"I've Always Been a Christian"

The sermon confronts the widespread but biblically unfounded belief that one can be a Christian simply by growing up in a Christian family or environment, arguing that such a claim is a deceptive lie rooted in religious tradition rather than genuine faith. Drawing from Scripture, particularly John 1:12–13, it emphasizes that becoming a child of God is not a result of bloodline, human will, or religious upbringing, but a supernatural work of God through faith in Christ, involving a distinct moment of spiritual rebirth. The preacher illustrates this with historical examples from the Old and New Testaments—such as the rich young ruler and the pre-conversion Saul—showing that even sincere religious observance without true conversion leads to eternal separation from God. The central message is that saving faith is not merely intellectual assent or inherited tradition, but a transformative, Spirit-enabled experience where one recognizes personal sin, repents, and trusts in Christ alone for salvation. The sermon calls all who claim to have 'always been a Christian' to examine their hearts honestly, urging them to abandon false assurance and embrace the true gospel of grace, which demands a personal, life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.