BE A COMMITTED BE A COMMITTED CHRISTIAN NOT CHRISTIAN NOT JUST A CHRISTIAN!JUST A CHRISTIAN!

TEXT:TEXT:JOHN 13:31-38JOHN 13:31-38

3131 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus  Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus   said, “said, “Now Now 11is is aathe Son of Man the Son of Man bbglorified, glorified, andandccGod God 11is glorified in Himis glorified in Him;;

32 32 11if God is glorified in Him, if God is glorified in Him,  aaGod will also God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.immediately.

33 “33 “aaLittle children, I am with you Little children, I am with you bba little while a little while longer. longer. ccYou will seek Me; and as I said to the You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’going, you cannot come.’

34 “A 34 “A aanew commandment I give to you, new commandment I give to you, bbthat that you love one another, you love one another, cceven as I have loved even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.you, that you also love one another.

35“35“aaBy this all men will know that you are My By this all men will know that you are My disciples, disciples, if you have love for one another.if you have love for one another.””

3636 Simon Peter  Simon Peter    said to Him, “Lord, where are said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “You going?” Jesus answered, “ aaWhere I go, Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you cannot follow Me now; but bbyou will you will follow later.”follow later.”

37 Peter 37 Peter    said to Him, “Lord, why can I not said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? follow You right now? aaI will lay down my life I will lay down my life for You.”for You.”

38 Jesus 38 Jesus    answered, “answered, “Will you lay down your Will you lay down your life for Me?life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, Truly, truly, I say to you,  aaa a rooster will not crow until you deny Me rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.three times.

  

ABOUT COMMITMENT…ABOUT COMMITMENT…

“ “If you do not plan to live the Christian life If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally totally committedcommitted to knowing your God to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't begin, for this is what Christianity is don't begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a all about. It is a change of citizenshipchange of citizenship, a , a change of governmentschange of governments, a , a change of change of allegianceallegiance. If you have no intention of . If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you.”   Christianity; it is not for you.”   Kay ArthurKay Arthur

WHAT IS A COMMITTED WHAT IS A COMMITTED CHRISTIAN?CHRISTIAN?

1. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE 1. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY…GOD ALL THE GLORY…

• Jesus taught His disciples that perspective both by example and by precept:

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-10• “5Have this attitude (manner, thoughts, outlook,

approach, mind-set) in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servantbond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself He humbled Himself by becoming obedientobedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY EVERY KNEE WILL BOWKNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”glory of God the Father.”

2. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO 2. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO LOVE THE BRETHREN…LOVE THE BRETHREN…

• 34 “A 34 “A aanew commandment I give to you, new commandment I give to you, bbthat that you love one another, you love one another, cceven as I have loved even as I have loved youyou, that you also love one another., that you also love one another.

• 35“35“aaBy this all men will know that you are My By this all men will know that you are My disciples, disciples, if you have love for one if you have love for one another.another.””

““Love is commitment; love is a Love is commitment; love is a relationship that never gives up.”relationship that never gives up.”

HOW SHOULD LOVE BE HOW SHOULD LOVE BE EXPRESSED?EXPRESSED?

Romans 12:9-21Romans 12:9-21“9 Let love be genuine. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold

fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”“14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do

not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in

harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b] Never be wise in

your own sight.

• 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

3. YOU HAVE AN UNSWERVING 3. YOU HAVE AN UNSWERVING LOYALTY TO GOD..LOYALTY TO GOD..

3636 Simon Peter  Simon Peter * * said to Him, “Lord, where are said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “You going?” Jesus answered, “ aaWhere I go, Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you cannot follow Me now; but bbyou will you will follow later.”follow later.”

37 Peter 37 Peter * * said to Him, “Lord, why can I not said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? follow You right now? aaI will lay down my life I will lay down my life for You.”for You.”

38 Jesus 38 Jesus * * answered, “answered, “Will you lay down your Will you lay down your life for Me?life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, Truly, truly, I say to you,  aaa a rooster will not crow until you deny Me rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.three times.

  

A GODLY INSIGHT…A GODLY INSIGHT…

LEARN TO DIFFERENTIATE LEARN TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN:BETWEEN:

PROMISED LOYALTY PROMISED LOYALTY AND AND

PRACTICED PRACTICED LOYALTYLOYALTY

THE CHALLENGES THE CHALLENGES THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH IS

FACING TODAY…FACING TODAY…

Religious pluralism generally refers to the Religious pluralism generally refers to the belief in two or more religious worldviews as belief in two or more religious worldviews as being equally valid or acceptable. More than being equally valid or acceptable. More than mere tolerance, religious pluralism accepts mere tolerance, religious pluralism accepts multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility!multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility!

PLURALISMPLURALISM

MATERIALISM…MATERIALISM…Is defined as “the preoccupation with

material things rather than intellectual or spiritual things.”

SECULARISMSECULARISM““Essentially, secularism says that man does not Essentially, secularism says that man does not

need God. It can be defined as “a system of need God. It can be defined as “a system of doctrines and practices that disregards or rejects doctrines and practices that disregards or rejects any form of religious faith and worship. Its any form of religious faith and worship. Its primary objective is the total elimination of all primary objective is the total elimination of all religious elements from society.”religious elements from society.”

REMEMBER THIS…REMEMBER THIS…

Deuteronomy 7:9Deuteronomy 7:9"Know therefore that the LORD "Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful your God, He is God, the faithful

God, who keeps His covenant God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with thousandth generation with

those who love Him and keep those who love Him and keep His commandments;”His commandments;”