Robert Coleman wrote: "In 1760 a group Protestants from Ireland migrated to New York. Among them were some Methodists, including Philip Embury, a young carpenter, who had been a local preacher in the old country. In the company, too, was a married woman, a cousin of Embury, named Barbara Heck."

"As is still often true of people who are uprooted, the newcomers settled down to a life of church inactivity, a stage certainly different from their Methodist heritage. Things drifted on for five years without any organized worship. It was Mrs. Heck who finally took the initiative. One day coming across a group of men gambling in a card game, the aroused woman grabbed the cards, threw them into the fire, and proceeded to exhort the men to repent. Then, while still distressed, she rushed to the house of Embury, and cried, 'You must preach to us or we shall all go to hell, and God will require our blood at your hands.'"

Today, on this Sunday before Memorial Day, we have dedicated gifts in memory of loved ones. Let us continue to pray for the safety of men and women who are serving our country around the world to preserve our freedom. We rejoice that Rod Kern will be back in the United States in a few weeks. While we gather to remember our loved ones who have gone before us, let us also remember who we are without Christ and who we are within Christ. Remember:

I. Who We Are Without Christ.

Paul and others tell us who we are without Christ. We are in Adam. We are lost. We are dead in our sins and trespasses. This is the condition of the human being who has experienced physical birth, but not yet been born again, spiritually. This is the doctrine of original sin, which is unpopular to many people in our day. A popular sentiment among many is the notion that eventually, everyone, or almost everyone, will be saved. This is NOT the teaching of the scriptures.

One of the factors that motivated early Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists with evangelistic zeal is that they remembered who they were without Christ. They knew they were lost and needed to make personal decisions to flee from the wrath to come and be saved from their sins. Indifference to the lost ness of humankind certainly contradicts evangelism.

An atheist expressed it like this:
"Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another... I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand, nor seal my lips... I would strive to look upon eternity alone and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlasting happy or everlasting miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach it in season and out of season, and my text would be 'What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul.'

These are insightful thoughts and questions from one who did not believe, but thought, if he did believe, he should take some clear action steps in conjunction with his convictions. A few years ago, a UMC bishop, reflecting on the decline of evangelistic passion in the church commented to a gathering of clergy, "Our trouble is that we don't believe anymore that people are lost."

My friends, if we really do remember who we are without Christ, we should be motivated to share our faith with them. Without Christ, men and women are lost. However, don't stop there. Remember:

II. Who We Are Within Christ.

Paul did was not content only reminding us of who we are without Christ, but clearly reminded us of who we are in Christ. He said we shall be made alive. The context here is that of physical resurrection of those who have died in Christ. Christ has secured the victory over death for all of us who have trusted Him as our Savior. He will save us from the wrath that is to come, the eternal judgment for those who do not trust Christ. This is good news for us. We should not think of hell and be judgmental, because except for the grace of God, we too would be without hope. If we really believe there is a hell, we should not ignore the lost or withhold this great news that Jesus saves all who will come to God through Him.

Being within Christ also has great benefits for us before we go into eternity. Salvation is not only for the future. It is for now. We are to be alive to Christ in our daily lives. In writing to the Christians at Colossae, Paul said, "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." He continued talking about specific conduct of their lives outside of Christ and later in chapter three he told those in Christ to put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, and putting on love, the perfect bond of unity. This is very similar to the fruit of the Spirit which those of us who are in Christ should be cultivating in our lives.

While we share a responsibility for bearing the fruit of the Spirit, remember this is who we are to be in Christ, with the Spirit's loving assistance.

Conclusion:

Dr. Robert McQuilkin compares a Christian to a security guard charged with the protection of residents on the tenth floor of a nursing home. Among other things, it is his responsibility to get the patients to safety should an emergency arise. Accordingly, he is given a floor plan to the building, which delineates clearly where the fire exits are located. Should a fire break out, what would you feel toward the guard if, rather than following instructions, he discussed with the residents the possibility of there being other escape routes than those located on the map? Or suppose that he suggested that it may not be necessary to go down the steps at all, for he had heard a report of someone who had jumped from a ten-story building and survived? Would you not think the man terribly foolish, if not criminally negligent?

Remember who we are without Christ and who we are within Christ. Jesus is the only way. Without Him, we are lost. With Him are alive, now and forever.

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