What Is a Christian? — Greg Laurie

What It Means to Be a Genuine Christian

Number g619 by pastor Greg Laurie with a message entitled. What is a Christian told you the story before of this guy? He was looking for a job. He was desperate for work and he heard that the local zoo might have a position open as a Zoo keeper and so he went down there and sat down with the manager there at the zoo and and said I'd like to get A job, you know doing whatever.

Helping out cleaning the pens and the manager said sir. I'm really sorry, but we don't have any positions available right now. But the manager looked at the size of this guy's a big beefy burly. Muscular kind of a guy in the manager said now buddy.

This is gonna sound crazy, but I'm gonna ask it anyway, our gorilla just died the other day and. Would you be open. I know this is crazy, but would you be open to maybe taking his place? I'm gonna explain whatever gorilla suit custom-made to fit you you'd look like a gorilla.

All you'd have to do is go to his cage. Pretend you're a gorilla until we can get a real one in. The guy thought well That's crazy. Then the manager told him how much money there was in it and the guy quickly agreed.

So the next day he got his new gorilla suit and he went over to the cage and you know. Didn't know what to do. Beat his chest a little bit and and a little crowd began to gather and and then the next day.

He started to loosen up a little bit more and he started to swing back and forth and the vine and the crowds. We're getting bigger. Well by the third day he was fully into it. He was beating his chest swinging carrying on huge cow.

Crowds were gathering. This guy was really starting to like it by the fourth day. He was really swinging far and wide in that great cage. And then he sort of lost his way and slipped over into the cage next to it.

Which was the lion's cage and? Landed right in the middle of it and all of a sudden the crowd ran over to that side to see what would happen. The lion with a very hungry look in his face began to approach this guy in the gorilla suit.

So he backed up in a corner. He didn't know what to do. Because if he cried out help everyone was gonna know he was a fraud and was a pretender and was not a gorilla at all. But if he didn't say anything he was gonna be lunch for Leo.

So what's he gonna do? Well, finally, he can't contain himself any longer and he screams out help and the lion says back shut up stupider. You'll get us both fired. You see things are not always as they appear, right.

And just like this guy pretended to be something he was not there are a lot of people today going to church. Carrying Bibles saying there are Christians that really are not you know in some ways. It almost seems like America is Experiencing a spiritual revival because you'll read about these polls that are being taken where more Americans believe in God than just about any other time that we can remember more Americans read the Bible, etc.

But then you look at the moral State of our culture and you have to wonder if people really know what it means to be a Christian. For instance a poll was taken by George magazine Toward the end of last year or a couple of years ago I should say rather and it revealed that 86 of Americans believe in God.

That's a lot. 75 believe in life after death. 86 believe in heaven. 77 believe in hell. This is interesting. 51 don't believe that humans evolved from lower life forms. So you would think that everyone believes in evolution.

It's not the case. 51 of the people polled did not believe in evolution. But this poll also revealed that 10 of Americans think Elvis is still alive. So it's not as good as it seems. US News and World Report Did a article called spiritual America and it revealed that 60 of Americans say they attend religious services on a regular basis.

More than 80 including 71 of college graduates believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God. That surprised me and then George Gallup has come Out with a brand new book that I just looked at yesterday.

It's called the next American Spirituality subtitled finding God in the 21st century and he pointed out that the percentage of Americans who completely agree that Prayer is an important part of their daily life rose from 41 in 1987 to 53 in 1997 that is a rise of 12 percentage points and he went on to point out that those who completely agree that they have never doubted the existence of God rose 11 points in the same 10 years and 46 of Americans who are polled described themselves as born again.

Check this one out seven out of every eight Americans polled said they were affiliated with or identified with a Christian Denomination and this caused New York magazine to do a lead story that was entitled religion makes a combat.

And they said among other things America has outgrown its old take it or leave it attitude toward religion now. People even without faith are looking for God and quote now that sounds pretty encouraging doesn't it?

But needless to say a lot of people don't understand what it is to know the Lord. George Barna did an article about the minimal impact that Christianity is making in our culture today. And he said and I quote Christianity is having a minimal influence on thoughts words and deeds in the lives of people under the age of 40.

