[0:00] Hallelujah. We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.
[0:16] 1 John 5, verse 1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth him, that begotten loveth him also that is begotten of him.
[0:34] Amen. When it comes to Christianity, it's very easy to get Christianity, the foundation of Christianity wrong. Or the core aspects of Christianity wrong.
[0:46] It's very easy. A typical example is Jesus was with them for 33 and a half years. And I taught you the other time, I'll speak maybe more about it in the book of Acts.
[1:00] But I taught you the other time that it takes four years to really prepare any person in college or university. in university, really four years to prepare a person for their task.
[1:15] First degree is three, but at least. Masters, four years, usually four years. They had Jesus for three and a half years, so six months was left.
[1:28] So he had to come back after resurrection and spend 40 days with them to prepare them for their final six months. And then when he was erected, it was like graduation day. On the day of ascension, it was graduation day.
[1:41] So he spent 40 days after resurrection to prepare them for the next, what would take six months. In Acts chapter 1, Bible says, verse 3, that he, to whom he shu, that's talking about his disciples, to whom he also presented himself.
[1:58] You see, that's better than the shu. Because shu really, it's not kind of, yeah. Go back to King James and see. To whom he shu, shield, I mean, to whom he presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs.
[2:17] Now, that means that it's not a suffering that has the many infallible proofs, but how he presented himself alive. The means he did it was by many infallible, in other words, undeniable proofs.
[2:32] This is a proof that I'm there, I'm alive. So he proved, he appeared to them by many proofs, proofs that you can't deny.
[2:44] It's just, it's just like you can't deny, you know. To whom he presented himself alive after his suffering. How? By many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
[3:02] And then he told them that they shouldn't live in Jerusalem. Upon a time, when they had assembled, he told them not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which they have heard him speak.
[3:13] That means he's been mentioning it. The promise of which they have heard him speak. And he says that, for John to be baptized with water, but you be baptized with the Holy Spirit, not many days from now. Verse 6. Then they started asking him questions about, are you going to, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?
[3:29] See, they missed it. They were of Jesus. Even their last days. Their last days for graduation, they are still missing basics of Christianity.
[3:41] They were talking about religion. They were thinking about Moses. They were thinking about the law. They were thinking about the Old Testament systems.
[3:52] They were thinking about Israel. They were thinking about Israel. Meanwhile, the thing has gone past just Israel. What Jesus came to establish, he was dealing with a heavenly people.
[4:05] But they are talking about earthly territories. So then, these are genuine people. In Acts chapter 11, verse 1 to 3, the Judaizers, when they heard that Peter had gone to Cornelius' house, they were calling him, where did you go to eat in Cornelius' house?
[4:29] It's not acceptable. In fact, Peter himself, in Acts chapter 10, it took a whole revelation for him to accept to go to Cornelius' house. Why? Because his religious culture, his religious makeup will not allow him to embrace the reality of the kingdom.
[4:48] How much more you? Even those who work with Jesus were missing it. They were missing it. How much more you and I? So you can be a Christian, you can be born again and eventually miss the foundation of Christianity.
[5:04] You will bring all kinds of ideas, national philosophies. You will bring domestic ideologies. You will bring religious mindsets and cultural norms into Christianity thinking.
[5:21] But that's acceptable. Every one of us has the propensity to miss what Christianity is about. Every one of us. So that is why he says that, go into the world and make disciples.
[5:36] Matthew chapter 28, verse 18. Make disciples. That means the mere fact that you are a Christian requires that you should be schooled. Unfortunately, we have people behind the puppets.
[5:50] We have people in Christian leadership who have not been schooled. When I say not been schooled, I'm not talking about just formal education.
[6:03] I'm talking about proper discipleship. And watch this. Watch this. You can be so discipled, but Bible says that a teacher, a student is not greater than his master.
[6:18] Who teaches you the things of God when you become born again? Who teaches you determines your cap of revelation and knowledge? Did you understand that?
