John Chapter 1:13-19

I am not trying to be a Christian. I am a Christian – got to realize that the Christian is received and it's not something you're trying to be that if you're good enough for long enough, you become one you are identified with Jesus Christ. If you receive them, and you believe in him and your trust in his name. You are a Christian and because of a Christian. I live for the Lord I walk out my face but don't ever get those backwards.

You don't do works to become a Christian, you become a Christian and you do works.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina, were glad to have one of the McGee's associate pastors DA Brown here with us as best David continues through the book of John Bob. No matter how you feel.

If you receive Jesus you been adopted into a new family you know DA wind but I was born into my current family member feeling much like us, grew up with him and learned what they were like you over time, and some were wonderful, something strange, but as part of the family about is not all about our feelings.

We know that we heard from God through his word, we can trust what he said we can expect that what he says that's good DA.

Let's find out what this family is all about today as David McGee continues in the Gospel of John. Turn with me to the gospel of John chapter 1 verse 13 born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, born of God. John chapter 3 verse three tells us very plainly, Jesus and answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God can't be any plainer than unless you've been born again, you can't see the kingdom of God. You must be born again. Jesus didn't say if you don't do this and you don't do that you know you do this and you do that if you dress a certain way and you wear your hair certain way and you don't have any earrings or any other ratings or don't have any tattoos or any of those things he said if you haven't been born again. You don't see the kingdom of God.

It doesn't matter how long you been a member which church.

These are the words of Jesus.

And I've had people know we went to minister to a group of kids assist 10 years ago. The kids and let the men a prayer to receive the Lord. I have one of them call me and say hey you know, sorry my youth leader and in you know he told me that this whole born-again thing is just an emotional experience is not necessary said, let me send you some stuff and I quoted this first so that's what Jesus verse 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.

Now family.

The Trinity is everywhere in this earth.

It's it's it's spiritually and physically. It's interesting that even science itself bears out the Trinity is the universe is divide and what time and space and matter. Those three things, time, space and matter what time divided into Lacey Trinity again passed present, future. All the fingerprints of God all over the place and the more you dig the more you see space into what height depth with its amazing how these things keep me in the fund by the number three matter into energy motion and phenomenal, and incidentally the New Testament is not the place where Jesus first came to the earth. There's a bunch of places where you can with her Abraham in Genesis 18 Jacob in Genesis 23 Joshua Joshua five. Gideon in in the book of Judges and we know he's referred to as an angel of the Lord. But if you look close people worshiped the angel of the Lord and the angel accepted their worship touches on an angel see because when you look into the book of Revelation when John trust about the foot of an angel Angel says get up, stand up, don't do it, rejected John's worship because he was an angel.

Matthew question. Why would an angel. Be sensitive about anybody worship and he saw 1/3 of his friends get cast down from heaven over this matter. When you see an angel of the Lord being worship that tells you that that angel of the Lord is what we refer to is Christophe and he Jesus Christ appearing in the flesh to mankind differences those were appearances in the New Testament, he sets up a residence on the earth. One amazing thing God living among us. God became a man to win man to himself. You know what, I don't think we grab hope that it's an amazing fact. Jesus Christ left heaven by choice to come down here now.

Sometimes I travel know when you travel, you you know you don't have your things in arms and you get to hotel and you you don't have your coffee maker. You don't have your hairdryer or unit of the towels are different and how these things affect us. Think of what Jesus did. Comparing your house to hotel's nest comparing heaven to earth.

He left the worship of angels to come down here to be accused of blasphemy. What an amazing thing and no other religion has at no other religion has God becoming a man to save man from his sin. It's unique to Christianity. That's the good news that is the good news since he dwelt the word in the Greek casino it means to temporarily inhabit a human body that doesn't make him any less human because guess what, you know what were doing. We are temporarily inhabiting a human body.

What you're living in today is not what you're going be living in an eternity. Praise God now, I believe in and taking care of the tent. I try to eat well is much as I can take care of myself but not to worship the tent silhouette I'm able to minister in an you have long hours and stuff and you know it is a 10 week we talked about this Thursday night and don't be surprised. Don't be surprised as you grow older that your tent sags a little bit sometimes leaks and patches and then gravity comes in. Sometimes old tent gets blown over is just going be okay. One day you're done with the 10 you're finished with the tent and every day that you live in this tent brings you one day closer to not live in the mist where you won't have the same concerns that you have today. This is the Word was made flesh. It's interesting John right here in the beginning deals with two heresies that started back then and still exist today and that's one downplaying the humanity of Jesus. Noticing is downplaying the deity of Jesus. Jesus was fully man. Jesus was fully God it wasn't half man and half God. He was fully man and fully God and it was important that he be fully met. Many people try to destroy that lineage that Jesus came to Pharaoh, Haman, Herod, just to name a few. Try to destroy the humanity of Jesus. While was that because there's an important concept will learn about it more in the Hebrew Scriptures of a go well go well. The Hebrew word for kinsman redeemer see there's a picture of Jesus Christ and that you can read the book of Ruth and you'll see some of it but in order to be a go well.