His Examination of a hundred indicators of attitudes beliefs and behavior showed that Christians are very similar similar to non-christians and their Everyday behavior now. Why is that? How is it that?

Spirituality could be at an all-time high, but the practical impact of Christianity would be at an all-time low. Answer there just has to be a lot of people out there who think they are Christians. But really are not.

I heard a statistic a while back that said 50 of all born-again Christians in quotes I would think don't have the assurance of salvation. Now maybe that of those people who are born again. They just haven't read what the Bible has to say about the assurance of one standing before God.

But it may be because some of those people don't know Christ. And that's why they don't have the assurance of salvation. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a donut shop makes you a cop.

Now a cop told me that joke so don't get all upset. But it's true. Just because you say you believe certain things just because you've been raised in a Christian home. Just because you've read the Bible from your youth doesn't necessarily mean that you are a genuine Christian.

That you really know the Lord. For instance of those that were pulled who said they were Christians. They found of those that read the Bible on a regular basis. They were uncertain about its features.

Half of them could not name any of the four Gospels of the New Testament. These are those that supposedly read the Bible regularly. The other half could not name at least one. Fewer than half knew who delivered the Sermon on the Mount Hint.

He was born in Bethlehem. He died on a cross and he rose from the dead. 80 of Americans who attended church last Easter. Of them one-fourth of them could not tell you what the purpose of Easter was.

Religious Profession Versus Spiritual Reality

Minds you have a story. I heard of a group of four-year-olds in Sunday school and the teacher asked them the question. Can anyone tell me what today is it happened to be Palm Sunday. Little girl raises up her hand.

Teacher yes, she said today is Palm Sunday. Teacher said that's very good. And what is the purpose of Palm Sunday? Well, we're remembering that day when when Jesus rode on that donkey into Jerusalem. Very good.

The teacher said now any can anyone tell me what next Sunday is. Same little girl shot her hand up again. Yes, what is next Sunday next Sunday? She said it's Easter Sunday. A teacher said that is very good.

And can anyone tell me what the purpose of Easter Sunday is. A little girl said yes. It's Easter because Jesus rose from the grave and be where the teacher could congratulate her. The little girl continued.

But if he sees his shadow, he has to go back in the ground for seven weeks. That would be Easter Groundhog Day there. You see it's clear that a lot of people Don't know what a Christian really is. Do you are you one?

Are you sure what exactly is a Christian? Are you born that way and if not, how can you become one? What other requirements? Here's what the Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 13 5 check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians?

Do you pass the test or are you just pretending to be Christians when you really aren't at all? Do you pass the test? I'll tell you what a litmus test of a Christian is in a few moments. But we all have to do a little fruit inspection in life.

You see because Jesus said by their fruits you shall know them and there's people running around saying, oh, I'm a Christian. Oh, I love the Lord. Well, we need to find some evidence in your life that would indicate that you really have made a commitment to Christ.

And when you see someone who alleges to be a Christian and you say, excuse me, are you a Christian? Oh, yeah. Yes, I am. Praise God. I love the Lord. Well if you're a Christian, how come you're you know still doing drugs?

You're a Christian. How come you're out partying and getting drunk if you're a Christian. How come you're living with your boyfriend or your girlfriend? You know what their next statements gonna be, don't you?

Hey, man. Don't judge me. Okay. Well, if you don't mind, I think I will judge you. Whoa Greg you can't say that Jesus said judge not lest you be judged true. But what did he mean when he said that? Did he mean that I'm never to make any evaluation about any person's life or about anything else for that matter?

Absolutely not because in the same sermon that that came from the Sermon on the Mount that was delivered by Jesus. He said don't cast your pearls before a swine and beware of false prophets now. How on earth am I going to know who a false prophet is if I don't make some?

Evaluation about what that person is saying and how am I going to know who the swine are King James Word for pigs? Unless I make some evaluation of their stand before God the point of that is don't take the holy truths of God and offer Them to someone who has no interest in them whatsoever.

How am I going to do that without? Judging without. Evaluating without discerning. Now you might say but Greg Jesus said judge not lest you be judged. You know a better way to probably translate that statement of our Lord would be condemned not lest you be condemned.

