How Do You Recognize a Christian? | Part 1 | The Real Deal – 1 John 1:1-4 | Chris Voigt

The Real Deal
How Do You Recognize a Christian?
June 6, 2021

Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not…do you know a fake when you see one?

From fake grass to fake footwear, fake Amazon packages to fake ID…there’s a “fooler” for just about everything you can imagine.

Many of you know of my love for Diet Coke. In a blind test, I could tell you whether the Diet Coke you gave me came from a can, a bottle, or a fountain. I can also tell the difference between a Diet Coke that comes from McDonald’s and one that comes from 7-11. When I travel internationally, I often pack my own supply of Diet Coke in my luggage. In South America, they have a version of Diet Coke called Coca Light. It is NOT the same. But in some locations, I’ve asked for a Coca Light, only to be served Coke Zero. Just for the record, Coke Zero, Coca Light, and Diet Coke are all VERY different! “Same thing!” a restaurant server will say, with a shrug. I beg to differ! Coca Light and Coke Zero are poor “imitations” for REAL Diet Coke.

This week, we’re beginning a new sermon series called How Do You Recognize a Christian? Throughout the summer, we’ll be studying through the New Testament letters of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. In writing these three letters, John hoped to encourage the young churches scattered throughout Asia Minor to have an authentic, contagious walk with Christ; to rekindle their faith, love, and hope. His challenge to them -- live rightly and boldly in a world gone wrong -- is as relevant for us today as it was for his original readers. We know Jesus is the only real hope. Do we live like He is our only real hope? How will the world recognize real hope if they don’t see it in us?