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Final Step: Share Christ with the Nations

RECAP of our “six step” purpose on this planet as Christians
What is the purpose of your existence?

If your existence lacks purpose, then your existence is meaningless.

Step 1: To Grow in Christ’s knowledge

II Peter 3:18: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ.”

Knowledge is power.

The things you know influence the things you do.

For example, let’s say your parents wanted you home by a certain time, and if you didn’t come home at that time, they would kick you out of the house and abandon you forever.  Would this affect the time you got home?

Another example, if a truly passionate activist suddenly lost his or her memory, would that person still be down for his or her cause?

If you didn’t know what gravity was, could you explain why things fall as opposed to being suspended in mid air?

What about this… if you never knew about God, would you believe in Him?  No.  How could you put your trust in something you’ve never even heard of?

God wants us to become empowered with his knowledge so that we can stand strong in our faith and combat against the evil of this world.

Step 2: Reach Unity in Faith

Ephesians 4:13: Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Why is unity in faith so important?

Let’s use the UNITED States of America, for example.  How likely would you say that the original colonies would be able to withstand the invasion of Britain, if they did not stand united?

Now lets talk teamwork.  Would it be likely for your favorite sports team to win a game with only one player doing all the work?

Biologically speaking, could you live without a lung?  Yes.  But life is much harder.  But can you live without a liver?  No, you would die.

My point is,

• 1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
• Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens another.
• Matthew 18:20 If two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst.

When we unify as a body of Christ, not only are we exercising our teamwork, not only are we more efficiently getting things done- but when we’re unified, we’re sharpening each other spiritually- we’re gently restoring each other, we’re correcting each other, we’re being accountable to each other, we’re nurturing each other’s spiritual growth, we invite the Holy Spirit in our midst when we’re gathered together.  We become stronger when we’re unified.  Why the freak do you think we go to youth group?  One of the reasons is so that we can unify so we can become stronger in our faith.

There is strength in unity.

Step 3: Correctly Handle the Truth

II Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

What is truth?

Does everyone on this planet have a similar view of truth?

World View of Truth

• Truth without God
• Anti-Theists are trying to justify existence and life without God and have stumbled upon numerous problems…
• What are morals and ethics?  Can you still be a person without believing in God?  Yeah, but where do these morals and ethics come from?  In my sociology class, i’ve learned that there are theorized to be 4 primary, distinct traditional ways of thinking: Biblical, Aristotelian, Rousseauan, Marxian, and Sartrean.  We believe that our human nature falls under one of these categories.  However, just a philosophical side note, you cannot formulate morals, ethics, or laws without knowing the direction of humanity.
• Think back to when you were in elementary school.  Do you remember the classroom rules?  Now lets say for example, you were an elementary school teacher.  What is the purpose of you creating rules?  (discuss) Ultimately, the rules are implemented so that the kids can achieve the purpose of being in class… To learn, and grow.  But what if there was no meaning to elementary school… Do you still need rules?
• Do you know what the preamble is?
• We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
• What if the United States didn’t have a mission statement?  What if the US didn’t have a purpose or direction?  Would we still need laws?
• My point is, rules and laws have no purpose if there is no direction.
• If an atheist wants to live a life without God, they need to discover the purpose and direction of humanity.
• That’s when we start to hear about evolution.
• The direction of humanity is simply to live, survive, and preserve our species.  According to evolutionists and atheists alike, THAT is our purpose.  That’s why they get along so well.

• But if the entire theory evolution is false… And there’s a lot of evidence about evolution that don’t match up…  However, you guys need to understand that genetic mutations are key for humans to survive.  Not everything about evolution is untrue: in fact, the mutations and genetic variations that evolution hangs on are essential to life- however, think of it this way… That is how God designed us…  But if the whole theory of evolution is false- meaning, we evolved from a single cell organism afloat the primordial soup- then aside from the instinctive nature of the human species to reproduce… life is meaningless… We’re all equivalent to- in essence, animals.  And we don’t need laws.  In fact, if life is meaningless, then we don’t even need to live.  We could just kill ourselves right now.
• But the thing is, live DOES have meaning… Yet the atheist and the secular philosopher does not believe that the meaning is in God.
• According to the atheist, by definition, God is not the truth.  God is not the reason to live.
• Humanity, for as long as we have existed- have been seeking an answer for the reason and purpose of life- without God. Is this possible?
• Think of it this way… Like I said, ever since the dawn of man… People have been seeking a reason and purpose for life without God…  Ancient to modern day philosophers have been affirming different ways of thinking- yet absolute truth is still a profound mystery.  they’re still looking the purpose.