Because that's what he meant. He wasn't saying don't ever make an evaluation. Don't ever try to discern something. He was saying you are not in the position to pass final judgment. See because I'm not God.

I can't see your heart, so I don't know so someone might say to me Greg you think that person's a Christian. I would say well. I don't know I haven't seen any indicator that would say they are. I've seen no fruit in their life.

There's nothing that I see and then that would cause me to believe that then you might say well. What about that person over there well as a matter of fact? I think they are because I have seen evidence.

I've seen some results. I think that person probably is a Christian. Only God can make that ultimate determination. But I am to make some kind of judgment and in the same way the Bible says we need to look at our own lives.

And decide are we really Christians. Do we really know the Lord? Because you see it's possible to say certain things and not really know the Lord. For instance you can have people that say well I am a surfer.

Because I own a surfboard. Owning a surfboard doesn't make you a server. Yeah, but I have a wetsuit, too. Okay, good. But that doesn't make you a server. Yeah, but I have wax. Okay good. You have wax and I have apparel.

I have all the right logos and designs on my shirts. Well, that's good, but that doesn't make you a surfer or you might say. I'm a computer whiz because I own a computer. No, that doesn't make you a computer whiz.

That just means you want a computer you see to be a surfer. You need to serve to be a computer whiz. You have to hang out at fries for hours. And eat junk food. You see you have to do. What is that you do.

You have to apply it in everyday life and to be a Christian you need to walk with God now. Don't misunderstand me I am NOT suggesting that X amount of good works will make you a Christian. Because all of the good works on earth will not save you because the Bible says it's not by works of righteousness.

Which we have done, but according to his mercy that he has saved us in fact. That way is one of the primary distinctions of the Christian faith in contrast to the other world religions today. Because all the other religions of our world would essentially say do.

Do this and you'll reach a state of nirvana. Do this and you will have good karma. Do this and you'll reach Paradise. Do this and maybe you'll get into heaven. Do do do. Christianity says done at the cross as PTR was singing of Calvary our Savior bled and died for me.

It is there at Calvary that Christ died for you and said it is finished it is done. So it's not about what I do for God. It's all about what God has done for me now. If I know anything of what he has done for me, and if I have truly put my faith in Jesus Christ I will now want to do not to earn his approval.

But in recognition that I've already found it because of what Jesus did at the cross. So if you're really a Christian there will be evidence in your life works don't save you. But there are good evidence that a person is Saved.

It comes down to this the outward changes often without the inward. But the inward change is never without the outward. Are you a Christian or are you just pretending to be one when you really aren't at all?

Do you pass the test. Do we really know the Lord now? Let me share some ideas with you that might be surprising. Let's say we went out on the street right now and asked just people walking by what do you need to do to be a Christian?

We probably hear things like well to be a good Christian. You need to believe in the Bible. Someone else might say well to be a Christian you need to live a good life. Another might say well to be a Christian you need to believe in heaven and miracles and believe that there's a hell.

Another might say well to be a Christian you need to go to church pray read the Bible keep the Ten Commandments. Perhaps be baptized and then have a change in your lifestyle. Now I'm going to make a shocking statement.

Did you know that it's possible to do all the things that I just mentioned and not necessarily be a Christian? Let me backtrack for a moment if you're a Christian you should do all of the things I mentioned.

But just because you've done those things doesn't necessarily Mean you're a Christian. Well, you're losing me now bold guy. What are you saying? I'm saying you can pray and not necessarily be a Christian.

Surveys have revealed that nine out of every ten Americans pray. 76 of Americans believe God is a heavenly father who can be reached by prayers, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're a true believer.

Prayer and Religious Practice Cannot Substitute for Faith

There's a story in the Bible in the book of Jonah who was the original chicken of the sea. By the way, if you laughed at that it means you're old. Because I'm referring us to a star-kissed commercial.

Remember Charlie tune a chicken of the sea you got that jock your joke your old or jock whatever, okay? Never mind, you didn't get the joke. You're still young. There's hope. Okay, I Say he was the chicken of the sea because he was running from God.

God told him to go and preach to the Ninevites and Jonah said no one of the opposite direction he got a little got on board a ship and was going in the opposite direction and the Lord caused a great storm to come and Everyone on this little boat began to call on their God.