[6:31] Have you noticed that when it comes to Christianity, there are so many variant streams? Variant streams. Even the true Christian, proper Christianity, there still are variant streams.
[6:45] We have the Pentecostals. We have the Charismatics. We are Pentecostals. By brunt of Pentecostals, Charismatics. And we have the Evangelicals.
[6:56] These are proper ones. Evangelicals. All Charismatics are Pentecostals. All Pentecostals are Evangelicals.
[7:07] Not all Evangelicals are Pentecostals. I'm trying to draw attention to something very important. Excuse me. There are people who are in church and think they are Christians, but they are not Christians.
[7:23] They think they are Christians, but they are not Christians. What defines who a Christian is? What are the fundamentals of Christianity without which you are not a Christian in spite of your behavior?
[7:36] If we don't give respect to doctrine, revival never lasts. Don't embrace someone because of the miracles they do. If you are Christian, you embrace somebody first of all based on the soundness of their doctrine.
[7:50] That's more important. Because Satan also works miracles. The magicians of Pharaoh, they also could turn rods into snakes.
[8:02] So it is not people's works. It is not their works that prove who they are. It is their doctrine. One day I had a senior minister in Africa teaching that Jesus is 50% God.
[8:18] You know, you see, this doesn't look bad. To say that, it doesn't sound bad. But if you are learned, you know that this is risky.
[8:31] It's serious alarm bells. So it doesn't make the person a heretic. Who is a heretic? Someone who teaches a doctrine which is different variant from mainstream doctrine.
[8:42] That's a heretic. That's a heretic. How long can you be living on chocolates? You're daily.
[8:53] Religion. That was transported into Christianity makes you feel. I've been saying this for a long time. Do not put the weight on Christianity on behavior.
[9:05] The weight of what makes a person Christian is not their behavior. I will say it again. What makes a person Christian is not their behavior.
[9:19] It's not their... So if you put the weight of Christianity on people's behavior, you end up with issues you can easily swear off without realizing how far you are going off.
[9:34] When theology is not well grounded, a Christian, if you believe in God's word, it will definitely have an impact on your behavior.
[9:46] Now, some of you should know, will know that when it comes to, let's say, appetite for food, the Bible says that shall not self-control.
[10:01] There are some people whose problem is eating. And there are some people, they... Okay, let me even take this to another extreme.
[10:12] So some people, even by nature, they are so calm and well-behaved. By nature. Maybe upbringing and personality and all that.
[10:26] Whilst others are very wild by nature. So you see, somebody who is naturally gentle and someone who is naturally aggressive but is born again.
[10:38] And someone who is not born again but fits in the church mode. He's coming. You will think that this one is a better Christian. And that one is not a better Christian. Because, you know, one day his temper got him caught.
[10:54] You know what I'm talking about. Someone crossed him and said... And then he really calmed down. Meanwhile, the other guy, you can step on their toe and do anything. They will say anything. So then, people begin to give credit to well-behaved, well-mannered person as a better Christian.
[11:15] Yeah. When, if you are a genuine Christian, it is easy to marry, for anyone to marry you. If you are a genuine Christian, it's easier to be married to you.
[11:27] Why? Because the Christianity is not just on the surface. It has arrested your personhood. So I am not saying that this is misbehavior. What I am trying to say is that the thief on the cross didn't have to behave.
[11:41] He was a former thief. And he was crucified because he deserved to be killed. Because he was a crook. The chief of thieves. I'm robber.
[11:52] Proper one. So he was executed. But just before his death. Few hours to his death. He believed in Jesus. The other one too.
[12:04] Didn't know. He didn't believe in Jesus. The other one went to hell. The one who believed in Jesus went to heaven. And on what grounds would you justify this? While someone who has never stolen.
[12:15] Who has been a good person. Dies and go to hell. That's what was being said. Because you see. If you are not careful. You would think.
[12:26] You would think. That's what I am saying. They came into Christianity with a natural philosophy. The Jews. Peter and the rest. All of us come. So when you come in.
