Are You for Real?

Mr. Bean Video

Welcome to HCC.  Last week we finished off our series “guest speakers” and this week we enter a brand-new series titled “Authentic.” While most of us are familiar with the term here is how Merriam Webster defines the word.

Authentic- 

• conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features.

Let’s say you are wanting to seewith your own eyes an authentic paintingdone by the great Leonardo Da Vinci.  Let’s say you are interested in seeing his most famous workof art “The Mona Lisa.” So, you flyyourself to Paris, France and you go to the Louvre Museum.  There you will find this famous painting. 

Leonardo Da Vinci was very innovativein his paintings using techniquesthat were not knownat his time. 

• For example, up until his time artist had used outlinesas a starting point for their paintings whereas Da Vinci did not use outlines, instead he used color tonesto create an illusion of lightand shadows. This way of painting stood outfrom other paintings. 
• When looking at “The Mona Lisa” one is immediately drawn to her eyes.While focusing on her eyes her mouth appears to be smiling.  But while focusing on her mouthit does not appear that she is smiling at all.
• There are even rumors of hidden secretsand hidden symbolsin this piece.

Leonardo’s ability to create such an illusion, gives his artwork an unparallel uniqueness.  These featuresare what makes an authentic pieceof art by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Recognizing an authentic painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is one thing, but do you know what an authentic Christianlooks like.  Or to make it more personal, are you an authentic Christian?

• Are you the real deal, or just a counterfeit Christian?

Jesus is the original.  He imitates no one, rather He sets the standard for Holiness, and right living. If we are to live authentic lives then it is essential that we have the same features (characteristics) of Christ. 

When people look at our lives we hope that they will see the brush strokes of Jesusas he is still painting our life stories.  Our features (characteristics) should demonstrate to others that we are an authentic copyof the original.

1 John 1:1-4 (ESV)

The Word of Life

¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

The authorof 1 John is believed to be the apostle Johnwho was one of the twelve as he says, we have seenwith our eyes and have touchedwith our hands. 

John is giving us a reason to trustin what he is about to write.  In a sense he is saying, I am an authentic apostleof Jesus Christ.  I have heard Jesuswith my ears, have seen Jesuswith my own eyes and I have touched himwith my own hands.  Being this epistle was written about 70years after the deathand resurrection of Christ, John was claiming something that not manypeople alive during that time could claim.

I can say I have been to Peruand you could choose to believe me or not. But when I say that I touched the ancient ruinsof Machu Picchu, I have seen with my eyes the mountainthat looks like a man’s face and I have gazed over the vast canyonswhich declares the majesty of God, and I have also tasted the saltfrom the mines of Maras, then that gives me a perspectivethat you might not have unless you have been there as well. Making my testimony valid.

John is in a unique positionto write about the life of Jesusbecause he experiencedHim. Because he experienced Jesus we can trustwhat He is saying, therefore his testimonyis authentic.

He is writing the epistle (letter) to gentile believers.  These believers had been influencedby church leaderswho were teaching that Jesuscame to the earth in spirit but not in a physicalbody.  This letter is to right the wrong, set the course straight. He begins.

¹ That which was from the beginning (Meaning Jesus was with Godfrom the beginning)

John is testifying that Jesus was at the beginning.  Beginning of what? Of all creation.  In fact, this coincides with what he had said in his gospel. 

John 1:1 (the gospel)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 

This is good theology. In order to be an authentic Christian, you must first have an authentic believe.In both writings John declares Jesus was with Godat the beginning of creation because he was Godand still is Godand all things were made through Jesus, because Jesus is God.

² the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 

Another word for manifest is visible.  John is saying “the life” (Jesus) was manifested or that he became visible for all to see.  The point that he is driving is that God became fleshin the man Jesus and that John was a witness to this. Again, we see a parallel in his gospel.

John 1:14

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

This is one of the most basic but foundational truthsto becoming an authenticChristian.  You don’t have to figure itout in your head, you don’t even have to understand how it all worksbut you mustsimply believein your heart that God is a triune being.  He is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  He is not 3 separate Gods, He is one God with three different persons or 3 different expressionsof who He is. He has always existed, He was not created.

Authentic Christians Have An Authentic Trust(in the fullness of God)

You might not fully comprehend, but you must have an authentic trust in the triune God.Especially in the fact that He became fleshand walked among us.  Many religionswill try to discreditthis fact but as Christians we believe it to be true.  We can trust the source.

This is our hope, that Christ walked this earthjust as you and I and was temptedas you and I yet He lived without sin.  And that He diedon the cross and rose again, showing us that we to will suffer persecutionin this world for the sake of the gospelbut we will rise again to new life.

Again, this requires a believer to have an authentic trustthat these things are so. 

