what is a christian?. by definition, the word “christian” means “a follower of christ”
TRANSCRIPT
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
By definition, the word “Christian”
means “a follower of Christ”.
By concept, a follower is one who walks in the footsteps of his
leader.
Therefore, a Christian is one who walks in the footsteps of Jesus
(1 Peter 2:21)
1 Pet 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”
The word Christian is used only three times in the New Testament
Acts 11:26Acts 26:281 Pet 4:16
Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much
people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”
Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian”
1 Pet 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf”
Acts 11:26
At Antioch, many had been taught the word and had “turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21)
Acts 11:21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them:
and a great number believed, and turned unto
the Lord”
Acts 26:28
Paul is preaching the word to King Agrippa concerningwhat he did to become a Christian and about the church (Acts 26:1-23)
Acts 26:1-26 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to
speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa…
Acts 26:1-26 …because I shall answer for myself this day before
thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the
Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs
and questions which are…
Acts 26:1-26 …among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life
from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;
Which knew me from the…
Acts 26:1-26 …beginning, if they would testify, that after the most
straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand
and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto
our fathers: Unto which…
Acts 26:1-26 …promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving
God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of
the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with
you…
Acts 26:1-26 …that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the…
Acts 26:1-26 …saints did I shut up in prison, having received
authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death,
I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every
synagogue, and compelled…
Acts 26:1-26 …them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto
strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority
and commission from the…
Acts 26:1-26 …chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining
round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth…
Acts 26:1-26 …I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus…
Acts 26:1-26 …whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand
upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this
purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these
things which thou hast seen…
Acts 26:1-26 …and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from
the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to…
Acts 26:1-26 …light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by
faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not…
Acts 26:1-26 …disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to
the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and…
Acts 26:1-26 …do works meet for repentance. For these causes the
Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I
continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and…
Acts 26:1-26 …great, saying none other things than those
which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should
be the first that should rise…
Acts 26:1-27 …from the dead, and should shew light unto the
people, and to the Gentiles. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou
believest”
Agrippa’s response to Paul’s lesson is that Paul
had almost persuaded him to be a Christian(Acts 26:28)
Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest
me to be a Christian”
Agrippa recognized what Paul was and understood what
Paul had done to become a Christian. He was not ready to
become One.
What did Paul do? In Acts 9, after listening to the teachingof Ananias, Paul responded
to this teaching by beingbaptized into Christ
(Acts 9:18; cf. Acts 22:12-16)
Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it
had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and
arose, and was baptized”
1 Pet 4:16
1 Pet 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf”
Who were these people?
They were the elect
(1 Peter 1:2)
1 Pet 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and
peace, be multiplied”
They were the obedient children
(1 Pet. 1:14)
1 Pet 1:14 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your
ignorance”
They were those who had purified their
souls by obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22)
1 Pet 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying
the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”
They were a spiritual house
(1 Peter 2:5)
1 Pet 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ”
They were a holy priesthood(1 Peter 2:5)
1 Pet 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ”
They were a chosen generation
(1 Peter 2:9) (“chosen, favorite, elect”)
1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his
marvellous light”
“peculiar” – Grk Lex 4047 peripoiesis {per-ee-poy'-ay-sis}
- purchased possession, a preserving, a preservation,
possession, one's own property, an obtaining
They were a changed people(1 Peter 4:1-4)
1 Pet 4:1-4 “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath
ceased from sin; That he…
1 Pet 4:1-4 …no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles,
when we walked in…
1 Pet 4:1-4 …lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings,
banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it
strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
speaking evil of you”
They were a people humble
before God(1 Peter 5:6)
1 Pet 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under
the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in
due time”
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
What is a Christian? A Christian is one who has obeyed
the word of God; has submitted himself to Christ; walks in the
footsteps of Christ; and has changed so that even the world recognizes the
change.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A CHRISTIAN?
What God expects of aChristian.
They are to continue in the way of God (Acts
2:42)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to live differently than the
world (1 Peter 2:11,12).
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to never waver from their service
(Galatians 5:7; 6:9)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to preach the word (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:2)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to always abound in the work of
the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to study God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15; 1
Peter 2:2).
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to develop into teachers of God’s
word (2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews5:12-14)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
They are to be holy (1 Peter 1:14-16)
Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he
taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were
astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”
Jam 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and
not by faith only”
Acts 8:37-38 “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. And he…
Acts 8:38 …commanded the chariot to stand still: and they
went down both into the water, both Philip and the
eunuch; and he baptized him”
Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost”
Matt 10:32 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my
Father which is in heaven”
Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord”
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized
shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
be damned”
Hear Believe Repent Confess Baptized
Christian