[12:37] It takes time for you to be schooled. The ways of God. Now. When it comes to Christianity. There are some fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
[12:48] That we don't temper with. Number one of the most important doctrines of Christianity. The healthiest doctrine of Christianity is. There is one God who created the heavens and the earth.
[13:00] That's where it starts. The heaviest doctrine. Number one. Number two. The Bible is the word of God. Entirely. It is.
[13:10] It's the word of God in its entirety. In its totality. You understand that? The Bible. If you don't believe the Bible is the word of God.
[13:20] I doubt how you are a child of God. Because where does it stop? Where does the word of God begin in the Bible? And where does it stop in the Bible? Number three.
[13:35] Which is. The heaviest of all of the two. The first one is the most important. Like. God.
[13:46] If there is no God. Then what is the word? One of Christians. There is God. This is his word. But the third one I'm about to say. Is salvific in its nature.
[13:57] You can believe there is God. And still not be saved. You can believe the Bible is actually the word of God. And still not be saved. But the third one is salvific.
[14:08] That's what determines who gets saved. First John 5 verse 1. Let's all read it from the screen. Let's go. Who are not believing that Jesus Christ is born of all.
[14:19] And everyone who loves him to walk in the world. Alright. Let's read the first line together. Let's go. Who are not believing that Jesus Christ is born of all. Who is born of God?
[14:31] Who are not believing that Jesus Christ. Who are not believing that Jesus Christ. In John chapter 20 verse 31. He said many things Jesus did. There are many things Jesus did.
[14:42] And these are written that you. Verse 20. Verse 30 says that. Verse 30. And truly. Jesus did many other signs in the presence of. They saw it.
[14:53] In the presence of his disciples. Which are not written in the book. But. These. These are written. These are documented.
[15:04] That are written that you may believe. What are you supposed to believe? That Jesus. Is the son of God. You see. You see why I told you the Bible. The word of God. Is more. Secondly important.
[15:16] Because. Your faith in Jesus. Is hinged on this. Is hinged on this. If you throw this away. I don't know how you're going to believe that Jesus is the son of God. That is.
[15:28] That is why. In. We have. Genesis. Exodus. Leviticus. Numbers. Deuteronomy. Joshua. Judges. Ruth. All the way to Malachi. It's called the Old Testament.
[15:39] I taught you. The other time. That God used the Old Testament. To prepare the way. For the coming of the Christ. Say the Christ. First John chapter one.
[15:50] Chapter five. Verse one. It says that whoever believed that Jesus is what? The first instance. Who? What is a Christ? If you don't have the Old Testament. How would you know what even Christ is?
[16:04] How would you know that? Okay. Define Christ then. How can you define Christ without the Old Testament? So for generations and for years.
[16:14] God was preparing his people. Through Genesis. Through to Malachi. Preparing his people about how there's a Christ coming. He said it. The first time God mentions the Christ.
[16:27] Is in Genesis chapter three. Verse sixteen. When he told the devil. There's a Christ coming. Can you imagine? He made the first announcement of an arrival of a Christ. To the devil.
[16:40] Said the seed of the woman who bruised your head. Verse fifteen. Sorry. It says Genesis chapter three. He shall bruise your head. The he there is a Christ. He shall bruise. And you shall bruise.
[16:51] You see the his. His heal. You shall. You trouble him in the flesh. But he will crush your authority and your power.
[17:02] For this reason the son of man was also manifested. That he might destroy he who have the power of death. Which is the devil. First John chapter three. I think verse eight, nine, ten or so.
[17:15] So. And so. It's important. Verse eight. Yeah. It's important to understand. That. Right from Genesis chapter three. God spoke about the Christ coming.
[17:26] And he spoke. When he called Abraham. He said. In you. Shall all the families of the earth be. Inside you. There is Christ inside you. Coming from your loins. Your loins. God. Moses spoke about the Christ.
[17:37] They all. Jacob spoke about the Christ. They all looked forward to the arrival of the Christ. For generations. In fact. It says that. We have seen the Christ. John chapter one. Verse 45.