John, an authentic discipleof Jesus, testifiesof the authenticity of Jesushow he was with God from the beginning and that he was manifestedor visible to us as He came in flesh and blood.  Meaning, Jesus is legit. He is not a copy, He is the original.  

If you were wanting to purchase the original(authentic) Mona Lisa then there is only one place(one source) that you can go to get it.  You better go witha ton of moneyin the bank, as it was appraised in 1962to be valued around 100 million.  But with inflation your looking at over 700million.  But the idea is that you would go to the source, the Louvre Museum in Paris.

If you want to live an authentic Christianlife then you must also go to the source. You must look at the life of Jesus in viewof your own life to see whether or not your authentic.  The life of Jesusis described by accounts of witnesses in the biblesuch as the apostle John.

You must be able to see His traitsor characteristics in your life.

The problemwith looking at other people to gage your authenticity, is that they are human, flawed,and will let you down. 

You may hear a testimony from someone how Jesus set them freefrom alcohol, then they are later seen indulgingin the very thing they were supposed to be freefrom. Their testimony may become ineffectivein your life.  Because what they are claiming with their lipsdoes not line up with their actions.

However, it does not changethe fact that Jesus is ableto set you free.  So, if youreyes are onthe originalthen you will be able to distinguish when you encounter a counterfeit.

Because at the same timethere have been those who have been authentically set freefrom an addiction. Their testimony is trustworthybecause they have experienced a real change in their lives.

The thing about faith in Jesusis that you must trust what is being toldyou by peoplewho have experienced Jesus firsthand. You must trust the source. You must be a trusted source.

If you think about it, that’s how we all came to faith in Jesus. Someone shared the gospelwith us and we had to see how realor how authentic they were, before we had accepted it as truthfor our lives.

John has proven himselfto be an authentic believer as he witnessednot only the life of Christand the miraclesthat he did but also, he witnessed Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. 

³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

The work of Christ, living as a man, healingall those who were sick and afflicted, and dying a criminal’s deathwould have been in veinif Jesus’ disciples had kept quietafter He had risen. 

John says that which we have witnessed, that which we have heard, seen, and touched, is not only for us, but is for othersas well.  I will declare those thingsto you, so that you will believeand have fellowshipwith us.

The goalwas to bring his audienceinto the same fellowshipin which he was part of. 

Fellowshiphappens when there is a communitywith the same interest. 

For example, it would be difficultto have fellowshipwith an Atlanta Falcons fan during a game, being that I’m a Saints fan.   Especially if they are playing each other.

Or it would be even more difficult to have fellowship with an AlabamaCrimson tide fan during a game being that I’m a LSUFan. 

After the gamewe can be friends and love Jesustogether. But duringa game, don’t try to fellowship with me wearing ridiculous elephant or falcan attire.  It just won’t happen.  We have two opposing views.

So, in order to have fellowshipthere must be like mindedness.  In order for John’s audienceto join him in fellowship, requires them to believe John’s reportthat God was made fleshin the man Jesus.  He was 100% Godyet 100% man. Don’t get caught up in the how, just believe.

In order for fellowshipto take place certain beliefswould need to be put awaywhile other beliefs were to be put on.  Mainly on the part of John’s audience.  

John was not to compromisehis ways so that there would be fellowship(like mindedness) with these new gentile believers, rather they were to conform their ways to the truthof God’s word so that they could be in fellowship with Godand fellow believers.

Authentic Christians Are Not Ashamed of The Gospel

Though thegospelmay be offensiveto some, we do not back downor water downthe word of God. 

The word of God is rightand everyone else is wrong!

• If the Bible says idolatryis wrong, then it is wrong!
• If the Bible says that sexual immoralityis wrong, then it is wrong!
• If the Bible says that murdering unbornbabies is wrong, then it is wrong!
• If the Bible says that talking bad about your neighboris wrong, then it is wrong!
• If the Bible says that lustin the heart is the same as committing adultery then it is so!

The bible is the sourceby which we gagewhether or not our lives are authentic.

John’s heartshould also be our heart.  That is, we should desire that otherswould come and know the truth of God’s wordso that they too can be in fellowship. This should burn in our hearts because its not just that they will have fellowship with us as believers(which is a good thing) but ultimately so that they can be in Fellowship with our heavenly Fatherand His son Jesus Christ.  

Authentic Christians Have an Authentic Love for Others

John 13:34-35

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

⁴ And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Meaning weexperience joy, when you come to believeas we do, or when you come into fellowship with your heavenly father. It is something to get excited about, when a person who was dead in their sins, comes to life in Christ.

• Have You trusted in God’s word?
• Are You ashamed of the Gospel?
• Have You demonstrated the love of Christ to others?