Are You In Or Out
Romans 3:21-26
I was listening to a sermon the other day on the TV and the speaker quoted a theologian from some college somewhere. I don’t even remember the guy’s name, but I do remember what he said, because it sure got my attention.
He was talking about the way Americans had use religion since September 11th
The statement was “Religion is the Drug of the people”
It kills their pain
It helps take away their problems
It is their temporary fix
I think that there’s a problem with Christianity being the drug of the people
I think far too many people are using it to temporarily kill their pain, to temporarily help take away their problems, or for a temporary fix.
Christianity should not be a temporary fix, for Christians it should be a permanent fix.
Maybe that is where the problem is
Maybe some “so called” Christians don’t really know God
Maybe some “so called” Christians don’t have a relationship with God
Let me ask you something then, are they ‘so called “ Christians really Christians then?
Theologians estimate that only 75% of church members are genuinely saved
Billy Graham backs that up by saying that 30% of the people that accept Christ at his crusades are already on a church roll somewhere aw someone who claims to be saved
So if this is true, then most Christians aren’t Christians at all, They are almost Christians aren’t they
They may attend church and Sunday school regularly
They may really listen to all of the pastor’s sermons
They may only hang around with good ole’ Christian people
But where are they in their relationship with GOD?
Or do they even have a real relationship with GOD?
The scary thing is there are people who think because they are good people that they are Christians
That think because they go to church every week that they are Christians
That think because all their friends are Christians that they are Christians
That think because their parents are Christians that they are Christians
That think just because they never do anything wrong that they are a Christian
That they are a Christian and that they are in because of who they are
Can I let you in on a little secret, if you do not have your OWN relationship with God, there is no way to get in, it doesn’t matter if you are a good person
It doesn’t matter if you go to church every week
It doesn’t matter if all your friends are Christians
It doesn’t matter that your parents are Christians
It doesn’t matter that you never do anything wrong
Christianity is not something you can earn, it is a FREE gift that you have to accept
If you want to be a Christian and not an “almost” Christian then you have to be justified by faith or in simpler terms, you have to have your “OWN” salvation
Now to have your own salvation there is a few things that must happen first
First you must admit that you are guilty, you must admit that you are a sinner
See salvation is not like getting set free in a court of law where you have to prove you innocence, here you have to admit to be guilty, not innocent
Let’s look at what I mean by this
Take the OJ Simpson trail for example, he was found not guilty of killing his wife Nicole Brown
Simpson, yet when most of us think that he did
Now for arguments sake lets all assume that he did, but to be set free he had to convince the judge that he didn’t, he could not commit of guilt
Now with God it works completely different than that, to be forgiven or found “not guilty” with him, we have to admit to our sins
Secondly, we must believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the debt for our sins
Thirdly, we also have to believe that Jesus arose from the dead 3 days later and defeated death so that we could have eternal life in heaven
Then last of all we have to accept his gift of salvation, that if we admit our sins, believe in Jesus and what he did for us, and accept him as our savior then we have that “Promise” I have been talking to you about
So now that I have explained salvation to you
Do you have your “Own” Salvation, or are you living off someone else’s
Are you a “true” Christian or are you an “almost” Christian
Let me tell you a few differences between a “true” Christian and an “almost” Christian
Almost Christians are acquainted with the Gospel
Christians are messengers of the Gospel
Almost Christians are interested in the Gospel
Christians are involved in the Gospel
Almost Christians enjoy the Gospel
Christians are filled with Joy because of the Gospel
Almost Christians say that they love God
Christians live the love of God
Almost Christians are good people
Christians are God people
See Salvation and Christianity are not a buffet
You cannot pick the parts you like and stay away from what you don’t like
You must eat from all of it
Salvation comes with a price, and that price is turning from the sinful ways of the world and following Christ
Have you paid that price
If not are you willing to pay the price
Salvation calls for a decision…
Jesus said there is a broad road…….He also said there is a narrow road, which road are you on
Jesus said some people build their house on sand…..others build their house on ROCK, where are you building your house
Jesus said some people will follow darkness……….others will chose to follow the light, which are you following
Someday Jesus will separate us. Goats on side and his sheep on the other (did you notice I said his sheep)
See there is no inbetween
Those are those that are “SAVED” and there are those who are not
Being a Christian is more than living a good life
It is more than having Christian parents
It is more than having Christian friends
It is more than attending church
Let me share a little story about two brothers with you
Tell story with visual effects
(A story about 2 brothers, one has salvation the other don’t. The one who does has a ticket, the one who don’t does not. The brother who has no ticket borrows part of his brothers ticket. They then die, the brother who did not have salvation has Saint Peter unfold his ticket to reveal the word hell. The brother with salvation has Saint Peter to unfold his to reveal a cross. The moral is you can not get to heaven without your own ticket or salvation. This is a great visual effect for young people)
Now let me ask you
Where do you stand in your relationship with God
Do you have a relationship with him
Are you a “true” Christian or an “almost” Christian
Are you “in” or are you “out”
