1/1/23 AM Sermon Outline:
Whose Side Are You On?
Bro Carey Scott
Now the follow-up question is this:
Can you prove it?
Introduction
One may claim to be on a particular side, but that does not make it so.
We often have to make a choice as to what side we will choose.
This could be in a war, a sporting-event, a political discussion, a spat between family members, or more importantly, a decision between right or wrong.
Usually the side we choose is the wrong choice as determined by those who you did not choose to side with.
As in every aspect of life, our choices can and will have consequences.
The outcome of the conflict will be different for the parties on both sides.
Sometimes we try to keep our choice a thing of privacy as in what candidate you voted for.
There are times when our choice becomes evident to those around us.
But can you imagine the hypocrisy when someone claims to choose one side but actually supports the other side?
Just try to picture in your mind this scenario:
One of your co-workers is a huge fan of the Pittsburg Steelers.
They have coats, jerseys, t-shirts, coffee-mugs, pictures, screen-savers, and just cannot seem to stop talking about their team.
They know the names of every player and know their stats and their standing in the league.
Let’s say that one day, the big boss from down south comes to inspect the local business.
And this person we just described tells the big boss that they love the Dallas Cowboys.
Can you imagine everyone giving this guy some sort of Facebook look?
Can you imagine any co-worker accepting this statement as true?
Of course not.
Just imagine this person was put on trial for making this statement.
The prosecuting attorney would present evidence.
The prosecuting attorney would bring forth eye-witnesses and character witnesses all declaring this one to be a Steelers fan.
All this person has is his own words, but how credible would such be to any judge or jury after all the evidence is presented?
Yeah, we know the answer to that question.
We can understand the utter stupidity of this scenario, but it is repeated often when it comes to religion.
There are many people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, yet their lives and fanaticism declare them to be of the world.
Why do we say this?
It is because of the evidence.
Just imagine standing before God at the judgment and declaring your faith and love for Jesus.
Do you think God is just going to take your word for it?
No, God will look at the evidence.
The evidence is recorded in the books that will be opened at the judgment (Revelation 20:12).
Did you obey Jesus and keep His commandments?
The evidence will declare the truth of where you stand and what side you chose to side with.
God warns of people who will do this precise thing.
They will claim to love God and Jesus, yet have chosen to side with the world.
James 4:4 “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”.
Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.
When we stand before God in judgment, we know the accuser will be there to present the evidence.
He is going to list all the evidence that we are sinners.
He is going to list the evidence that we have done some really bad things.
He is going to try to keep us out of heaven.
But, if we are a Christian, our advocate, Jesus Christ, will agree with some of what was said.
Yes, we are sinners, yes we have done bad things, true, we do not deserve eternal bliss and glory in heaven.
Then the Righteous Judge will explain that through our obedience to the gospel we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).
We have the forgiveness of sins, and God does not remember those sins any longer (Hebrews 8:12).
As long as we continue to confess our sins, He will cleanse us (1 John 1:9).
Yet it does no good to claim to be a Christian if you:
Dress like the worldly people;
Talk like the worldly people;
Behave like the worldly people;
Think like the worldly people.
And you want to claim that you are a Christian even if you do these things?
If we are going to be a faithful Christian, we must distance ourselves from the worldly influences as much as possible.
Yes, that is very difficult and challenging for sure, but it is possible.
Remember that when temptation comes, God provides the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The point is that we do not have to sin.
The reality is that if we do sin, it is because we wanted to.
We have a song with the title: Who Will Follow Jesus".
That is a valid question to be sure.
The answer is the person who forsakes the world and offers themselves to God.
To be a Christian in name only leaves one lacking in what God requires of them.
There is much more to being a Christian than just claiming to be one.
Each soul that claims to be Christian needs to examine themselves to see if they could prove by their lives and their actions that they truly are Christians.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test”.
Throughout the Bible, God is constantly asking man to make a choice.
God asks us to choose wisely, and correctly.
It is not like there is any mystery surrounding the choice, because God has already told us which choice will be for our benefit, and which choice will be for our destruction.
"Choose life or choose death" given to the children of Israel all those years ago is still a choice we deal with every day.
Several times in the book of Deuteronomy, God through Moses asked the people to make a choice.
Sadly, they did not make good sound right choices, but we do not have to do the same.
Conclusion
You will either be on the Lord’s side or you will be His enemy.
Matthew 12:30.
It is your choice to make, it is your commitment to make.
You cannot put God on hold like you do the person on the phone.
God wants a commitment right now and it is your choice.