Please Note: This writing was taken from a retired missionary’s published book, “Memories of a Sky Pilot — the Autobiography of a Missionary”, by George O. Welch (published 1997 by Morris Publishing). His first wife, Gladys, went on to be with Jesus in August of ’88; George remarried, but just recently his second wife, Ruth, went home to be with the Lord. Brother George turned 88 this past July, and he is now living in Chicago, near his beloved daughter, Grace, and her family. George and I both attended the same inaugural class of Christ for the Nations (1970-71), and this year (1999) -- through a series of events -- we began communicating again. In various letters, he has informed me of many things going on in his life, some of which are sad (for out-living two wives is sad indeed), but the reading of his book and subsequent “posting” of the following sermon have been a true blessing. I trust it will be a blessing to you as well.
As I said, this was a “radio sermon”, and it was given in Phoenix, Arizona in 1944. The above-mentioned book includes many such radio sermons, articles written for the Covenant Weekly (and other publications), as well as entries from their journal (he and his wife, Gladys, kept a regular daily journal for many years). They ministered in the Northern U.S., Canada, traveled to Alaska, then to Mexico, Ecuador, and other Latin American areas. If you think you may be interested in his book, here is how you can order it ($12.00 — includes postage & handling) — write to Brother Welch at:
George O. Welch
2720 West Foster Ave., Apt. 409
Chicago, IL 60625-3510
• And here is the sermon...
...used with the author’s permission •
• Radio Sermon: “ The Marks of a Christian” •
In the so-called mission lands of the earth — in which the majority of the inhabitants are followers of Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, or of some other world religion — to be called a Christian has tremendous meaning. In America — a land nominally Christian — it becomes easy for many people to consider being an American and a Christian as synonymous. Our final and only real authority on the subject of “what is a Christian” is the Bible, the Word of God. In Acts 11:26 we read: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Now the logical question would be: “In what way were these disciples who were called Christians different from anyone else?” Or were there any distinctive “marks” or characteristics that set them apart as being different from the crowd?
We shall focus our attention upon a number of scripture passages which clearly lay before us the Bible significance of being a Christian or follower of Jesus Christ. In the first place, the Christian has the witness or agreement by the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, that he is a child of God. In other words, an “inner witness” is the experience of all true Christians. I shall quote three
scriptures, each of which brings forth this truth. In Romans 8:16, we read: “The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God”. Then, in the same book and chapter, verse nine: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Also, in 1st John 3:24, we find these words: “And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us”.
A Christian will desire fellowship with God’s people. Though he will “mingle” with all people as Jesus did, his bosom companions and friends will be those who follow the Christian way of life. In 1st John 1:7, we find these words: “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”.
One who is truly a follower of Jesus Christ will study his Holy Word, the Bible, and make this Book of books not only his guide for life, but his daily spiritual food as well. According to 1st John 2:3, we read: “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments”. Many a person seeks to follow the example of some great person of history or some friend, relative or neighbor who is greatly admired. Often times such persons at their best have “weak spots” in their character. How much different to have Christ — the Perfect Sinless One — as our Saviour and Example. The Christian not only seeks to follow Christ as his example, but walks in obedience through the inner strength given by the Lord. Chapter two, verse 6 of 1st John reads: “He
that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked”.
Many times we find professing Christians who have resentments and malice towards other Christians in the same local church. There may be bitterness towards Christians in some other denomination, because of a difference in interpretation of some minor point of doctrine or practice. These things should not be. The way of a Christian is to be the way of love. The heathen of the early centuries after Christ — in contrasting the lives of the Christians with themselves — said: “See how they love one another”. In 1st John 2:10 John puts it this way: “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”
According to the Sacred Scriptures, the Christian’s love will be for sacred things. The Holy Bible, the Christ of the Bible and the Church will be at the center of the Christian’s life, rather than the things of the world. The pleasures, the thrills, the wealth, and the fame of this world will pass away. But eternal values — which come from the indwelling Christ — abide. In the second chapter of the Epistle and the fifteenth verse, John says: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”.
Another mark of the Christian is righteousness. This simply means “rightness” or “goodness”. In other words, the Christian does that which is right. He does not seek to take unfair advantage in business, nor does he loaf on the job. He does not cheat on school examinations, nor does he become full of jealousy and envy when one of his friends gets the better job or the highest places. To be righteous or good means that the Christian will follow God’s Ways, rather than the more easy, sinful ways of man. 1st John 2:29: “If you know that He is righteous, you know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him”.
The Christian does not “despair” of world conditions, because he knows that no matter how terrible earth’s conditions may become through the rule of demonic forces, that in the end Christ shall triumph. In 1st John 3:3, we read: “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” Thus, this Blessed Hope of the return of Christ causes the Christian to live a life that is righteous, that he may be ready for his Lord’s return.
The Christian does not “live in sin”, because sin is contrary to the new nature of the child of God. 1st John 3:6 reads: “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” By comparing this passage with other translations, you will discover that this passage simply states that the Christian does not “live in sin” or “continue in sin”. Should he sin, he will repent and “turn from it”, while the unregenerate person simply continues to live in his sin. The Christian believes that Jesus Christ is God, who came in the Person of a baby at Bethlehem. The Christian believes in Christ not only as a great historic Person, but he accepts Him as the One He claimed to be. Simply this, he believes in the deity and divinity of Christ.
John puts it this way, in 1st John 4:2: “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” A true Christian “confesses” Jesus Christ. Throughout the centuries, this has meant dungeons, imprisonment, torture, and even martyrdom. Yet, one who has been forgiven and saved by Christ can do no less than confess Him...even in the face of death. Verse fifteen of chapter four says: “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in Him, and he in God.” The Christian has victory over temptation and deliverance from evil, and is given strength to live a life of true beauty and holiness. In chapter five, verse four, we read: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Finally, a Christian has his prayers answered. This is a definite promise from God. There are three possible answers to prayer, according to what might be God’s Will in the matter. The answer can be “yes”, “no”, or “wait a while”. The “negative” answer can be just as definite and real as the “positive”. Chapter five, verse fifteen: “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”
For a real blessing, read for yourself the entire book of First John — only five chapters.
This ends George Welch’s Radio Sermon...
This sermon was taken from pages 100 through 103 of the book, “Memories of a Sky Pilot”. By the way...in case anyone has wondered, the term sky pilot means “clergyman, minister or missionary”. It was a term used by one of the sailors on board the ship that first carried George and Gladys Welch to the Alaskan territory, in 1940. He told Brother Welch that it was “unlucky to have a sky pilot on board”, referring, of course, all the way back to Jonah and his terrible effect upon the seamen aboard the vessel in which Jonah sailed. Brother Welch said in his book that if any sailor knows only one story...it will no doubt be the story of Jonah and the whale...
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