Why I Am A Christian

TEXT:  1 Pet. 4:15-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

          1.       A disciple( Acts 11:26 ).  An adherent to a discipline.

          2.       What is a disciple?( Mat. 28:19;  John 8:31-32 ).

B.      WHY SHOULD ONE DESIRE TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN?

I.      THAT HE MIGHT RETURN GOD'S LOVE.

A.      John 3:16;  1 John 4:9-10.

B.      WE WERE TAUGHT LOVE BY GOD( 1 John 4:19 ).

C.      LOVING GOD DEMANDS OBEDIENCE( 1 John 5:3 ).

II.     THAT HE MIGHT SERVE JESUS WHO DIED FOR ALL.

A.      WHAT DID JESUS DO FOR US( Mat. 20:28;  26:28 ).

B.      WHAT DOES JESUS HAVE TO OFFER( 1 Cor. 15:55-57 ).

C.      HIS LOVE ALSO DEMANDS OBEDIENCE( John 14:15 ).

III.    THAT WE MIGHT SHARE CHRIST'S GLORY WITH HIM.

A.      THIS WE DO BY IMITATING HIM( 1 Pet. 2:21 ).

B.      BY POINTING OTHERS TO HIM( Mat. 5:16 ).

C.      BY WEARING HIS NAME( 1 Pet. 4:16 ).

D.      WE REIGN WITH JESUS( Rev. 5:9-10;  1 Pet. 2:9 ).

E.      OUR GLORY IS ETERNAL( Col. 3:1-4 ).

IV.   THAT HE MIGHT LIVE THE BEST LIFE HERE.

A.      GOD BLESSES ALL HIS CREATION( Mat. 5:45 ).

B.      EVERYTHING GOOD COMES FROM GOD( James 1:17 ).

C.      BUT SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS COME ONLY THROUGH JESUS( Eph. 1:3 ).

D.      TRUST LEADS TO PEACE( Phil. 4:6-7 ).

E.      THE CHRISTIAN IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES THAT MAKE LIFE BETTER

          FOR THOSE AROUND HIM( Rom. 13:8;  Mat. 7:12;  Gal. 6:10 ).

V.    THAT HE MIGHT GO TO HEAVEN WHEN HE DIES.

A.      ALL MUST DIE AND FACE JUDGMENT( Heb. 9:27 ).

B.      JESUS HAS PROMISED HIS DISCIPLES A MANSION( John 14:1-3 ).

C.      FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY?( 2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

CONCLUSION:  ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?