All of the sailors called on God. But the storm raged on they said where's that Hebrew God? He's sleeping in the lower deck. Well wake him up and tell him to call on his God. I guess they figured someone's got to have the right God here.

Now we all call on whatever God we believe in hopefully we'll reach the right one. Well in as a matter of fact Jonah did have the right God and for that matter the only God. And he finally admitted that he was running from the Lord.

They couldn't understand why anyone would run from a God that's powerful enough to send a storm. But the point is everybody called on God when the chips are down and as they say there are no atheists and foxholes.

When you're in trouble you pray big deal. You can pray and not know God. I Remember before I was a Christian I prayed on occasion. Whenever I was in trouble I mean if my life was in danger. I was gonna get nailed for something I'd done.

I'd say Oh God. Please help me get me out of this. I promise if you get me out of this I'll serve you all do anything and God always came through for me. You know that and I would essentially say thanks God see you next crisis.

That was the extent of my prayer line. You see it's possible to pray and not know God. You can offer your prayers to the Lord. But they never reach heaven because the Bible says if you cling to iniquity in your heart the Lord will not hear you so you can pray eloquently and Beautifully and yet never have your prayers go any higher than the ceiling because your sin is separating you from God.

It's not enough to just pray. You can pray and not necessarily be a Christian. Number two a person can make some visible changes in their life and not Necessarily be a Christian. The Bible tells the story in the book of Acts of a guy named Simon the sorcerer.

He had the whole city basically eating out of the palm of his hand with his occultism and magic tricks and such. But one day God's man showed up Philip and began to preach the gospel and Miracles were done through his hand and demons were coming out of people and others were being healed and everyone turned away from Simon the sorcerer.

And began to follow the God that Philip was preaching. Simon knew this was bad for business, and he needed to do something quick. So he faked a conversion and he pretended to be a believer. He was even baptized but a little bit later in the story you realize that he never was a believer at all.

My point is here was a guy who? Appeared to be a believer he was even baptized. But there was no change in his life. And then you can read about Herod the king who was influenced by the bold preaching of John the Baptist.

But he was even more influenced by the wicked advice of his wife Herodias who hated John because he exposed the sin of her and her husband and so she wanted John put to death and that's exactly What here it did he executed John, but the point is prior to that a few changes took place in his life.

But there was no real change no conversion. So it could be possible for someone to come here on a Monday night. And I give an invitation and they walk down that aisle and they stand here and they pray and they go up into that mysterious Room over there which is just a gym and We share a few things with them about what it means to follow Christ.

We pray for them we send them some materials and the mail to Help them in their faith, and then you might see him for the next few Monday nights. They go out and get their own Bible and and they're talking about God and all of a sudden they stop smoking and they stop Partying and they're not drinking anymore.

You go. Whoa, that's an intense conversion. Then you just stop seeing them and they just fade away. Well, what happened? Well, just because they made a few changes doesn't necessarily mean they're a Christian.

See time will tell if the conversions are real. That's why when people come forward at harvest crusades, we don't call them conversions. We say professions of faith. Time will tell if they're conversions walking down.

These aisles will not make you a Christian. And by the way, you don't need to keep walking down every Monday night. I'm gonna get saved again. I'm gonna get born again again and again and again. Some of you don't need to come forward.

You need to go forward spiritually. That's what needs to happen in your life. Or you may live a good life to the best of your ability. Even try to keep the Ten Commandments and not necessarily be a Christian.

There's a story in the Gospels of a man identified as a rich young ruler who came to Jesus and said good master. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said I'll tell you what you need to keep the commandments and he listed a few of them and the rich young ruler said I've kept these since I've been a little kid and Jesus said oh, is that so?

He said I'll tell you what I want you to sell everything that you have give the money away and come and follow me. Well, the rich young ruler went away sorrowful because he was so Possessed by his possessions.

It's interesting that Jesus never said that to any other person only to this man. And basically because Jesus being God could see in this guy's heart. He saw that things were more important to him than God.

They were an idol. He said get rid of that stuff and follow me to another he might say hey, you know what? You need to put your surfboard away and follow me. To another he might say you need to unplug your computer and follow me to another he might say you need to stop worshipping your body.