[17:48] Philippa. We have found him of whom. Moses and the Lord. And also the prophets. Wrote. Jesus of Nazareth. The son of Joseph. We have found him. This is the one Moses and the Lord and the prophets were talking about.
[18:01] We have found him. So when he arrived. There was a widespread expectation of an arrival of the Holy One. There was a widespread expectation. They knew that somebody was coming. They knew it.
[18:12] They were waiting for him. They were crying out for him. But when he came. Unfortunately. He looked too ordinary. He looked too ordinary to be. For the Jews to say. You are the one.
[18:23] All right. So the point I'm making here is that. Oh. This is a very heavyweight stuff. If you don't believe that Jesus is the son of God.
[18:38] You cannot be saved. In spite of your behavior. So this. You can be a Jew.
[18:49] In fact. You can be a twin brother of Abraham. Abraham. It doesn't matter. Your religious standing. Because no amount of human good works can save.
[19:04] No amount of human good works. Is someone getting what I'm saying? It has been taught. Even in the United Kingdom. People think being a Christian is being a nice person.
[19:15] The other Orthodox Church have taught about. Have modeled this Christianity based on philanthropism. Christianity based on nicey, nicey. It's important to be nice.
[19:28] It's incongruent to have the nature of God and be nasty. Yeah. Yeah. But being nice doesn't mean you have the nature of God. Come on. Do you understand what I'm saying?
[19:39] You can be nice. A doctor who doesn't know how to give injections. But the fact that you can inject people doesn't make you a doctor. Are you getting what I'm saying? Let's not put the cat before the horse.
[19:53] The right order is this. You believe that Jesus is the son of God. And that carries weight. 1 John 2 verse 22.
[20:05] 1 John 2 verse 22. Who is a liar? But he who denies that Jesus is the Christ. He's a liar.
[20:16] And he's antichrist. Who denies the father and the son. He's an antichrist. You are an antichrist. Antichrist.
[20:29] Antichrist. If you deny. I'll come to that in a minute. 1 John 4 verse 3. 1 John 4. Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.
[20:45] Now this is a very interesting point. So he said Jesus Christ is a person. And he said if you deny that he actually came physically. It's not of God. You are not of God to deny the physical existence of Jesus Christ once upon a time.
[21:01] It's not of God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist. It denies. 2 John verse 7. 2 John verse 7. And I'll move on to something else. 2 John.
[21:13] 2 John. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
[21:23] This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Now this is interesting. What does it mean for Jesus Christ to come in the flesh? There was a guy called Serinthus. Serinthus.
[21:34] C-E-R-I-N-T-H-U-S. So there is Serinthianism. Where they believe.
[21:45] He was a Jew. Was highly educated in the University of Alexandria. And he came up with. Usually when you are intellectually good.
[21:58] You think that you can explain God. So he mixed Gnosticism with Christianity and Judaism. Now this was his philosophy.
[22:12] His philosophy was. Jesus was actually the son of Mary and Joseph. They came together. And he was born. He denied the virgin birth.
[22:24] See that's why the virgin birth. See I'll come back to that. But when you say Jesus is the son of God. The nuances. The implication is that. He was born by the virgin Mary.
[22:36] He was born. He wasn't born the natural way. He was born by the Holy Ghost. Fetilizing an egg. In a woman's womb.
[22:47] And he was born on the ninth month. As a human being. But he was not just an ordinary human being. Even though he was entirely or truly human.
[22:59] The source of the seed. That fertilized the egg. Was God. Supernatural in nature. So he was the God man.
[23:10] So when you say you believe that Jesus is the son of God. That's what he means. No cult. No cult. No cult. Watch this. Watch this. No cult or religious system can ever admit that Jesus is the son of God.
[23:23] So every other thing we teach. They can agree with us. But the core. The basic foundation that determines who gets saved. Satan will never accept it.
