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How Are Christians Different? Introduction: John 15.18-19 Jesus tells us that His disciples will be different from the world. This begs the question, "How will we be different?" This is a broad subject but needs examining. I) Who Are Different? A) It refers to those actually following Jesus. 1. This requires us to obey His commands, 1 John 5.2 2. This requires more than lip service, Matthew 7.21-23. B) To follow Christ we must hear the Gospel, believe, repent of our sins, confess Jesus, and be baptized for the remission of our sins. 1. This places one in the right relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. 2. This makes us Christians, nothing more and nothing less. II) What is Not the Difference? A) Just better people. 1. I am not saying that Christians are just inherently or intrinsically better than anyone else. We read of some bad people that became Christians in the Bible. 2. Apostle Paul was a bad man as he persecuted Christians, Acts 9.1-2 3. The people at Corinth, 1 Corinthians6.9ff. B) Just smarter than everyone else, 1 Corinthians 1.26-27 1. In many ways Christians are considered fools or foolish. by those considered wise. 2. Examples: creationism, modesty, honesty, Jesus' (death, burial, and resurrection). People that believe in these things are often ridiculed and mocked by the so called wise people of this world. 3. We do consider God to be smarter than mankind, 1 Corinthians 1.25 C) Sincerity by itself is not the dividing point 1. A Christian will be sincere in what they are doing, 1 Timothy 1.5. We can be wrong but if shown we are wrong we are obligated to change and do whatever God says. 2. People can be sincerely wrong in their religion. Example: Apostle Paul, Acts 26.9-11; 1 Timothy 1.13 III) What Is The Difference? A) Doing what the Bible teaches in Bible ways 1. Do all things according to the pattern, Hebrews 8.5 2. This means going by the Bible and only the Bible, 1 Peter 4.1 a. Not creed books, Matthew 15.8-9 b. Not human traditions c. Not by our parents or family traditions B) Respecting the silence of the Scriptures 1. Many believe they can do whatever they want if there is no specific passage saying you cannot ... a. Instrumental music in worship is largely based on the silence of the scriptures b. Special festivals and holidays -- Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, etc. 2. See many examples in the Bible where people were condemned for doing that which they had no authority but the word of God did not specifically say not to. a. Offering strange fire on the altar, Lev. 10.1 b. King Saul offering a sacrifice to God, 1 Sam. 13.8,9, 11, 13 c. David moving the ark on a cart, 2 Samuel 6.1-7, 13 d. A change in the law is based on a change in the priesthood and a silence of the scriptures, Hebrews 7.12-14 C) Rightly divide the word of God 1. Most groups claim to be doing what the Bible says but there is a difference in using the Bible as our text and using it as a pretext. 2. We must rightly divide the word of God, 2 Timothy 2.15 3. We recognize the different dispensations in the Bible. Hebrews 1.1-2 a. Patriarchal Dispensation where God spoke directly to the fathers of the families. The fathers offered the sacrifices (own priesthood), oral law, etc. b. Mosaic dispensation is where God revealed His will through Moses and the prophets. Specialized priesthood, sacrifices, Sabbath Day, dietary laws, etc. c. Christian Dispensation where we have the Law of Christ, all Christians are part of the priesthood, living sacrifices, etc. Romans 8.1ff. 4. Cannot go back to Law of Moses to be saved, for our worship, etc. Just as those under the Mosaic Law could not go back to the Patriarchal Dispensation for authority. 5. We know that we are under the Law of Christ and must obey His word to be saved. Conclusion: These are some of the differences between Christians and the world. If don't do Bible things in Bible ways, if we don't respect the silence of the Scriptures, if we don't rightly divide the word of God; then we will be no different from the rest of the world. We will not be following Christ, and we will not be saved.
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