"TO BE OR NOT TO BE OR NOT TO BE, THAT IS THE QUESTION."

INTRO:

1. I think this is a statement made by Shakespeare in one of his writings.

2. But, it will fit in here in a religious sense. So, let us use it.

3. Christianity is a positive and negative law.

4. It contains many things that we are to do and many that we are not to do.

5. There are also a number of things we are told to be, and some that we are told not to be.

A. BE TRANSFORMED: -- Rom. 12:2. NOT CONFORMED: -- Rom. 12:2.

B. WISE AS SERPENTS: -- Matt. 10:16. NOT WISE: -- Rom. 12:16.

C. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT: -- Eph. 5:18. NOT CHILDREN: -- 1Cor. 14:20.

D. DOERS OF THE WORD: -- Jas. 1:22. NOT HEARERS ONLY: -- Jas. 1:22.

E. OVERCOMERS OF EVIL:-- Rom. 12:21. NOT OVERCOME BY EVIL: -- Rom. 12:21.

F. SWIFT TO HEAR: -- Jas. 1:19. NOT CARRIED ABOUT: -- Heb. 13:9.

G. FOLLOWERS OF GOD: -- Eph. 5:1. NOT AS HYPOCRITES: -- Matt. 6:16.

H. WISE: -- Prov. 3:33. NOT UNWISE: -- Eph. 5:15-17.

I. SOBER: -- 1 Pet. 4:7;5:8. NOT DRUNKEN: -- Eph. 5:18.

J. OBEDIENT: -- Titus 2:9,10. NOT DISOBEDIENT: -- Acts 26:19.

K. SEPARATE: -- 1 Cor. 6:17. NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED: -- 2 Cor. 6:14.

L. OF ONE MIND: -- 1 Pet. 3:8. NOT DOUBLE MINDED: -- Jas. 1:6-8; Heb. 13:9.

M. DILIGENT: -- 2 Pet. 3:14. NOT SLOTHFUL: -- Rom. 12:11; Heb. 6:12.

CONCLUSION:

1. Let us be what we ought to be as Christians.

2. Let us not be engaged in things that bring reproach upon ourselves and the church.

By Jim Sasser

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