[23:34] Satan can start all kinds of religion. And behavior. They behave like us. They even have Abraham as well. Believe. Believe. There's one God. A lot of other things. But the core that determines salvation.
[23:47] He said no way. You won't accept this. So if you are not careful as a believer. And you think it doesn't matter. You have missed God already. So we want to put that aside.
[24:00] And let's have a common ground. Come on. How can it work for me to now stop? Because I want to have inclusive.
[24:16] Inclusivism so long as ecology is concerned. Ecology. Marine life is concerned. Now I want to go and live under the sea. Because I want the fishes to feel.
[24:27] That no. We are all creatures. You see. I've gone off. Maybe I care about fishes. But it's antithetical to human nature.
[24:39] To attempt to go and want to survive five minutes. Or ten minutes in underwater. Simply because I want fishes to feel. That we are one. I will die and they will eat me.
[24:51] It's not leading anywhere. If you abandon the foundational doctrine. That Jesus is the son of God. You have moved away from Christianity.
[25:05] You are no more a Christian. So let's have oneness. You know in this whole thing. Religion is practically the same.
[25:16] They tell you religion is fundamentally the same. It's just that there are differences. There are few differences. No. Religion is fundamentally very different. Every religion fundamentally different.
[25:27] Others might look the same. But. This whole thing. That's why they killed Jesus. He said I'm the son of God. That. That. That thing. That thing. Because that is what determines who he saved.
[25:41] Wow. Wow. You know it sounds like. How can you believe all this? That is what tells me you are going to hell. Because people said to the Jews. This is foolishness.
[25:53] To the Jews. This is foolishness. To the Jews. This is a stumbling block. You make me stumble. Why would God use a system that makes other people stumble? Even those who are religious. To make them stumble.
[26:05] As a means for salvation. But in God's wisdom. That's how he got it. Amen. So you can be so religious. It doesn't mean you are safe. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[26:15] Religion does not guarantee safety. It just guarantees potentially human admiration.
[26:27] You know when you are very religious. People kind of. You try. You don't do alcohol. Ah. Wow. You go to church every time.
[26:38] Wow. Are you good? Help me. I don't think I can ever do that. Because they think this thing is about behavior. Even when Jesus was about to talk about the kingdom. When he was teaching them the kingdom.
[26:50] They are talking about the kingdom of Israel. Talking about laws again. They are bringing in laws into this new move of God. They are bringing laws. Laws. Laws. Laws. Don't do this. Do that.
[27:01] Do this. Go here. Don't go here. It's not about that. That's not where it starts from. I know you broke up with your boyfriend because you want to be a good Christian, but you are still not born again.
[27:16] The truth is, it might help you though. So, it's not based on behavior. You are not a Christian because you behave well.
[27:29] Jesus wouldn't have the need to come and die. Because the Pharisees were good. Some of them were hypocrites. But when it comes to behavior, outward behavior, you see, you see, you see, if a police officer, I'll keep using this illustration, if a police officer stops you because you went through red, you can say, officer, for the past three weeks, I've always waited at the red.
[27:56] I've always gone only through green. Even sometimes when it's yellow, I wait. You can't say, I've been driving for 20 years and I have not broken the highway code.
[28:11] It's just this one. So, officer, let me off the hook. The Bible says that if we keep the law at all points and stumble at one, we've broken all.
[28:24] So, it says that all have. In fact, the law was given first in Romans chapter 3, verse 20. It says that, James says that, no, go back.
[28:34] James 2.10. Let's go there before we go to Romans. James 2.10. For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble at one point is guilty of what? So, the Bible says that no flesh can be justified in the sight of God by the law.
[28:55] Because, you see, people are clapping for you, but you know, in your mind. I told you the story of a man who years ago, I heard the story of a house that caught fire.
[29:08] And it's like a flat. People came out. And then there was a woman frantically screaming, oh, my baby, my baby. My baby is in the room.
[29:20] My baby is in the room. But the officer said, you can't go. It's too dangerous. It's too dangerous. And then a man, who also lives in the flat, so he just broke through the barricade of the police officer.
