THE MYTH OF THE ACCIDENTAL CHRISTIAN Examining Intentional Christianity

1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. Service to God Patterned After His Service to Us 1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NASB95)

Service to God Patterned After His Service to Us 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 (NASB95)

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus... Service to God Patterned After His Service to Us 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus... Philippians 2:5 (NASB95)

Service to God Patterned After His Service to Us 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps... 1 Peter 2:21 (NASB95)

Service to God Patterned After His Service to Us 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6 (NASB95)

Accidental Service? 1Tim 4:7 “discipline yourselves for the purpose of godliness” “to exercise vigorously” (Strong’s) “we labor and strive” clearly demonstrates the intentional nature of our service “since it holds promise for the present life and the life to come”

Accidental Worship? Ps 2:11 Proper worship cannot possibly be offered in an unintentional haphazard manner Worship requires an attitude of reverence “...fear, terror, fearing...respect, reverence, piety...” (Strong’s) We must fear the thought of an angry God!

Accidental Love? Romans 12:9-13 The actions of this passage are produced by agape love Describes God’s love for His Son as well as Man (Jn 17:26, 3:16) Describes the nature of God (1Jn 4:8,16) Drives a man to obedience (Jn 14:21) The man led by the Spirit will demonstrate this love (Gal 5:22) Agape is an active concern which leads us to suffer for Christ

Accidental Love? Romans 12:9-13 This type of love requires a great degree of selflessness and willingness to sacrifice This is a love that intentionally overlooks flaws and chooses to see the good in others Such an attitude cannot exist without the will being intentionally conditioned 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NASB95)

Accidental Love? Romans 12:9-13 Hospitality - “literally love of strangers” Hospitality is a part of the love that we are to show one another “Practicing” (“given” KJV) - “...to run swiftly in order to catch a person...one who in a race runs swiftly to reach a goal...” (Strong’s)

Accidental Repentance? Luke 18:9-14 Repentance by its very nature is an intentional act True repentance requires a fundamental change in one’s view of the world around them Paul demonstrated this change in his life (Acts 23:1; 1Tim 1:15)

Accidental Repentance? Luke 18:9-14 This type of change requires: Honesty Willingness to recognize needed change Humility

Accidental Holiness? 1Peter 1:13-15 Holiness refers to a purity of life that comes from being “Christ-like” Holiness requires me to allow new influences to guide my thinking True Holiness requires gratitude and commitment