East Baptist Church – Denison, TX

In the Upper Room Christ Gives the Marks of Committed Christians

John 13:31 -38

I stand before you to ask you if you are going to display Christian symbols, please make sure you are not hurting Kingdom work and witness by not living on the inside the statement you are making on the outside. This calls for a very honest look at how we are living. 

I was so sad when I saw a grandmother congress woman with cross earrings standing in front of the cameras using the foulest language imaginable. What a poor witness to all that heard her but what a sad example for her family.

Matthew 12:34 (NASB77)³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

The three overriding marks of a Christian should be evident in the life of every born-again child of God in Christ. It is a great way to also take our spiritual blood pressure. I think that our Lord desired us to be able to have the signs that allow us to (by the power of His Holy Spirit) gauge our spiritual health. A check off list if you will, from the Lord’s own lips. 

They are as follows in our verse:

1 That a Committed Christian have an unending preoccupation with God’s glory

2 The committed Christian proclaims the Gospel or Good news.

3 Is the Committed Christian loves other people with Christ-Like love.

 I am reminded of the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:16 (NASB77) ¹⁶Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

 As our Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane Judas was marching to that same Garden to set the End in Motion:

Matthew 26:49-50 (NASB77)⁴⁹And immediately he went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.⁵⁰And Jesus said to him, ” Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

This reminds me that I am not responsible for what others do. I am responsible for what I do.  

The second vital truth lesson from the Upper Room that we see proclaimed in verse 31: not only was Christ glorified, but the Father God was glorified in Him. Jesus teaches us that the greatest way we can glorify God is to declare the Gospel.

John 13:31 (NASB77) ³¹When therefore he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;

The third lesson from the upper Room is that we love each other with Christ Like Love.

³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.