
a. Our sacrifice for sin( Heb. 10:10-13 ).
b. Our access to God( Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22 )
c. A High Priest who understands our every feeling( Heb. 2:17-18 ).
d. A High Priest who "ever lives" to make intercession ( Heb. 7:24-25 ).
B. WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING JESUS AS LORD AND
HIGH PRIEST?
1. If He is truly our LORD, we must do what He says( Luke 6:46 ).
a. We must be careful to observe what He taught( Matt. 28:18-20 ).
b. We must respect his authority( Col. 3:17 ).
2. We must also utilize His role as our HIGH PRIEST( Heb. 4:14-16 ).
A. HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELL IN US?
1. Passages to note: ( Rom.8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Tim. 1:14; Eph. 5:18;
John 14:16-17 ).
2. Note also: Eph. 6:18; Rev. 1:10; 1 Cor. 12:3, 13.
3. Literally, how can the Spirit be in us and us in the Spirit?
WHO IS IN WHOM?
4. Two passages that help.
a. John 14:10, a working relationship described here.
b. John 17:20-21. How are we to be one?
i. "As thou Father art in me and I in thee."
ii. Eph. 4:1-16.
5. Expresses Unity. 1 John 3:24 is nothing more than 1:3-7.
6. We are one with Jesus and his death - into his death( Rom. 6:3-4 ).
B. OUR POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE SPIRIT IS THE REVEALED WORD.
THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE WORD THE SPIRIT DWELLS IN US.
1. Parallel passages( Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16 ).
2. The Bible itself is not the Spirit, but the means by which the Spirit operates on
us( Rom. 8:12-17; Rev. 2:17 ).
3. We know we are saved when we obey( 1 John 2:3-5; 3:24 ).
a. Rom. 8:16, The Spirit bears witness "with," not "to," our spirit.
b. Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5, "Sealed" with the "earnest" of the
Spirit. God's pledge. What is God's pledge to us?
( Heb. 6:13-20; 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).
4. The "fruit of the Spirit" is seen in our conforming our character to the
teaching of the word( Gal. 5:22-26 ).
C. WONDERFUL BLESSINGS ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S
INDWELLING.
1. He gives us strength to put to death the fleshly deeds of the body ( Eph. 3:16, 20 ).
2. He helps in our weakness acting as an intercessor for us( Rom. 8:26-27 ).
3. Guidance in our daily lives and service( Rom. 8:14; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).
D. WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES DO WE HAVE IN VIEW OF THE SPIRIT'S
INDWELLING?
1. To keep the temple of God, the church, HOLY( 1 Cor. 3:16-17 ).
2. We are to GLORIFY God even with our bodies( 1 Cor. 6:18-20 ).
3. We are to WALK in the Spirit, being so LED by the Spirit as to produce the
FRUIT of the Spirit( Gal. 5:16-18, 22-25 ).
A. THE BLESSING OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY.
1. Members become like fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters( 1 Tim. 5:1-2 ).
2. They can even replace physical relations we may lose when we become
Christians( Mark 10:28-30; Matt. 12:46-50 ).
B. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING THE CHURCH AS OUR FAMILY.
1. We are to "edify one another"( Heb. 10:24-25 ).
a. This necessitates assembling together frequently.
b. This requires each one doing their share( Eph. 4:15-16).
2. We are to "bear one another's burdens"( Gal. 6:1-2 ).
3. John 13:34-35. Love is the key.
A. THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY MORE BLESSINGS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE HAS CHRISTIANS.
B. BUT I HOPE THAT THESE SUFFICE TO IMPRESS UPON US
1. How blessed we are as Christians.
2. How important it is that we fulfill our responsibilities.
3. OR WE MAY LOSE THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE!( Heb. 3:12-15 ).
