What Is a Christian? — The Love Series, Lesson 1

What Is a Christian? — The Love Series, Lesson 1

Preached Sunday morning, June 28, 2026 • Dardanelle Missionary Baptist Church • Pastor Chuck Trusty • The Love Series

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

John 13:34 • John 15:12 • John 15:17 • 1 Peter 1:22

INTRODUCTION — THE GREAT COMMANDMENT

We believe that loving one another — the way Jesus loves us — does three things:

It shows that we are disciples of Jesus.

It proves that we love God.

It symbolizes our authority as a New Testament church.

Jesus said:

“Love one another… as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

“This is My commandment, that ye love one another.” Jn 15:12

“These things I command you, that ye love one another.” Jn 15:17

Peter said:

“See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Pt 1:22

So today - we ask a simple question:

WHAT DOES IT actually MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

1. BEING “SAVED” AND BEING “A CHRISTIAN” ARE NOT THE SAME THING

To be saved means you belong to God — you are His child

(John 1:12)… But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

To be a Christian means you behave like God’s Son — you follow Jesus and walk as He walked

(1 John 2:6)… He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

A Christian is someone who lives a Christ-like life. This does NOT mean that loving others is what saves us — salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8–9)… For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But love is what identifies a saved person AS A Christian, because Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

A person can “be saved” and still not “behave” like a Christian

(1 Corinthians 3:1–3)… And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

But no one can be a Christian — a true follower of Christ — without love

(1 John 4:7–8)… ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Clarifying 1 John 4:8

When John says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God,” he is not saying that a person who fails to love is not saved.

The Greek word for “knoweth” is ginōskō, which means:

to know by experience

to know through fellowship

to know intimately

John is saying:

“If we do not love, then we are not walking in close fellowship with God.”

He is talking about relationship, not talking about salvation.

A saved person can still fail to love — but when he does, he is out of fellowship, not out of the family.

1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Fellowship – not salvation – depends upon walking in the light

1Jo 2:3 ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Knowing God in the type of “fellowship” being referred to there – is tied to OBEDIENCE – it is not tied to salvation…

1Co 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Saved people can be carnal and unloving…

1Jo 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

Love is the evidence of fellowship – not the requirement for salvation.

“1 John 4:8 is not about salvation — it is about fellowship. A believer who does not love is still saved, but he is not walking closely with God.”

2. A CHRISTIAN LOVES GOD BY OBEYING JESUS’ COMMANDMENTS

A Christian is someone who loves God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength

(Mark 12:30)… And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Jesus said:

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

This means that love comes first, and obedience “grows” out of love.

Scripture to reinforce this:

1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

— Love and obedience are inseparable.

The FIRST commandment Jesus gave His church was to love one another

When we obey this commandment:

we protect the unity of the church

we guard the other commandments

we behave properly in God’s house

we treat one another the way Jesus treats us

Scripture to reinforce this:

John 13:34–35… A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

— Love is the identifying mark of discipleship.

Ephesians 4:2–3… ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

— Love keeps unity.

1 Peter 1:22… Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

— Love must be pure and fervent.

Love is the foundation of Christian behavior

If we love God, then we will obey Him.

If we love one another, we will treat each other with kindness, patience, and respect.

Love is not a feeling — it is a choice to act like Jesus.

Scripture to reinforce this:

1 Corinthians 13:4–7… ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

— Love is patient, kind, humble, and unselfish.

Galatians 5:13–14… ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

— Love fulfills the whole law.

“Love is the foundation of Christian living. Love for God leads to obedience. Love for one another leads to unity. This is what it means to be a Christian.”

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This lesson is part of The Love Series on yes.areyousaved.net — the full series list is coming to THE BOOKSHELF.

Living Sacrifice

Link to actual message (6) Facebook

Delivered Sunday morning 12/18/2022 

Romans 12:1 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

The FIRST thing that is required regarding this LIVING sacrifice – is a clear and concise decision regarding the direction that we intend upon traveling for the rest of our lives . . .

When you got married – did you walk down the isle – thinking that your marriage was only temporary . . . why is acceptable to have this attitude toward our commitment to God – when we join His NTC . . .?

