Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
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Test for a Christian

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. NKJV

Titus 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, NKJV

1. Conversion Test

1. The . . Mandate of Conversion.

    Matt 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
    converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into
    the kingdom of heaven. KJV

2. The . . Method of Conversion.

    Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins
    may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from
    the presence of the Lord, NKJV

3. The . . Merriment of Conversion.

    Acts 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they
    passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the
    conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the
    brethren. NKJV

Illustration
At the door this morning when Joe Bourbon came in he toold me he lead his younger brother to the Lord. He lead him from the scriptures to confess Christ as Lord. Friend that is what I am talking about.

2. Confession Test.

1. Confession in My . . Confession Test.

Rom 10:9-10 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God

as raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,

nd with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. NKJV

    1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
    life, to which you were also called and have confessed the
    good confession in the presence of many witnesses. NKJV

2. Confession in My . . Baptism Test.

Acts 8:36-38 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said,

"See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with

all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."

38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the

water, and he baptized him. NKJV

3. Confession in My . . Church Attendance Test.

    Heb 10:23-25 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
    without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let
    us consider one another in order to stir up love and good
    works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
    as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so
    much the more as you see the Day approaching. NKJV

Illustration
A story has past around for afew years about a Mrs Craig who celebrated 20 years of perfect church attendance. The questions were asked: Do you not get sick, have company come, or all the other excuses other people use. This lady just has a goal to be faithful. She regularly confesses in her church attendance.

3. Compassion Test

1. Compassion Expressed In the . . Manners.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having

compassion for one another; love as brothers, be

tenderhearted, be courteous; NKJV

2. Compassion Expressed In the . . Ministry.

    Heb 10:34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and
    joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that
    you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in
    heaven. NKJV

3. Compassion Expressed In the . . Money.

    2 Cor 9:13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they
    glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel
    of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

4. Conduct Test

1. Conduct Expressed in . . Honorable Behavior.

1 Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the

Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they

may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God

in the day of visitation. NKJV

2. Conduct Expressed in . . Holy Behavior.

Eph 4:22-24 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man

which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and

holiness. NKJV

Illustration Beth Moore Shares this Story In Her Book

When I was little, my nurse Dibby’s cousin had a dog, just a mutt, and the dog was pregnant. I don’t know how log dogs are pregnant, but she was due to have her puppies in about a week. She was out in the yard one day and got in the way of the lawn mower and her two hind legs were cut off. They rushed her to the vet and he said, I sew her up, or you can put her to sleep if you want, but the puppies are okay. She’ll be able to deliver the puppies. Dibby’s cousin said “Keep her alive.”

The vet sewed up her backside, and over the next week the dog learned to walk. She didn’t spend any time worrying, she just learned to walk by taking two steps in the from and flipping up her backside, and then taking two steps and flipping up her backside again. She gave birth to six little puppies, all in perfect health. She nursed them and then weaned them. And when they learned to walk, they all walked just like her .(In a book “IT’s Always Something by Gilda Radner)

Application

The conduct test concludes when we are walking like the Lord

Phil 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have
us for a pattern. NKJV

Do you pass the confession test?