Authentic Christianity Needed

Christians must have an exemplary attitude at all times.

A complaining spirit expresses a dissatisfaction with God and His perfect plan.

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.Numbers 11:1

Complaining ultimately casts blame on God for your unhappiness.

An argumentative disposition is an indication of pride.

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.Proverbs 15:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.Romans 12:18

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.Romans 16:17-18

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Ephesians 4:31-32

Christians should have excellent character.

Blameless.

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.Matthew 7:3-5

Innocent and pure.

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.Romans 16:19

Unblemished.

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.Ephesians 5:27

God doesn’t expect perfection, but rather continual growth in sanctification.

Hypocrisy destroys our effectiveness.

They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.Deuteronomy 32:5

Hypocrisy: the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.

There is a difference between a hypocrite and a Christian who struggles against sin.

A hypocrite is simply playing an outward part of being a Christ-follower, while still living a sinful lifestyle and having made peace with their sin.

A mature Christian is truly seeking to live like Jesus, all the while enduring victories and failures, but daily wages war on their sinful proclivities.

Hypocrisy harms the name of Jesus.

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.Romans 2:21-24

The effectiveness of the Gospel is at stake.

The witness and the testimony of the church is at stake.

If we desire to make a difference in the world, we must be different.

Do I use my words consistently to encourage and build up?

Is there any unconfessed sin in my life that I need to make right?

Are there areas in my life where I have excused or made peace with my own sin?

Are people drawn to Jesus or pushed away from Jesus because of me?

Is there any hypocrisy in my own life?