God is Here, Same Jesus, Infinitely Glorious, More Like Jesus, Greater Than, I Stand in Awe

Who was the first person that you met who was a legit Christian? What was his or her impact on your spiritual journey towards God and Christlikeness?

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

We’ve so far in this message series looked at the marks of a true Christian from the apostles Paul and John’s writings. Today, we’ll look at what Jesus taught His disciples about genuine, authentic, real Christians. In this age of AI-generated images, we oftentimes wonder if what we’re looking at is “for real”. People too are wondering if those of us who call ourselves Christians are for real. By the grace of God, the apostle Paul and others proved themselves as genuine followers of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:5). It’s not perfection but authenticity in believers that convince others that God and Christianity are real and legit. Here are three marks of a legit Christian:

1) REAL TALK: Who we say Jesus is

Jesus once asked His disciples who people thought He was (Matthew 16:13-14). Some said Jesus was a prophet (John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah), but though those men were great prophets, people’s ideas fell short of the truth about Jesus. To the same question, Peter answered correctly, “You are the Christ (Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah,” sent by God to be King and Deliverer), the Son of the Living God” (Jews understood this title, which implied that person is God Himself). What about you? How would you answer Jesus’ question about who you say He is? Peter declared the deity of Jesus, and not just a man, and that’s why he replied correctly as Jesus Himself affirmed (Matthew 16:17). Coming to a correct conclusion about Jesus is not a mere intellectual exercise, it is the revelation of God’s Spirit when He opens our spiritual eyes. The bottom-line question is, “is Jesus God, or not?”. Jesus declared that He is God (John 8:24, 58; John 10:30) and the people then knew He was claiming to be God and wanted to stone Him for what they considered blasphemous. Furthermore, Jesus identified Himself as the “Alpha and the Omega — the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). He accepted worship from38) people who encountered Him (Matthew 2:11; 14:33; 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38). If Jesus was just a good man, He will tell these people not to worship Him! His disciples also testified that Jesus was God (John 1:1,14; 20:24; Acts 20:28; Titus 2:13). Finally, Jesus’ sacrifice proves He is God (1 John 2:1-2); only the sacrifice of a pure, unblemished Lamb of God was acceptable to God for the payment of our sins.

REAL TALK means that we declare with full conviction that Jesus is the Savior, Lord, King, and Master of our lives! This is meant to be lived out moment by moment by the power of the Spirit.

2) REAL THINK: What we set our minds on

Jesus began to tell His disciples about His coming suffering and death on the cross, and resurrection (Matthew 16:21). Peter rebukes Jesus for saying such things, but Jesus sharply corrects him for not setting his mind on God’s interest, but man’s (Matthew 16:22-23). Perhaps Peter was thinking more of his discomfort with the Messiah’s suffering and death, rather than on God’s plan. We are to set our minds on things above, not things on earth (Colossians 3:1-2). The things most important to God are eternal; what Jesus was telling Peter was that he was setting his mind on what is temporal, not the eternal.

Other than God and heaven, two things that will last forever are the Word of God and people. Are we hungry for the Word of God? When we read our Bibles, we’re engaging with Jesus, the Living Word! Imagine having a private, uninterrupted time with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe! Are we hungry for God?

Are we burdened for the souls of people? We need to learn to look at people through the eyes of Jesus. Our prayer life reveals what we set our minds on. Do we pray for people, and do we take advantage of “divine appointments”, opportunities to tell others about the gospel (Ephesians 2:8-10)? The Word of God tells us to “go and make disciples” because people are important to God.

REAL THINK means that we set our minds on what is most important to Jesus.

3) REAL WALK: How we live our lives

“What is there in your life that is proof-positive of the reality of God in your life? What changes are being wrought in your experience today that is proof-positive in a world screaming for reality that God is alive?” (Howard Hendricks). The Bible says that we bring the aroma of Jesus into this world—what an amazing description of legit Christians. How should we live our lives? Jesus taught His disciples how (Matthew 16:24). We are to deny ourselves (disregard, despise, disown), to be servants to others, and even be a “slave” of all (Mark 10:43-44). We are to “take up your cross” which is often misunderstood to refer to something difficult (a person, circumstance, etc.) that we must bear. However, this actually means that we “die” to ourselves. In the time of Christ, anyone carrying a cross is a “dead man walking”. Our old self must die, crucified with Christ (Colossians 3:5). Thirdly, we are to follow Jesus (to accompany Jesus, let Him lead). Jesus knows where He is going and where He wants to take you (1 John 2:6). To “walk” like Jesus is to live like Him as we observe how Jesus walked through His Word, and through His people.

REAL WALK means we live Christlike.

Are we for real, legit Christians? There is nothing we can give in exchange for our souls; there is nothing that will profit us in this world in comparison to the infinite and eternal value of our souls (Matthew 16:25-27). This is both a warning and an encouragement to us. A warning that we should walk with Jesus and an encouragement that following Jesus, though it has a great cost, is worth it. So, let us live by REAL TALK, REAL THINK and REAL WALK for the glory of God!

Pray for the multitude of people around us who are looking for evidence that God is real.

Pray that they will encounter Christ-followers who are legit Christians.

Do your part to live out Christlikeness wherever you are; share the gospel in your “divine appointments” every day.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word

• War in Ukraine to end, loss of lives prevented; tension in the West Philippine Sea to be peacefully resolved.

• Continue to pray for the rest of Israeli hostages to be restored back to their families safely. Pray for Israel and the war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory.

• For the civil war in Syria to end peacefully, protection for Christians and other minorities; that there will be freedom from oppression for Syrians. Pray for the gospel to spread rapidly throughout the country.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• Elders, pastors, dleaders, and families (holy, humble, harmonious, happy, heart-working).

• Ministries and churches expansion worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.