[29:35] Broke through it and went. Hey, don't go. He entered. He went, wow. Wow. It's dangerous. And then after a few minutes, because the fire was bad.
[29:47] It's smoky. So, you can't see anything. After a few minutes, they saw someone come in the shadows. And then he was holding this bundle. It's like, it's him. It's arms. It's a napkin.
[29:58] So, then everybody started clapping. He saved the baby. Wow. This is a hero. Rambo. Rambo. When he came, they found out that his stash of money has been saved.
[30:12] He went to collect the money. He went for his money, not for somebody's baby. He went. The question here is, if this man, just when he went in and was coming, he had fallen down and died, they would have written his name as a hero.
[30:33] Because he attempted to save a child. He raised his life. He raised his life to save a child. Some of you, you are in church. You look like that man. People are clapping for you.
[30:45] But you know that you are not doing Jesus. It's not Jesus you are doing. You are just behaving right. Or maybe you have just not been caught. The point I'm making here is that the Pharisees, that's their problem.
[30:59] They look white on the outside. When it comes to all the tick boxes, everything, they've ticked it. So, you think they are good. But inside them, they know okay.
[31:09] So, the Bible says that if you keep all the law and you break it at one point, you are guilty. And Romans chapter 3 verse 20 says that, it says that the law was given that every mouth will be stopped from 19 and 20.
[31:24] Why did God give the law? To stop. It says that, therefore, by the deeds of the law shall no one be, verse 19. Now, we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law that every mouth will be stopped.
[31:37] And can you imagine? And that all the world will become guilty before God. God said, you want to keep law? This is my standard.
[31:48] Keep it. Yeah. I'm so fallen that I'm trying. When I put my life by the straight edge of God's rule, I realize how crooked I am. But when I compare myself to people, I look very straight.
[32:02] I look very clean. My white, you know, you see some white. It's actually off-white. But because you don't realize that it's not. Some are actually cream. But you take his white shirt.
[32:15] Until pure white comes. Until God's standard came, we can be going around boasting. The Bible said the Lord was given that every mouth will be stopped.
[32:27] Verse 19 again. Every mouth will be stopped and all the world become guilty before God. Verse 20 says that. For therefore, by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[32:38] So I'm doing this. I'm doing this. You can't be justified in the sight of God. Galatians 3 also says the same thing. That the deeds of the law, you cannot be justified in the sight of God.
[32:49] So then God puts a system in place. Romans chapter 8. Never forget this. Verse 3. What the law, verse 4. What the law could not do. In that, it was verse 3.
[33:00] For what the law could not do. Why? The law is weak through the flesh. What does that mean? How many of you have attempted to really do right throughout? And you found yourself.
[33:11] People may not know, but you were disappointed in yourself. How many of us have ever been disappointed in yourself? In your attempt to do very well? It's human.
[33:23] It's human. It's human. It's human. So the law could not do. Why? In that, it was weak through the flesh. God said, me, myself. I am sending my son in the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn the law in the flesh.
[33:37] There's somebody who can do this law. And then when he did it and attained all the credits from God, he also died on the cross on our behalf. Because the death on the cross was for sinners.
[33:49] But he was not. He didn't have sin. What's the wages of sin? Death. Romans 6.23. For the wages of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. So he didn't have to die because he didn't have sin.
[34:02] But he came to die on the behalf of those of us who have sinned and resurrected and said, see, I've paid it. If you can put your faith in me. So if you say, watch this now.
[34:12] If you say you believe Jesus is the son of God. If you believe Jesus is the son of God. The implication, he was born a virgin birth. He lived a sinless life. He died on the cross.
[34:23] Not for his sins. Because he didn't have sins. For our sins. Romans. Romans is there. But 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 3. He says, Christ died for our sins.
[34:35] According to the scripture. He didn't die for himself. He died for our sins. And then he resurrected on the third day. According to the scriptures. Now, if you say, I believe Jesus is the son of God.
