1) There are scam artists who are always busy
trying to advantage of honest people – selling
things that are cheap imitations for the
genuine.
2) Rolex watches; jewelry made of zirconium
instead of diamonds; tennis shoes; handbags;
clothing, etc.
3) Is our commitment to Christ real? Is our faith
genuine? Or have we deceived ourselves?
4) I want you to take a test with me this morning
to see if we are the real deal.
2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Peter 1:6-7; &
Galatians 2:20
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus
Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified” (2
Corinthians 13:5).
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while,
if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the
genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than
gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found
to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus
Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who
live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
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Of Inner Life
1) The Spirit of Christ dwelling in us?
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if
Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but
the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans
8:9-10).
2) Can I tell by the way I feel?
“Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said,
“Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience
before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).
“Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things
contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts
26:9).
3) Spirit is only given to those who obey.
“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also
is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who
obey Him” (Acts 5:32).
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from
God, and you are not your own? For you were bought
at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in
your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
4) Comments on Romans 8:9.
“The heart in which God’s Spirit dwells hears and
feels the Spirit’s prompting and is moved to follow
that prompting by the power which the Spirit
supplies. The Spirit is present in his Word, and we
hear him in our hearts when his Word is in us and
moves us. Only in and through his Word does the
Spirit dwell in us, speak to us, impel and control us”
(R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary on Romans, p. 510).
5) Signs that the Spirit is dwelling in you.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”
(Galatians 5:22-23).
6) Did you pass the first test?
“If the Holy Spirit’s word does not control behavior,
one certainly is not of Christ” (Clinton Hamilton,
Commentary on Romans, p. 480).
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Of Inner Life
Of Inner Peace
1) Sin makes us enemies of God.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For
if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:810).
2) One can have peace with God.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Romans 5:1).
3) Peace with God and man.
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one,
and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of
commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in
Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body
through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off
and to those who were near. For through Him we both
have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:1418).
4) A controlling peace.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
5) Signs of inner peace.
(a) One who can rejoice in the Lord.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
(b) Not anxious about problems.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
5) Signs of inner peace.
(c) Meditates on things pure.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever
things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things
are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are
of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is
anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things”
(Philippians 4:8).
(d) Is content.
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in
whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
6) How did you score on this part of the
test?
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Of Inner Life
Of Inner Peace
Of Inner Yearning
1) To hear something other than truth?
“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine, but
according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and
be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
2) Could be like the Israelites.
“Now these things became our examples, to the intent
that we should not lust after evil things as they also
lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of
them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did, and in one day
twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by
serpents; nor complain, as some of them also
complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1
Corinthians 10:6-10).
3) Things we should desire.
“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word,
that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or
absent, to be well pleasing to Him” (2 Corinthians
5:9).
4) Do you –
(a) A desire to come worship (Psalm 122:1)?
(b) A hunger for Bible study (Psalm 1:2)?
(c) An intense craving to teach the lost (Romans 10:13)?
(d) A yearning to be more God-like (1 Peter 1:13-16)?
5) How did you score on this part of the
test?
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Of Inner Life
Of Inner Peace
Of Inner Yearning
Of Outer Change
1) The life you are now living?
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I
who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians
2:20).
2) As a Christian has your life changed?
(a) Have a new place to go on Sunday & Wednesday!
(b) Have a new name to wear!
(c) A new book to study!
(d) A new family & new responsibilities!
(e) A new way to spend my time & money!
(f) A new supper of which to partake!
(g) A new message to share with my family & friends!
(h) A new standard to live by!
(i) Old clothes to take off & new ones to put on!
3) Notice the change in Paul.
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled
me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into
the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a
persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace
of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and
love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1
Timothy 1:12-15).
4) One that can influence the world.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its
flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for
nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot
by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is
set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a
lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand,
and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew
5:13-16).
5) Did you pass the test? All four parts?
(a) Inner life – directed by the Spirit.
(b) Inner peace – peace with God & man.
(c) Inner yearnings – desire to please the Lord.
(d) Outer change – salt & light.
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Of Inner Life
Of Inner Peace
Of Inner Yearning
Of Outer Change