A kinsman redeemer number one you had to be willing number two you had to be related to the person in order to redeem them. So Jesus qualified in both those he was related to us and he was willing verse 15 John bore witness of him and cried out, saying this was he of whom I said, he who comes after me is preferred before me, for he was before me as interesting as you remember, and make it to either Luke or Matthew told John was six months older than Jesus physically. So right here John is saying, Jesus existed spiritually before I did it again, the deity of Jesus Christ for 16 and of his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Remember, it was not Moses who led the children of Israel into the promised land. Maybe you so you know how tragic but there's a picture there see Moses was a picture of the law. He was the lawgiver and it was not the law that took people into the promised land.

It was Joshua was Joshua's Hebrew name Yeshua same as Jesus, it was Joshua that took the people into the promised land.

Not the law, but the grace to you can't get in law you can't get in through the law, you didn't exit poll a bunch of churches around the community you have people argue that you say are you going to heaven Osher I get there be the best I can try to obey the 10 Commandments, church do the right thing has nothing to do with it. Got your attention out on nothing to do with it all boils down to whether you accept Jesus as your Savior or you reject him as your Savior. Don't get me wrong, I believe faith leads to works that as you believe Jesus as your Savior.

You begin to do things your wife begins to change, but it starts from the recognition of Jesus as her Savior. The law he recognized her sinfulness. You recognize your need for a Savior. Jesus said in John chapter 5 verse 45 do not think that I shall accuse you to the father is one who accuses you Moses and whom you trust. Now a lot of times we make the mistake of going okay will in the Hebrew Scriptures in the Old Testament God was all about. All punishment and he was angry and then he changed in the New Testament we didn't. We recognize the price that Jesus paid and died for sins which are far too often we downplay the price that was paid by his father read the crucifixion account. Notice how Scott grew black and the earth shook, because the father was in morning father God did that for us as well as Jesus said to paint him as an angry father, judging us is highly inappropriate. We could go through dozens of scriptures, but Exodus chapter 34 verse seven says, speaking of God father keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin understand the talks about grace here graces the unearned favor and kindness of God on those who don't deserve is the basis of salvation is the basis of justification is the basis of spiritual gifts is the basis of blessings is God's grace God's grace. That's interesting because this is grace and truth to also powerful things. What is truth. Truth is God's word.

What is grace God's grace.

What if you had truth with no grace.

Some of us have been given that doesn't give you much. What if you get grace without truth then you are so easily deceived.

Deceive that you will walk with the Lord for very long.

You need truth and I think right here is a little picture that John gives us in the first chapter. Anything you know what everything is getting ready to change the whole system of sacrificing animals and in the temple, and all these things.

It's all getting ready to change the fulfillment of Jesus Christ will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob want take a minute to pray for some listeners in these cities in California have Fort Bragg, Gardnerville grass Valley happy Camp hey Fort India in Johnston.

Bill God, we thank you for the people tuning in today in the cities low.

We pray that there encouraged and what you're laying on the heart to do. We pray that they would put their trust in you and get plugged in a Bible teaching church.

We pray for the pastors or that they would have wisdom and discernment. How to encourage the people to come to hear the word low. We ask you, bless these cities in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 18 says no one has seen God at any time, the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father.

He has declared him is no want to sing God any time you will you just said that Jesus appeared as a Christophe link in the fullness of his glory. No man has seen God that is still living in seen God in his fullness of his glory have heard some people go well, you know, if only I could see God.

I would believe. Well yeah but you know you realize that if you could see God it's over, you're done.

Your dad. I mean, that's kind of delete and I know this can happen. We see in Scripture people going to stand before the Lord never said you know now that I'm dead. I'm ready to live for you, Lord's casinos to late never knew you. We get glimpses every now and again, and are harder through the word of God, or perhaps in worship of Jesus and his glory. But our sin and their humanity. Right now, keep us from releasing them one day. One day we will see you in his fullness in his glory. So off this mortal body will behold him face-to-face as he is and we will fall to our knees and worship. That's his only begotten son understand what begotten means begotten doesn't mean born she was born for begotten bad definition because then you have. Father God creating Jesus Christ and and that's one of the things that Jehovah's Witnesses play on actual going back to verse one, they save and the word was a God not was God and there is no scriptural evidence for that. Going back to the original Greek and you will never find a Greek scholar that agrees with that definition skip one more verse in verse 19. Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who are you, I love that question.

Who were you that's a great question we ask of you this morning.

