True Christian or Counterfeit?

Much earlier in my life, I worked for a company that made metal parts through an etching process. This process involved creating a master image on film for manufacturing parts or artwork. This film would be placed over a metal plate (usually brass but it could be other metals) that had been coated with a light-sensitive chemical. The master image would expose the chemical on the plate and then the plate would be washed in a chemical bath to remove the exposed areas. Finally this plate would be moved through a machine that would spray a wash of acid on the plate for a set amount of time (the time depended on the type and thickness of the metal). This acid wash would etch (eat away) the metal not protected or covered. As the plate came out of the machine it would be rinsed with water to stop the etching process. The end result was a metal part that looked exactly like the original artwork which could be used for further manufacturing. One of the pieces of artwork that I worked on for one job involved creating a small number 5.

Normal the area of the business I worked in did artwork for ornaments, bookmarks and similar items. This small number 5 intrigued me because it was unlike other work we did. I found out that the company ordering this small number was a place named Crane & Co. Does anyone know the significance of that company name? Crane & Co. are stationery makers – specialty paper, envelopes and the like – but that is only the public side of their business. The bread and butter business of Crane & Co. is making the paper used in various world currencies – a lot of Asian currencies – but Crane & Co. is the sole manufacturer of the paper used in every U.S. dollar bill – and every other denomination of our paper money. Actually, using the word “paper” is a misnomer because our U.S. currency is a combination of linen, cotton rag and other material. Crane & Co. needed this small metal number 5 to create what is called a watermark. A watermark in paper is used to change the density in a spot in the paper without changing the feel of the paper. You have seen a watermark if you have held a piece of paper up to a light source and seen an image in the paper – many times it is simply the name of the manufacturer or the brand of paper. In our money, watermarks are used as one more step in trying to thwart counterfeiting. I later went to the Crane & Co. plant that was using this little metal part, to see more of their business and to find out if we could do more business with them. I actually toured the part of the plant that was making the base sheets of paper for the $5 bill and saw the original die of the image of President Lincoln the $5 dollar bill.

If you hold up a $5 dollar bill to a light, you will see two watermarks to the left of the portrait of President Lincoln that are the number 5 – that is from the metal number 5 from the company I worked for. Have you ever been passed a counterfeit bill? Prior to 1990, the U.S. currency was pretty basic and relied primarily upon the intaglio printing process to thwart counterfeiting. High-end consumer and industrial copiers, however, were doing a pretty good job of reproducing money as well – and were the choice of counterfeiters everywhere. The U.S. government began a redesign of all U.S. currency instituting a number of counter-counterfeiting measures in each domination bill. Watermarks were added – the primary watermark is now a portrait of the individual printed on the bill. A Lincoln watermark on the $20 for instance. (I also meet one of the individuals who carved the images for these bills.) The printed portraits are offset on each bill to allow for this watermark to one side. The printed portraits are also larger than in the past to allow for more detail. A plastic security thread was added to each denomination saying “USA – (denomination).” This is visible when held up to light as well. This security thread also glows a different color under UV light depending on the denomination of the bill. Color inks were added, but not just any colored inks – color shifting inks. Depending on the angle the bill is held at, the color will “shift” or change from green to black.

The $5 is the only bill without this feature. Micro-printing was added at various spots on the currency. This type is so small most people miss it, but it is readable under a magnifier. Copiers cannot reproduce this small print. Very fine lines have also been added to each bill to make copying harder. This lines will appear wavy or blur together if reproduced. Part of the content of every U.S. currency bill is blue and red threads randomly scattered in the base material. This is not printed, but actually threads. The exact content of U.S. currency is classified and possession of unprinted U.S. currency paper is a felony. When Crane & Co. ships this U.S. currency paper, they use regular delivery trucks they rent from other business – bread trucks, appliance trucks, semi’s that normally transport other consumer items. When these trucks leave the Crane & Co. paper mills, some have the U.S. currency in them – and some don’t. They all take difference routes so anyone following the trucks is not going to know which trucks have this currency paper in them and which don’t. It is also illegal to print any U.S. bill (as an image in a magazine article for instance) unless only part of the bill is shown and if it is printed larger or smaller than its normal size. Why do I introduce my sermon today with talk of various devices used in printing money and of efforts to prevent counterfeiting? Today I am going to talk about counterfeiting – but not physical counterfeiting.

