Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• John 1:12-13
• The prologue found here is a praisee of the rest of the gospel
• These verses are expanded throughout the gospel
• I never fail to be surprised by those who call themselves
  Christians
• There is a default position to being a 'Christian'
• There seems to be such ignorance as to what a Christian actually is
• Going to church does not make you a Christian
• A tragedy to assume you know what a Christian is when you do not
• To be a Christian is the most privileged and glorious thing that can happen to a person
• What is the reason for the hope within you?

What it doesn't mean to be a Christian

• What it doesn't mean to be a Christian
• Negatives can be helpful
• To get rid of wrong thinking
• Example of Billy Bray

Not of Blood

• Being Christian is not the default position - we are not naturally Christians
• Sin has come in via our forebears (Adam and Eve)
• We are born in sin
• The core of our being is wickedness
• This is not generally accepted in society today
• We are sinners - this is our default position
• Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be 'born again'
• Not of blood
• You cannot take pride in your lineage, hereditary line or family tree (as the Jews did)
• Born in Wales, a Westerner, a Christian country - this does not make you okay
• There is no Christian race

Not of the Will of the Flesh

• Children are born through the will of the parents - conception and then birth
• John 5:3 - Nicodemus must be born of water (natural birth) and the Spirit
• Not because your Christians are parents
• Though this is a great blessing

Not of the Will of Man

• Not through nuture
• Christianity does not rub off on you: from church, friends, etc
• You cannot bring someone up as a Christian

What is true of a Christian

But of God

• This is why being a Christian is the most amazing thing
• Think of Christmas and the amazing miracles that occurred
• To be born of God means that a miracle has taken place
• Christians should walk with heads held high - because we are born of God
• To be born physically is like a miracle - to be born of the Spirit is truly a miracle
• This is not of humans but of God
• The same God who created the universe
• The same God who sustains the universe
• The same God knows exactly what is going on with us
• The same God is eternal
• We cannot exhaust conversation of who God is
• Our world is both lovely and sad
• We should not be counting down the days
• We long for the Lord Jesus to come
• We are about serving our Lord (and understanding who He is)
• As this layers are stripped away we see the awfulness of ourselves but we see the awesomeness of our Saviour
• This is the God
• We are born of God Himself
• We are a miracle
• What is our identity?
• Where is our identity?
• We are a new person in Christ
• We have spiritual life - God has breathed life into us
• If you are under any illusions - example
• Those who have received and those who have believed
• Is God speaking to you?
• You can become a Christian right now
• A knowledge of ourselves - we are
  sinful
• A knowledge of God - John 3:16, He saves us now, God has made the first move, 'it is finished', reconciliation has been made
• God has given us His only begotten Son
• Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ
• There is no other hope
• Not of self-works, church, family or anything else
• You are not beyond hope because the Lord Jesus Christ is able
  and willing
• There is something visible in Christians [that points to God]

Closing Remarks