Guilty beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Guilty beyond a Reasonable Doubt

“If we find any evidence you are a Christian, we will kill you.”This death threat was uttered from an Iranian judge spoken to an underground Believer in Iran as quoted in the latest Voice of the Martyrs publication (2009 Special Issue page 8). - What if we were faced with the same proclamation that this judge gave to this man?
- How would we react in this same situation?
- Are we prepared to face this possible life or death situation?
- If Christianity was made illegal tomorrow and we were brought before a court for the crime of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence in the average life of an American Believer to convict them?

If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? By "evidence," I don't mean how many Bibles you own, or how many bumper stickers you might have on your car with Christian sayings on them. I mean hard evidence. If your family members, neighbors, and coworkers were interviewed and asked the question, "Is (your name here), in your opinion, a real Christian?" we might not be happy with the response.
So, how do I know if you are a Christian? How do you know if I'm one? There must be evidence.
Matthew 7:20
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
If someone examined your life, would they find any spiritual fruit—hard evidence to prove that you are a true follower of Jesus Christ?
John 13:34-35:
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus followers by your love for one another?
Love is more than simply warm feelings: it is an attitude that reveals itself in action.
You can tell instantly who truly loves Jesus Christ and someone who doesn't by their actions or fruits they bare.
They may have professed Jesus Christ, but their actions told everyone around them they follow Satan.
I watch the members of various churches. Those who speak profanity, condemn others, commit adultery, abuse those around them, hate others who were not in their church, put greed and envy above the Savior and indulge in pleasures of the flesh are no more Christian than Muslims are.
We are literally on trial.
Satan is the accuser=prosecutor. ." The word "accuse" is defined, "(1) to charge with, or declare to have committed a crime, (2) to find at fault; to blame . .

In Revelation 12:10 Satan is referred to as "the accuser of our brethren
Revelation 12:10
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
Thankfully Jesus is are advocate=defense attorney
Advocate is just a fancy term for a lawyer, someone who pleads your case before the bar or justice. John writes, 1 John 2:1:
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.
“Jesus goes before God on our behalf and says, “Father, I know they are sinners, but they have repented and My blood has cleansed them. They belong to Me.”
God is the Judge
Revelation 20:11-15:
The Final Judgment
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. Deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.

Then comes the cross examination of ourselves.
I read recently that 50 percent of all born-again Christians don’t have the assurance of salvation.
Perhaps a lot of so-called Christians do not have the assurance of salvation because they are not really saved. Just because you attend church or engage in certain religious activities does not necessarily mean you are a Christian. The Apostle Paul instructed those in the early church to examine themselves to see if their faith was genuine .
2 Corinthians 13:5:
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
Just as we get physical checkups, we are to give ourselves spiritual checkups.
We should look for a growing awareness of Christ’s presence and power in our life.
Then we will know if we are a true Christian or merely imposters.
The only way others can tell whether you are a Christian is by your works. While all the good works in the world won't save a person,
Titus 3:5:
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit .
Because of this we do great deeds that will serve as reasonable evidence that someone is saved.
Works won't save you, but if you really are saved, then works will be something that comes natural to you.
In Acts 26, the Bible outlines three steps you must take to be sure you are a Christian. Acts 26:18:
18 to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’
So first, you must have your eyes opened. A spiritual blindness afflicts those who have not yet turned their lives over to Jesus Christ, because "Satan . . . has blinded the minds of those who don't believe . . ." (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Second, you must turn from darkness to light. Satan loves darkness. Hell is referred to as outer darkness. If you want to really believe, then you need to come out of the darkness and into the light (Acts 26:18).
Third, you must turn from the power of Satan to God. A lot of people today want to live in two worlds. If you want to be a Christian on Sunday, but want to live the other way the rest of the week, it won't work (2 Corinthians 6:14). You must turn from Satan to God.
Have your spiritual eyes been opened? Have you turned from darkness to light? Have you turned from the power of Satan to God? If you've taken these steps, then God has forgiven your sins and has a place for you among God's people in heaven. This is the hope of those who truly belong to Christ.