The Real Deal (Part 1)

 If you were on trail for being a Christian, would there be a guilty verdict saying you were a follower of Christ? Does the prosecution have enough evidence to show without a doubt that you love Jesus? Sticking a Hot Wheels car in a garage doesn't make it a real car. Putting a shark costume on your cat doesn't make it a shark. The same can be said that parking your butt in a pew every week doesn't make you a Christian. Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) The Apostle Paul writes " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." How many of us need some of these fruits in our lives? How many of us just lied saying that we don't need any? Is your love showing? Ask a friend or loved one if you act with gentleness and patience. Those who follow Jesus have His Spirit living inside them! The same Spirit that rose Him from the grave is in us (Romans 8:11)! Maybe you're thinking "Nick, you are nuts! You can't look at a person and see if they follow Jesus." I say, why not? We as followers of Christ are called to be the salt and light throughout the Earth! Mathew 5:13-16  “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." If we, the Body of Christ, would submit ourselves fully to the Holy Spirit, then the world could not help but see the light whom is Jesus Christ! Folks, please allow the Spirit to mold your outer man into the likeness of Jesus. Then you will praise God when found guilty of following Christ! You'll be the real deal! The inner man will match the outer. In the next two weeks there will be a part 2 that will go over what this looks like.