[34:47] As a Christian, it means, you believe he was born of the Virgin Mary. You believe he lived a sinless life. You believe he died a vicarious death.
[34:57] Or died not for his own death, but for our sins. And number four, you believe he resurrected from the dead. Now, this is what determines who he saved.
[35:08] This fundamental belief of Christianity. It's called salvific faith. The faith that determines whether you are saved or not.
[35:24] Every other thing. Now, the scripture requires of a Christian. Follows from there. So, just in case you are caught off guard like a thief on the cross.
[35:36] And you believe that. As soon as you believe that, you are already in. You are a child of God. You are a son of God. 1 John, the scripture I read. 1 John chapter 5 verse 1. Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ.
[35:51] You are born of God. You are a child of God. You don't have to feel it. You don't have to feel like, ah, I'm a child of God. You are a child. Please listen to me. You, every one of us is likely to come into Christianity with a different faith.
[36:07] A different belief. Different set of beliefs. This is the fundamental one. That determines who is a Christian. That's why last two Sundays I said, You cannot deny the resurrection of Christ and still be a Christian.
[36:21] If you deny the resurrection of Christ, Okay. How are you a Christian then? I'm a Christian because I behave well. Stand aside. How are you a Christian because I believe in Christ?
[36:32] What does that mean? What do you believe about Christ? That he's a good person. Now, this guy I was talking about, Serentus, He said Christ was a son of Mary and Joseph.
[36:47] They really came together. And Mary got pregnant and conceived Jesus Christ. And Jesus lived a good life. And when he was being baptized, he believed that Jesus is his name.
[36:59] When he was being baptized, the Holy Ghost that came upon him, that's the Christ. So at his baptism, a Christ came on him. And then he lived as Jesus Christ.
[37:11] And then just when he was about to die, on the cross, the Christ left. Church, let us know that Islam is different from Christianity. On what grounds? On what grounds?
[37:22] They believe something else than the fact that Jesus is the son of God. Then they tell you he's a prophet. Say that. No, that's not what we believe. He's not just a prophet. He's the son of the living God.
[37:35] The son of the living God. And I've told you, if Jesus is the son of the living God, then by implication, it means that he was born by the Virgin Mary. By implication, he existed before he was born.
[37:47] He didn't just exist at his birth. He existed. In the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God. Everything was created by him.
[37:59] And without him was nothing man that was made. In him was life. And the life was the light of man. The light shines in darkness. And the darkness comprehended it not.
[38:10] There was a man sent from God. His name is John. He was sent forth to bear witness of the light. He himself denied none. That he is not the light.
[38:20] But he was sent to bear witness of the light. That verse 9. The light that lightens everyone that comes into the world. He was in the world. And the world knew him not.
[38:31] And all things were made by him. He came to his own. His own received him not. But as many as received him. Hallelujah. But as many as received him. But as many as received him.
[38:43] He gave them the right. To become the sons of God. Children born. Not of the will of man. Not of the will of flesh. Not of the will of blood.
[38:54] But of God. And the word became. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. This is what makes us Christians.
[39:14] If this is not in place. The Holy Spirit can come upon you. First John. Let me finish this.
[39:26] First John. Chapter 5. Where I started from. Look at verse 5. I want to jump through the staff. It says that. Who is a liar? Who is he that overcomes the world?
[39:38] But he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God. But when you read verse 5. Verse 4. It says that. And this is the victory. For whatsoever is born of God. Overcomes the world.
[39:49] And this is the victory that overcomes the world. Even our faith. We are born of God. And then verse 5 says that. Who is the one who is born of God? But the one who believes that Jesus is the Christ. Or Jesus is the son of God.
[40:00] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. But then I want to jump to verse 9. If we receive the witness of man. If we receive the witness of God.
[40:12] It is greater. For this is the witness of God. Which he has testified of his son. He that believes on the son of God. Has the witness in himself.
[40:23] He that believeth not God. Has made him a liar. Because he believeth not the record. That God has given of his son. Verse 11. And this is the record.