Who are you who are you so many of us find our identities and what we do or the sports we love for or that sort of thing you are is what you do, who you are is different in that and what we do doesn't answer who we are. The opposite is like. Lesson number four who we are, should answer what we do, who we are, should answer what we do family.

We were Christians and we are identified in that name as being followers of Jesus Christ as being identified with Jesus were identified with Jesus in name we should be intensified with Jesus in our actions as well is an old story assured before about Alexander the great.

Alexander the great.

Have somebody that was running out the battle and he took the sword a draw druid and he put it in his neck and he said you know before I kill you, what your name, the young man said Alexander. Alexander looked at him through the sword back and said you know what from this moment forward, you will either change your behavior. You will change your name, probably a good thing for us to consider as Christians change your name or change your actions.

See, we are part of the body of Christ. You are part of the body of Christ. You are part of the family of God.

How's that for finding your identity.

You don't need to look for it anymore. You don't need to go find yourself this is who you are. If you believe in Jesus you are part of the family of God, you are identified with Jesus Christ that your identity that is who you are, you know, I never had my hand look at me go you know I just don't know who I am anymore just to figure it all out. My hands never looked at me anyway. Susan has never this is getting weird. You understand my body as part of my body. It recognizes that it's part of my body and and and the Lord bid at any time. It doesn't recognize that it's part of my body because now get here's Brown, right really turn a few minutes ago.

Go eat lunch. You realize when you go to you want.

You take a deadly weapon in your hand and pointed at your face you take a fork. Hopefully your hand never gets in rebellion in your hand thinks you know I think I could run the body.

If only I could take the brain now so you go to eat you good thinking you're put in a fork in your mouth but your hand rebels and hit you right brain man. General problem not thankfully your hand as part of the body recognizes part of recognize your identity in him recognize your identity in Jesus Christ.

That's who you are. If you've received. That's who you are your part of the body.

Think people should be an active part of the body, but even if you're not an active part of the body that doesn't make you not part of the body just means smiles as pulling your load.

Quite honestly, you're still part of the body and there's times when you know what, quite honestly, you need that you need somebody else to pull your load for you.

That's what being a family about being brothers and sisters in the Lord is about being identified in Christ. That's his doing. If you received him, you are identified. You are sealed now. You know, we hear that word and that once been misappropriated.

We think you were sealed.

I've read that the book of Ephesians that were sealed. Yeah, like an envelope know not, like an envelope. Ephesians 113 says in him whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory. It's not being sealed like an envelope guys the Greek workforce for Seo is so fragile and so what that means. It means to stamp with a Signet or private mark for security or preservation. See if you are a king. You wore a ring with your seal on it that way when anybody saw that see you. They knew who you belong to you concealed with the mark of the key you have his mark upon you later. Others will take a different mark that you have received the mark of the living God. And there's another interesting thing in here it says guarantee of our inheritance. Again, we lose a little bit of this that's upon the Greek word for guarantee is our pot. It's of Hebrew origin and it means a pledge or part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest a deposit or a down payment. Beginning to realize who you are. You've been sealed with the mark of the king is matter fact he's made a down payment. He's made a deposit towards you and guess what, when you put down a deposit, you come back because this is so important. I am a Caucasian male that something I am not trying to be that that something that I am somebody need to get this is really really important. I am not trying to be a Christian. I am a Christian because you got realize that Christian is who you are.

If you've received them. It's not something you're trying to be that if you're good enough for long enough, you become one you are identified with Jesus Christ. If you've received them and you believe in him and your trust in his name. You are a Christian and because of a Christian. I live for the Lord I walk out my face but don't ever get those backwards.

You don't do works to become a Christian, you become a Christian and you do works and a lot of people struggle with this.

I'm not trying to be in the family.

I am in the family, you're not trying to be in the family. If you trust in him. You're in the family.

Either you are identified with Christ are you are wondering who your your identified with yourself you are identified with the world. In either case you're at the very best you identified with something that's always change and move in and it were something that's very selfish or evil. Who do you want to be identified with this for joy to be identified with Jesus than you can be you can take this opportunity to be identifiable.

Jesus Christ maybe you've never asked him to forgive you of your sins. I want to give you the opportunity to do that this morning, but perhaps there some people in here who have been struggling with what I've been sharing this morning they been thinking what I want to be in the family. I want to be a Christian and I don't really try hard to be a Christian, you need to realize that you are Christian if you've accepted Jesus as your Savior. And from that place of rest, rest and trust in the works of Jesus Christ. Then you begin to walk out your face, but it has to be from that place of rest in recognition that Jesus has adopted you so who do you want to be identified with Jesus or something else.

For some, that means trusting in Jesus Christ for the first time, others claiming stop striving to rest and as you realize you have been adopting our family Christian is not something you're trying to something that you are the moment you believe you receive friend.

You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only just a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good. Yesterday and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com.

If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM Eastern time. This visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link there. You experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God