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Who Is A Christian?

Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16

Acts 11:26“and when he had found him, he brought

him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught

considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Acts 26:28“Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short

time you will persuade me to become a Christian."”

1 Peter 4:16“but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he

is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”

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James 2:5-7

“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He

promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?”

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Origin of the name

• Isaiah 62:2–God promised to give a “new name”

• Isaiah 62:1-2

• The mouth of the Lord would give this name.

“The nations will see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will

be called by a new name Which the mouth of the Lord will designate.”

“For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet, Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, And her salvation like a torch that is burning. 2 The nations will

see your righteousness, And all kings your glory; And you will be called by a new name Which the mouth of the Lord

will designate.”

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Origin of the name

• Isaiah 56:5–It was to be given “in My house”

–God's house is the church• 1 Timothy 3:15

“To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and

daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut

off.”

“but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which

is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

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Meaning & Use

• “Follower of Christ” (Thayer)

• “Adherent of Christ” (Vine)

• No hyphenated Christians

• “Christian” is a noun, not an adjective!

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Who are not Christians?

• Those who are not in God's family, the church.–One might wear the name even though

he is not entitled to do so.

• Not all “good” people are Christians.–Nicodemus was a good man, but he

had to be born again – John 3:1-5–Cornelius was a good man, but he had

to hear words to be saved – Acts 11:14

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know

that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is

with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again

he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said* to Him, "How can a man be born when he is

old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus

answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.”

“and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all

your household.'”

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Who are not Christians?

• Not all “religious” people are Christians.–Some heathens are religious

• Acts 17:22

–Paul held to what was false• Acts 26:5,9

–Two kinds of religion, pure and defiled – James 1:26-27

“So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I

observe that you are very religious in all respects.”

“since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. … 9

"So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of

Jesus of Nazareth.”

“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but

deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and

undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep

oneself unstained by the world.”

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Who are not Christians?

• Not all church members are Christians. –Joining or attending a church does

not make one a Christian.

–There are many who are in the “church of Christ” who are not Christians at all.

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Who are Christians?

• Wearing the name “Christian” involves a life of duty to Christ.

• A Christian is something one IS, not just something he is called.

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Who are Christians?

• A Christian is one who has obeyed the gospel.–The person who is “in Christ” is a

Christian.

–One must be baptized “into Christ” to be “in Christ”• Galatians 3:26-27

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed

yourselves with Christ.”

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Have I obeyed the gospel?

• Did I obey the gospel from conviction or convenience? –Romans 6:17

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching

to which you were committed,”

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Am I willing to suffer as a Christian?

• 1 Peter 4:16

• Hebrews 10:32-34“but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify

God in this name.”

“But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great

conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and

tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you

showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for

yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.”

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Am I separated from the world?

• Recreation, language, conduct, apparel? –Romans 12:2“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good

and acceptable and perfect.”

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Am I truly devoted to Christ?

• Do I love the brethren, or do I have no time for them? –John 13:34-35

• Do I attend the minimum or maximum number of services? –Hebrews 10:25

• Do I give liberally or miserly?

“"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have

loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all men will know that

you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."”

“not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the

more as you see the day drawing near.”

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Am I truly interested in leading others to

Christ?

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Do I appreciate Strong Preaching

• Am I offended when the Bible condemns my sins?

• What is my reaction when religious error is exposed? –Galatians 4:16

“So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

John 6:66“As a result of this many of His disciples

withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

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Am I growing in the faith?

• 2 Peter 1:5-8

• Am I concerned about my spiritual development and that of my family?

• We must “glorify God in this name” –1 Peter 4:10-11

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral

excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-

control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance,

godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness,

love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our

Lord Jesus Christ.”

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in

all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and

dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

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