[40:34] That God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son. Verse 12. A big one. He who has. Ah. He who has the son. Has life. And he who has not the son of God.
[40:47] Has not life. If you have him. So. The basis of eternal life we have. Is not.
[40:57] How nice a person you are. Excuse me. You see how. Who doesn't like. Good behavior. Everybody applauds good behavior.
[41:09] So if we are not careful. We will force. Behavior. On the dictates of Christianity. To assume. That behavior. Is what determines.
[41:20] Acceptance with God. But it's not behavior. That determines acceptance with God. Else the thief would have had to come out. Come off the cross. To. You know it's like probation. To prove that he has actually changed.
[41:31] Before he can make it. But he didn't have to. Because Christ did it. Any behavior. That must please God. Have been accomplished by Christ.
[41:42] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. He said I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. Yet no life. But Christ will live with you.
[41:53] And the life that I now live. I live by faith. So when you are a Christian. Being a Christian means that. There is this. Listen to this. Don't miss this. You.
[42:04] You. The life of God. Inhabits you. And the person of Christ. Lives in you. It's a very serious thing. It's a serious thing to be a Christian.
[42:16] The person of Christ. And the life of Christ. Lives in you. And that is when. Now in your Christian growth. You begin to. That begin to find an expression in your life.
[42:29] The life of Christ. Become evident in your life. Because as you grow. Spiritual maturity. Has everything to do with how more you are becoming like Christ.
[42:41] In your approach to life and your behavior. That's spiritual maturity. But today I just wanted to. As to stay on doctrine.
[42:53] Doctrine. What is the Christian doctrine? The Christian doctrine is. If you have Christ. You have life. And how do you have Christ? By believing that he is the son of God.
[43:04] By believing that. Jesus is the Christ. That Jesus who was born by Mary. 2000 years ago. You believe he is the Christ. Who is the Christ?
[43:15] The Holy One of God. Who have been prophesied from Adam. That there is a seed of Abraham. There is a seed of the woman. There is a seed of David. Come in. Come in.
[43:25] Behold. When John. The next day. John C. I think I said. Behold. The largaard. Who takes away. The sins of the world. God permitting.
[43:36] Next week. I will go on to the witnesses. Three witnesses God had to give. To prove that Jesus is his son. The first witness. Is from John the Baptist. The second witness.
[43:46] Is the works of all. In John chapter 5. Is the works of Jesus. The third witness. Is the word of God. Bearing witness. That this is the son of God. This son. So it wasn't like something hidden.
[43:59] People who don't believe in Jesus. After they hear about Jesus. Is a willful choice. Is not an accidental choice. They choose that. I don't want to believe. Because you come to face.
[44:09] You can face to face. With an undeniable fact. In your heart. Your heart tells you. This is true. In Acts chapter 4. Verse 11. God has shouted. Bah bah bah bah.
[44:20] Acts chapter 4. It says that. There is. There is not. Verse 12. Let's go to the verse 12. There is no. Verse 12. Nor is there. Salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven.
[44:31] Giving amongst men. By which we might be saved. Someone shout Jesus. Shout Jesus. When you are doing evangelism.
[44:47] This should be at the base of everything you say. This is. Should be at the base of everything you say. Doesn't matter where they take it. They argue, argue. This is the base.
[44:57] There is only one message. This is the base. Jesus is the son of God. He died for our sins. So we don't have to stay in our sins. Believe it. You are a child of God. Believe not it. You are not a child of God.
[45:09] It's as simple as that. Thank you for listening to this message. By David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened.
[45:21] And enlightened. You can connect with David Entry. On all relevant social media platforms. Including Instagram. And LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages. From David Entry.
[45:31] On all relevant streaming platforms. And the Caris Church app. Don't forget to like. And share the message. Be blessed. I'm sorry. I love you.
[45:47] I have everybody. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.
[46:02] I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Plus, please. I love you. I'll be right. I'm too. Bye. Bye.