 

1)  A decision on who exactly we are going to spend the rest of our lives following or SERVING . . . self vs others/God

 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

This is the classic example of not being able to travel down two different roads/streets/paths at the same time . . .

 

A child that is told to do a certain thing – must either obey or disobey because there is no middle ground regarding obedience . . .

 

If we tell a child – that he cannot go to the party . . . but he sneaks out of his room to spend the evening on the porch – at the house where the party is being held – did he obey or did he disobey . . .

 

If God tells us . . . thou shalt not . . . but if we long for that which is forbidden - inside of our heart – do we claim obedience just because we stayed outside on the porch . . . and never actually went in?

 

As a child of God – we will either hate our responsibilities as Christians – or we will have fallen in love with our Christian duties . . .

 

For most of my life – I have enjoyed exceptionally good health – and during the course of my life . . . I have enjoyed coffee and chocolate

 

more than any other things that I have ever put in my mouth . . . I go to the Dr. every few months and get blood drawn to determine if anything is starting to go wrong with my health . . .

 

When I get the results of my blood work back – I have a choice to make – I either hold onto my good health and despise the coffee and chocolate that I have grown to love . . . or

 

I hold onto my coffee and chocolate and despise the good health which the coffee and chocolate have taken from me . . . because I cannot have

 

them both . . . You see one of them quite literally comes AT THE COST (or at the expense) of the other . . .

 

Decaf coffee and artificial sugar – are things that will cause me to feel better about the blood test – but decaf does not remove all the caffeine – and sugar substitutes often cause more problems than real sugar . . .

 

The point being – that if I do not love my good health enough to give up on trying to find some type of compromise – then this is evidence that I have chosen to hold onto the wrong thing . . .

 

1Ki 18:21 ¶ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

 

Likewise – religion affects our lives much like decaf coffee and artificial sugar . . . it may allow us to feel good about ourselves – but the original

 

problem still remains – and we are not a healthy Christian – because of how we refuse to let go of things which God tells us – that we should despise . . .

 

Acts 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they (the apostles) should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were “counted worthy” to suffer shame for his name.

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

 

What did the apostles love – and what did they hate . . . Did the apostles compromise their teachings – did the apostles only preach on certain days . . . How easily are you and I discouraged in our Christian walk . . .?

 

What this concept means in our every day lives is this . . . when we are

confronted with something that “tests our faith” or challenges our

 

willingness to follow Jesus - like the apostles mentioned here – Are we going to choose to be true to our responsibilities as a Christian or will we

 

“temporarily” forsake these duties until later – until the required

sacrifice is not so great . . . (so that we hide our Christianity) until our accusers are

 

gone – so we can start acting like a Christian again - after they leave . . .

 

This is what it means to HOLD onto one – while we despise the other . . . and every single one of us – is either holding on to our duties as children of God – or we have agreed (decided) in our heart – to forsake those duties.

 

Do we remember what it was like to “fall in love” and to find Prince Charming . . . do we remember how that - at one point in our lives – there was only room for ONE . . .

 

This concept - of there being only room for ONE - is what I am referring to when we read Matt 6:24 . . .

 

Among our circle of acquaintances - we could find those who felt this way about their significant other - 20 or 30 years ago – who do not regret their

 

choice - and have never changed their minds . . . in fact if given the choice – they would do it all again . . . but then we could also find others

who DO regret the choice that they have made . . . so that NOW because of this regret - there IS room in their heart for more than ONE . . . as they have left their first love . . .

 

No man can serve TWO MASTERS – means that IF we are treating our church like it was a prosperity gospel – So that we are faithful when things

 

are good – and not so faithful when things are not good . . . then we are a babe in Christ who refuses to serve a God that tells us NO . . .

 

We know what it means for a romance to sizzle – and we also know what it means to backslide from the Truth in our heart . . .

 

To heal a broken romance – is sort of like a “new birth” as we forget about the past and concentrate on the here and now . . .

 

No man can serve TWO masters – means that IF we WILL NOT decide to follow Jesus unless we know ahead of time – where He plans on leading us . . . then we have fallen in love with something OTHER than The Truth

 

And unless we REALLY want to know The Truth – regardless (or in spite of) what that Truth may require us to sacrifice in our daily lives – then we will

 

not be given access to a Truth that we have chosen NOT to love and to follow completely and totally . . .