Today we are going to look at what makes a Christian the genuine article, and what makes up a counterfeit Christian. Here in the United States, the Secret Service is tasked with maintaining the integrity of our money – it is their job to find and confiscate counterfeit money. I found one of their tips very interesting. They say when looking for a counterfeit, don’t look for the similarities – look for the differences. There are many claims of being a Christian in the world around us. How do we know who is a genuine Christian and who is not? Why should we even consider this today? Depending upon the source, it is estimated that there are about 2-3 billion individuals who identify themselves as Christian in the world (about 30% of the world population) – but there are disagreements over what identifies a Christian (a set of actions, only belief in Christ as God, what sects are still Christian compared to mainline denominations, etc.). (elaborate on the “pie pieces”) As a side note, it is generally accepted that those who identify themselves as Christian are declining in the Western nations, but are growing in the Far East. Why should we even consider this topic of who is a true Christian? As God was founding His Church after the Feast of Pentecost in 31 A.D., there were many new events taking place. God had given His called out one’s His Holy Spirit in a very dramatic way on that Holy Day. Peter had given a powerful sermon that was a tipping point for thousands to stop postponing acting on what Jesus Christ had preach to them for 3½ years.

The apostles were unrelenting in their preaching of Christ’s Gospel message and were given the power to perform dramatic healings – as is recorded in Acts 3. A “certain lame man,” who had been lame from birth, sat daily at the gate called Beautiful which lead into the Temple complex. As Peter and John were going through this gate one day around 3pm – and they were asked for money from this lame man. He had no other means of income. Peter and John did something dramatic in this story. Acts 3:4-10 – lame man healed With this backdrop, we move to Acts 4 where the powers that be – the Temple priests, the Sadducees and others – arrested Peter and John and held them overnight until they could be brought before the Council. Acts 4:5-12 – salvation by no other name Christianity is not just one flavor amongst all of the choices of religions in the world – being a follower of Christ is the only way to have salvation, to have eternal life. There are no variations of truth – there is truth and there is untruth. This is applicable in spiritual matters just as it is true in the physical world around us. So if Christ is the only way to salvation, then what is required? Shortly before Christ’s crucifixion, He gave His disciples a commission. Matthew 28:19 – make disciples But what is a "disciple"? What does it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

John 8:31: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.'" A dictionary definition of a disciple is: “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” A synonym is “follower.” But, a disciple is not just a pupil, a student, but is also an adherent – an imitator of the teacher. 1 Peter 2:21 – follow His steps We are to teach others to follow Christ’s example. READ: Matthew 28:19-20 – make disciples The disciples asked questions – to learn Matthew 17:10 – why do the scribes say? Luke 8:9 – what does this parable mean? Mark 10:10 – questions about divorce Mark 9:28 – why couldn’t we do this? Luke 6:46 – call me Lord and don’t do the things I say 1 Peter 2:21 – follow His steps Let’s spend the remaining time in this sermon then, looking at a few basic characteristics of what a true Christian is. 1. They keep God’s Commandments 1 John 3:24 – he who keeps His commandments Revelation 14:12 – those who keep the commandments of God Too many who call themselves “Christian” want the end result without putting forth the effort. This is like wanting to be rich without being willing to work. This type of “Christian” buys into the falsehood that the Law God gave in the Old Testament is a burden done away with by the love of Christ in the new. 1 John 5:2-3 – His commandments are not burdensome 2. They obey God and His Law - and have God’s Holy Spirit working in their life. A Christian is someone who has God’s Holy Spirit working in and directing their life.

Romans 8:7-10 – have not the Spirit, not Christ’s verse 4 – that the law might be fulfilled in us Doing the will of the Father and obeying the words of the Son. Acts 5:32 – God give the HS to those who obey Him Galatians 5:22-23 – fruit of the Spirit 3. They seek and do the will of the Father and Jesus Christ Matthew 7:21-27 – not everyone who says ‘Lord’ will enter the Kingdom, but he who does the will of the Father Matthew 12:47-50 – do the will of My Father Hebrews 10:36 – after you have done the will of God 4. They are developing Godly character A Christian is someone who is developing God’s character and emulating Christ. Matthew 5:48 – be perfect 2 Corinthians 2:16 - 2 Corinthians 3:18 – be transformed to His likeness 2 Peter 3:18 – growing 5. They love each other John 13:35 – by this all will know you are my disciples John 15:17 – I command you, that you love one another Romans 12:9-16 – be kindly affectionate to one another 1 John 4:21 – he who loves God must love his brother 6. They will be overcomers Romans 12:21 – overcome evil with good 2 Peter 3:18 – grow in grace and knowledge Diligence is overcoming will bear fruit.

2 Peter 3:14 – without spot Revelation 2:7 – he who overcomes 1 John 3:2-5 – purify yourself So why is it important to know what distinguishes a true Christian? Do you remember the statement from the Secret Service at the beginning of this sermon? When trying to determine if something is counterfeit, don’t look for the similarities – look for the differences. Counterfeit Christians will show similarities in worshipping God, but the differences show what they reject in God’s truth. Hebrews 13:8 – Christ the same forever If worship that proports to be toward God, the question to ask is, “Does this match what Christ taught and did?” It is going to become more and more important as we approach the end-time to know those who reject and oppose Him and His teachings. 1 John 2:18 - Antichrist A Christian is someone who is reflecting Christ in all aspects of His life, not just as a title or a convenient activity.