And follow me to another he might say you need to stop putting your career above everything else and follow me to another. He might say break up with your boyfriend or your girlfriend and follow me. It's whatever would keep you from God.

It could change from person to person you see. But this man had kept the commandments to a certain degree he had lived a good and moral life. But yet he stopped short of Jesus. And did you know that religion probably in the end will keep more people out of heaven than all of the other sins put together?

You might say what I thought this was religion. I thought you guys were really really Religious, I mean going to church on Monday night. That's weird Sunday morning, okay, I can see that Sunday night kind of odd Monday night.

That's psycho. Okay. No one goes to church Monday night. You're really religious. No, we're not religious. This isn't about religion. This is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, and there's a big difference now.

Why do I say religion will keep people away because you'll talk to people and you'll say hey. Have you ever received Christ into your life? Well, I'm a Catholic. Uh-huh interesting now have you ever asked Christ to come into your life?

Well, I'm a Presbyterian. Oh. That's fascinating. Have you ever asked Christ to come in your life another might say well, I'm a Baptist. Okay. Another have you asked Christ in your life? Well, I'm an Episcopalian, but I used to be a Pentecostal.

I think I'm an Episcopal. I'm not sure who cares. Who cares? Let's drop the labels. Do you know Christ? Have you asked Jesus to come in your life? Well, I was baptized. Well, I received communion. Well this or that you see you point to a ritual you point to the fact that you were raised in a certain church.

That's religion. Instead of saying, oh, yes, I love Jesus. He's coming to my life. Oh, by the way, I happen to go to this church. No, that's that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a person that would put the label before anything else and it's that very Religion that could keep you from God.

You're sitting there thinking Well, I don't need to get right with God because all my life I've been raised in a certain church. But don't you see what I'm trying to say to you that doesn't necessarily be mean that you are a Christian.

You need to be born again. Which means there has to come a moment in your life where you realize you're a sinner and you turn from that sin and put Your complete faith in Jesus Christ to save you. Have you done that yet?

Your parents can't do that for you. The person who brought you here tonight can't do it for you. You need to make that decision. Yourself you see my point is these people came so close but yet they were so far.

Think of Judas Iscariot. Here was a guy who saw miracles. He saw Lazarus raised from the dead. He heard with his own ears a sermon on the mount. He saw Jesus walk on the water. He saw miracle after miracle her teaching after teaching yet He died as he had lived Hardened in his sin.

So my point is you can pray believe in miracles and not necessarily be a Christian. You can hear the gospel and even in premise believe it and still not be a Christian. You can live a good life and be religious and to a certain degree keep the commandments, but not be a Christian.

You can be in church with other believers hear the same messages and not necessarily be a Christian. You say well I don't get it. What do you need to do? Well some steps need to be taken. Because in all of these instances that I've referred to they got the cart before the horse.

In other words, they did things but they didn't do the most important thing. What you need to do is first put your faith in Christ and then good works will follow. Then you'll want to go to church. Then you'll want to pray then you'll want to read the Bible.

Then you'll want to obey God. It has to start with you coming to Jesus now. Let's read a passage of Scripture that tells us what real conversion is. It's a story of the Apostle Paul Standing before the Roman governor Agrippa.

He's describing his own personal conversion story. He's mid stream in his story as we pick it up in Acts 26 verse 15. Paul's talking about how the Lord came to him on the Damascus Road when he was still running from God as Saul of Tarsus.

So I said Paul speaking who are you Lord? And he said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but rise and stand on your feet for I've appeared to you for this purpose to make you a minister and a witness of the Things which you have seen and the things that I will get revealed to you.

I will deliver you from the Jewish people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I now send you now. Verse 18. It's very important to open their eyes in order to turn them from darkness to light from the power of Satan the God that they might receive the forgiveness of sins and Inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

Open Eyes and Spiritual Illumination

Five things I want to bring to your attention. Number one to be a Christian your eyes need to be open. Number two, you need to turn from darkness to light. Number three from the power of Satan to God and as a result of that commitment.