The 3rd step of our purpose on this planet is to correctly handle the truth, right?  Think about this… For example: What if the reason you go to school… Your parents tell you its so you could be a more well rounded person, so you could succeed in the future, have a high paying career- Is a lie.  What if, the of going to school is a lie?  Your purpose of going to school would be affected, right?  Like, why am I here?  Should I even be here?

• Another example:  Lets say you’re a philanthropist and you give a bunch of money to charity… But what if you’re being scammed?  What if it’s a lie?  How would that affect the purpose of your giving?
• Now let’s say, Christianity is a false religion.  Would you still believe in God?  NO!

YOU NEED TRUTH BEHIND YOUR PURPOSE.

THERE IS A REASON WHY WE BELIEVE IN GOD, AND THAT REASON IS THE TRUTH.

YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT TRUTH.

So what is the truth?

John 14:6

“I am the way, the truth, and the life… No one comes to the Father except through me.”

God is implying a number of things here; but the key point i would like to discuss is the fact that, by definition, God states that anything other than Christ is false.  Absolute truth has been manifested in human form.  the answer is clear as day- yet is up to you to believe it.

Step 4: To Be Mature in Christ

Ephesians 4:13-16 “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ

What does it mean to be spiritually mature?

• It means that you’re able to stand your ground in this world that is always looking for new ways to tear you down.  Because in the end, is it the strong Christian or the weak Christian who is more likely to slide back into old sinful habits?  Is it the strong or weak Christian who gets confronted by a knowledgeable atheist and loses faith?  Is it a strong or weak Christian who goes to church and youth group with a mask on and is a completely different person when they’re not in church?  Is it a strong or weak Christian who believes in God but doesn’t follow Him.
• Weak Christians lose faith and get stomped on the by this world.  Lukewarm and immature Christians get chewed up and spit out by God.
• When God is telling us that our fourth purpose on this planet is to become mature in Christ, he means that we have we need to become strong, equipped, and mature Christ followers who are always growing in the knowledge of Christ, always learning from past mistakes, and always making right decisions.  That is who we are called to be.
• Spiritually mature Christians are easily distinguished from a crowd.  Spiritually mature Christians are easily distinguished from a church.  Spiritually mature Christians are easily distinguished among your friends.

What are the characteristics of maturity?

• Maturity is an ongoing process.  You aren’t born into this planet already fully mature, and there is no “end” to maturity.
• Spiritually mature Christians are easily distinguished from the crowd.

Let’s take a tree or some type of plant, for example.  If the plant hasn’t fully developed, how much easier is it to knock down as opposed to a fully grown, plant?

Likewise, we must be mature and firmly planted Christ, making it difficult for the world to uproot us.

• Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food (or the bread of life) is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14)

How do I become spiritually mature?

Grow in the Knowledge of Christ

• • Don’t be stupid when it comes to the very thing you live your life by!
  • II Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  this is the first step to our purpose.

Allow God to renew your mind (everyday; maturity is an ongoing process- our minds constantly need renewal)

• • Romans 12:2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  • We mess up everyday, therefore we must start anew everyday.

Be obedient in what you learn.  Practice what you preach (Where is the Love?)

Step 5: To Die to Sin

1 Peter 2:21-25

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”

How did Christ live?

Christ lived a life devoid of sin.  Therefore, we must live a life devoid of sin also.

But why must we die to sin?

• To put it simply, is because sin separates us from God.  We are continually straying like sheep because of our sin.
• When we die to sin, we are more able to:
  • Follow Christ’s example through our lifestyle (Leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…)
  • Live righteously (That we might die to sin and live to righteousness)
  • Receive healing for our wounds (for by His wounds you were healed)
  • Get direction from God (For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepard and Guardian of your souls.)
  • And ultimately, fulfilling our purpose on this planet. (For you have been called to this purpose)

Step 6: To share Christ with the Nations

SHARE WITH THE WORLD THE LOVE OF CHRIST THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED.
FOR YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO THIS PURPOSE.

Matthew 28:19 (New International Version)

¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a]the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,