We Have An Example

We Have An Example

"To The Jews I Am A Jew"

I Corinthians 9:19-23

Introduction: Being called an alien, different

Times of being different

-feelings, experiences

As Christians we are different:

John 17: 14,16 "I have given them your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world...They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."

I. We are not of the world.

[World–The realm of humans and human affairs; not of creation.]

John 1:1-5,14 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us"

Psalm 136: 1-9 "O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. O give thanks to the LORD of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders,...to him who by understanding made the heavens,...to him who spread out the earth upon the water,...to him who made the great lights,...the sun to rule over the day,..the moon to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever"

There exists a struggle between the dual nature of a good God and Sinful Humanity

John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit"

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come."

You can never go home again.

II. We must cross the barrier to reach the world.

Romans 10:14-15 "But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent?"

Mark 2:15-17 "And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.""

Romans 3:23-25 "...since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith."

I’m a swimmer video

III. By crossing the barrier, nonbelievers are able to meet Christ.

II Corinthians 5: 18-21 "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Definition of Reconciliation

[The New Testament in the Language of Today

William F. Beck

But God had done it all. When we were His enemies, through Christ He made us His friends and gave us the work of making friends of enemies.]

Seven Principles to Loving Your Friends to Faith:

1. Become personally acquainted with non-Christians.

2. Cultivate a friendship with the pre-Christian.

3. Pray for each one by name; keep them always in your heart.

4. Share you social life with them while arousing their interest by your life and conversation.

5. Always compliment rather than condemn.

6. Talk about your journey of faith at the level of the pre-Christian’s receptivity.

7. Always believe God is at work in the pre-Christian whether or not you see progress.

Conclusion:

Colossians 1:19-20 "For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."