HOW TO AVOID MASQUERADING CHRISTIANS

TEXT- 1 JOHN 4:1-6

INTRODUCTION

A TRUE STORY IS TOLD ABOUT A MAN WHO ATE DOG FOOD ONE EVENING. HE WASN'T AT SOME KIND OF FRATERNITY INITIATION, BUT RATHER AT AN ELEGANT PARTY IN A PHYSICIAN'S HOME. THE DOG FOOD WAS SERVED ON DELICATE CRACKERS WITH A WEDGE OF IMPORTED CHEESE, BACON CHIPS, AN OLIVE AND A SLIVER OF PIMENTO ON TOP. THEY WERE HORS D'OEUVRES A LA ALPO. THE HOSTESS FOR THE PARTY HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM A GOURMET COOKING SCHOOL AND WANTED TO PUT HER SKILLS TO THE ULTIMATE TEST. AFTER SHE DOCTORED UP THE DOG FOOD AND PUT IT ON A SILVER TRAY SHE WATCHED AS THEY QUICKLY DISAPPEARED. THE MAN AT THE PARTY COULDN'T GET ENOUGH. HE KEPT COMING BACK FOR MORE.

IN A FEW MORE DAYS WE ARE GOING TO SEE MANY PEOPLE MASQUERADING IN COSTUMES PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT.

SOME PERHAPS WILL DISGUISE THEMSELVES AS A GHOST OR A CAT, BUT UNDERNEATH THEIR DISGUISE THEY ARE SOMEONE DIFFERENT.

THIS KIND OF MASQUERADING IS ONLY MAKE-BELIEVE, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF MASQUERADING THAT IS VERY REAL AND NOT SO INNOCENT.

IT IS A SPIRITUAL MASQUERADE. IT IS SPIRITUALLY PRETENDING TO BE SOMEONE WE ARE NOT. IT IS DISGUISING OURSELVES AS A CHRISTIAN WHEN WE AREN'T. OR AS A FRIEND WHEN WE ARE AN ENEMY OR AS BEING PURE ON THE OUTSIDE WHEN WE ARE UNCLEAN ON THE INSIDE.

THIS MORNING THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "MASQUERADING AS A CHRISTIAN" AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 JOHN 4:1-6.

HERE IN OUR TEXT WE FIND THE APOSTLE JOHN WARNING HIS READERS ABOUT THOSE WHO MASQUERADE AS CHRISTIANS BUT IN REALITY WERE NOT.

TODAY IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD THERE ARE MANY WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, BUT IN REALITY ARE ENEMIES OF THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.

THEY ARE RELIGIOUS FAKES, PROFESSIONAL CHARLATANS, FRAUDS, COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS WHO MARKET THEIR TEACHINGS ON SHINY PLATTERS, DECORATED WITH IMPRESSIVE APPEARANCE.

NOT ONLY CAN THESE PEOPLE WHO MASQUERADE AS CHRISTIANS BE FOUND AT LARGE IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE FOUND WITHIN MANY OF THE LORD'S CHURCHES.

AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT FOUR WAY TO AVOID BEING DECEIVED BY SOMEONE WHO IS MASQUERADING AS A CHRISTIAN.