 

As Jesus was teaching and being confronted/questioned by the Pharisees – who were opposing Him . . . Jesus met their opposition – with the Truth

 

John 8:30 As he spake these words, many believed on him (many were saved – repenting of their sins and believing that Jesus was The Christ).

31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF ye continue in my word, THEN (because you have made this choice to LOVE The Truth after you were saved – only then) are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And (because you have chosen to LOVE My Word – and because you have chosen to show that love by continuing in My Word) ye shall know the truth (ye will be SHOWN The Truth), and the truth (which I will show you through the power of My Spirit this TRUTH is the only thing that) shall make you free (from the bondage of error and false doctrine).

 

What is your address in heaven?

Statement: Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Illustrate: The picture here is one of depending upon the activities and the good deeds of religion to please God – instead of depending upon proper worship in a NTC to please God . . .

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

To please God is to satisfy God “completely and entirely” . . . the way to draw near unto God – the way to actually visit God is through proper

Worship . . . and what we are told here is that for God to be completely and totally satisfied with our lives – it is necessary that we have more confidence in obedience than we have in our good

works – the idea is that it requires faith to actually commit our lives to the idea of being rewarded for seeking God – instead of being rewarded because we work for God . . .

Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses (good works) are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The reference in Matt 7: 21 to entering into “The kingdom of heaven” is not talking about going to

heaven when are saved . . . this verse is talking about entering into the city after we “get” to heaven . . .

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (beyond measure)

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” is reminding us that not everyone in heaven is going to have the same address . . some of God’s children will live

in the city very close to Jesus – and some of God’s children will live outside the city and their address in heaven will not very close to Jesus at all . . .

For example: If we were to measure the distance that each one of us lives from the church – we would find that some live much closer to the church than

others . . . this is something that is completely in our control – every single one of us could sell our houses and move to Dardanelle within a few

blocks of the church . . . but some of us enjoy living in the country too much to move to town . . . some of us enjoy being close to our children and

grandchildren – so this is why we choose to live closer to them than the church . . . I suppose that I live further away from the church than anyone . . . and I often think about how convenient it would

be to live right next door to the church instead of 30 miles away . . . I know that the physical distance that we live from the church has nothing to do

with how much we actually love the church . . . but the point is – that our address in heaven is determined by the attitude we have toward the

church here in this life . . . the closer we live to the church (in our heart)  – then the closer we will live to Jesus in the eternity of heaven . . .

Applicate:  Re 22:14 Blessed (happy or well off) are they that do his commandments, that they may have right (privilege) to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The lesson for us here is that just like we are able to choose our address here . . . we are also able to choose our address in heaven . . . If we love sin more than we love God – then in heaven we will

not have the privilege of living within the city – but if we love God so that we regret our sins and repent of them – then we will live within the city

Statement: Rev 22: Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

1)    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still – To be unjust is to do wrong or to be an offender who walks contrary to the truth . . . when Jesus returns – His children that are doing wrong will not have time to “change” the direction of their lives

a)    The man that has an injured life outside of the truth will continue to be injured after Jesus returns . . . and what he carries with him into heaven will be something of little value (wood – hay – stubble)

b)    I Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

2)    and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still – To be filthy refers to a life that is soiled or dirty  . . . when Jesus returns – His children who are caught with dirty lives will not have time to take a bath and clean their up their lives before they enter into the pearly gates

a)    The man who has a dirty life when Jesus returns will continue to be dirty afterward . . . and he will not be able to hide the dirt that he carries with him into heaven . . . (wood – hay – stubble)

b)    1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day (of judgement) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man's work of what sort it is.

