More than Nominalism: Called by God

Luke 5:32; Mark 8:34

Problems of Nominalism

• Challenges in families, in churches, in 2nd and latter generation Christians

 Roman Catholic remarks:
Nominal Christians are the hardest to reach with the Gospel message.
Nominal Christians give the world a false sense of the strength of the Church.
Nominal Christians give us a false discouragement about our declining numbers.
Nominalism is found in …

• Israel's life cycle around Sin – Crisis – Return – Freedom.
• Adopting a worldly mentality: Religion rather than Relationship with Christ, Self-centered rather than Christ-centered life, Unchanged rather than Transformed life, Disobedient to God's Word, Commitment rather than Surrender, Knowledge of God without Love of God, etc.
  
• A syndrome of Sardis church (Rev. 3:1) to whom the Lord says, "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."
  
• Nominal faith is not faith but a dead faith.
  

1. God Called… (Rom 8:28-29)

• "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)
• "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt. 4:19)
• "Come to me, all who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)

This divine call is his invitation to all for salvation. It is God who invites, not we invite Him.
            It was Jesus who called and invited Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:1-10)
 
2. Many are called, but few are chosen. (Matt. 22:14)

3. Taking our own cross and following Jesus (Mark 8:34)
            The crowd + disciples = all Christians are required of two things:

1. To deny our self
   
2. To take up our cross and follow Him.
   

But this general call to salvation, a call to know Jesus himself, a call into a relationship with Jesus, is effective and realized only in the lives of those who respond in faith.
2Cor 13:5
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.
Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test?"
It is our part to respond to the call. We can either receive it or reject it within our own rights. The Holy Spirit will not force us because it is not his nature. But the Spirit will help us effectively if we are open to him and allow his work in us.

Come worship with us at our English service of this International Church in Yangon.