Number four, you will receive the forgiveness of sins and fifth and lastly you'll receive an inheritance among those that are sanctified. Every conversion begins with having your eyes open. Because there is a spiritual blindness in all of us prior to us knowing Christ.

2nd Corinthians 4 4 says Satan the god of this evil world has blinded the eyes of those Who don't believe so they're unable to see the glorious light of the good news that is shining upon them. Your eyes are blind.

There's nothing that I can do to make you believe. There's nothing that I can say that will convince you. I Just know it has to be a work of the Holy Spirit. But at the same time I believe as I shared God's word with you tonight that he's gonna open some of your eyes.

And I think some of you had it happen a lot earlier even before long before I got up here. Maybe when you just came into the church and you sat down you looked around you thought wow look at this. This is something your eyes are beginning to be open.

Look at these people. They're different than I am. They seem to be happy. They seem to have a joy that I don't have and then the worship began. You thought well people singing about God. This is different.

Huh never seen anything quite like this before and then the band came out. Wow, I like this. Oh, I like what they're singing about and then I came out you thought well, it's falling apart now, but he'll be done.

But you know something has gotten hold of you. You're you're thinking this could be true. Maybe this is what I've been looking for your eyes are being open and that's a wonderful thing. But don't you know that it's possible to have your eyes open.

But you're not quite there because you need to turn from darkness to light. I've met people that would intellectually agree with what I'm saying. They would say you know what Greg? I don't disagree with you in premise.

I agree with you when you say that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe he died on the cross. I believe he rose from the dead. I believe he's coming to your life. I believe he could come into my life.

I believe he's coming back to this earth again. I believe there's a heaven and I believe there's a hell. I believe all of it. But I'm just not ready yet. You ever heard that before you see in a sense her eyes are open.

They're in a different place than the full-blown atheist who says I don't believe that there's a God. But yet they're not quite there. And the sad thing is even though their eyes are open. They're not Necessarily that much closer unless they act on it.

You see your eyes need to be open, but then you need to turn from darkness to light. Satan loves darkness. The period in history when most people or many people didn't worship. God is fittingly called the dark ages.

The Bible refers to hell as outer darkness. Satan lives in the realm of darkness. But God wants you to turn from darkness to light where there will be a change in your life. Ephesians 5 8 says you were sometimes darkness are now light in the Lord.

So walk as children of the light awake you that sleeps and Christ will give you life. See, the problem is there's a lot of people today who are trying to live in two worlds. They want to you know, walk in the light on Sunday and then live in darkness the other six days of the week.

They want to know they're going to heaven, but they want to live like hell. And it doesn't work you can't live between or live in two worlds. Here's what the Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 6 14. Don't team up with those who are unbelievers.

How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever. And what union can be between God's temple and Idols for you are the temple of the Living God and he has said I'll walk among them and I'll be their God and they Will be my people.

Therefore God says come out from among them and separate yourselves from them says the Lord. Don't touch their filthy things that I will welcome you. Are you trying to live in two worlds? You see you need to have your eyes open.

Turning From Darkness to Light

You need to turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the power of God as a text says. Having seen your need to come to Christ and your spiritual eyes are open. You now need to put your faith and trust in him and begin to follow him.

I wish that most Christians would serve the Lord with as much passion as they used to serve the devil with I Mean we all know people that used to just be so wicked. Getting into all kinds of trouble and then they were converted.

You never hear it from them again. They just disappear there's like not a pew somewhere. But I like it when I hear of people that used to make trouble for the devil and now they're making trouble for the kingdom Of God, you know what I'm saying?

Take Raul Reese for instance, and this is the guy that used to make trouble and by the way Raul does a Bible study here on Thursday nights. Did you know that you ought to come here? I'm Raul's a good preacher and you'd be blessed to come out and hear him on Thursday nights as he brings the Word of God.

Just don't ditch Monday. I want to see you in both. Okay? But Raul was a notorious sinner. I mean we've all heard his testimony. He was over there in Vietnam. And he was a part of that squad where he was the point man and his job was to kind of go ahead and draw any Fire in ahead of the others and he talks about how he would kill people.

He became a killing machine and they sent him back to the United States and he had mastered martial arts and Raul got off on Hurting people he liked to cause pain while others were doing drugs and getting drunk.