3)    and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still – To be righteous does not refer to the absence of sin in our life . . . but rather it refers to being innocent – it refers to being set free by another or to being justified

by the judge which is GOD . . .

a)    For a child of God to be righteous – refers to how it is possible for us to either walk in the direction of God’s will – or to walk against the direction of His will . . .

i)     The idea here is that at the return of Jesus – the man that is caught walking in the direction of God’s will for his life – will carry this “righteousness” with him into heaven (gold – silver – precious stones)

ii)   And as long as he is in heaven – the direction of his life on this earth will not be forgotten . . .

iii) 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

4)    and he that is holy, let him be holy still – To be holy is to be pure – to be morally blameless – or to be consecrated to fulfill God’s will as opposed to living to fulfilling our own will . . .

a)    The man who has dedicated his life to the true worship of Jesus Christ . . . when Jesus returns and catches this man living that type of commitment . . .

i)     Then after he walks through the pearly gates to enter into heaven . . . throughout eternity – this man’s dedication is something that will never be forgotten . . . (gold – silver – precious stones)

ii)   1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

5)   And, behold, I come quickly – The word “and” connects this verse with what we have just read . . .

a)   The sudden return of Jesus is connected with the condition of the lives that we are living today. . .

b)   At the return of Jesus - If we are caught with our hand in the cookie jar . . . we will not have time to remove our hand and drop the cookie . . .

c)   “Notice” . . . “See” . . . when I return – when I appear . . . it will be sudden . . . like a flash of lightening – what the sudden flash of lightening reveals – is what you will take with you into eternity.

6)   and my reward is with me – God’s reward does not refer to salvation . . . because salvation is not a reward – it is a gift . . .

a)    Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

b)   God’s reward literally refers to pay for service . . .

c)   the idea being that when “the flash” of His return reveals an unjust life . . . then we will get paid for an unjust life . . .

d)   When “the flash” of His return reveals a filthy life – then we will get paid for a filthy life . . .

e)   When “the flash” of His return reveals a righteous life – then we will get paid for a righteous life

f)    When “the flash” of His sudden return reveals a holy life – then we will get paid for a holy life . . .

g)   My reward is with me means that God has already written the check – He has signed it – and when He returns – He will hand deliver it – to every single one His children

7)   to give every man according as his work shall be – To give means to deliver . . . or to put in ones hands

a)   according means right now with all speed . . .

b)   as his work shall be – refers to how our effort – and how our occupation in life is literally going to follow us into the next life . . .

Illustrate: The picture we have here is – for a sudden unexpected flash of light catching us unaware – and revealing the direction of our life at that particular instant of time . . .

For example – If I suddenly turned the lights off during my lesson today . . . and if a picture of your thoughts the instant that the lights went out

could be displayed on a screen . . . would the screen reveal that you were saying a prayer . . . Would the screen reveal that you were day dreaming

about what you would do after service . . . would the screen reveal that you were thinking bad thoughts . . . Suppose that you got a job and a new house for the rest of your life based on what the screen

revealed at that one instant in time . . . would you get a good job in a nice neighborhood – or would you get a bad job in a bad neighborhood  . . .

Now we might say . . . that is not really fair – I kept my mind on the sermon the entire time . . . I only day dreamed at the very last when the lights went out – most of the time my thoughts were good . . .

Well fair or not . . . this is exactly what “he that is unjust/filthy will be unjust/filthy still means” . . .

the reward of the child of God who is unjust/filthy – will not be good . . . (wood – hay – stubble)

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The heavenly address of the child of God who lived an unjust/filthy life – will not be in a very good neighborhood . . . and neither will it be in the city close to Jesus . . .

Re 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Applicate: So the lesson for us here is – that we are told to take an inventory of our lives . . . and if our life is directed in same direction as God’s will – then we should continue . . . but if our lives are pointed

in a direction that is against God’s will . . . then we have an opportunity to turn around . . .

The dogs – the sorcerers – the whoremongers – the murders – the idolaters – those that loveth and maketh a lie . . . are not sinners that are in hell

But these are those whose rewards were burnt up in I Cor 3 . . . as they suffered loss – but were saved yet-so-as by fire . . .

Now it may not seem fair . . . but I want you to listen very closely to these next scriptures . . . they tell us that God does not care about our past

God does not care if our past is filled with good . . . God does not care if our past is filled with evil . . . but in the scriptures we just read . . . God clearly tells us that TODAY is the only thing that He is concerned about . . .

2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)

If God sees humility and repentance in my heart today – then the evil that He saw in me yesterday is forgotten 

If God sees pride and rebellion in my heart today – then the righteousness that He saw in me yesterday is also forgotten . . .

Eze 33:17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.

19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.

20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.

Re 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.