Christians

Christians

Introduction. The name �Christian� is used often, but what does the Bible say it means to be a Christian?

I. The Name �Christian� in the New Testament.

A. One who suffers for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14-17).

1. Who turns from sin (4:15).

2. Who has obeyed the gospel (4:17).

B. One becomes a Christian (Acts 26:1-29).

1. It involves persuasion to accept belief and practice (26:28).

2. It is not a condition of birth.

3. It is not partial acceptance, but �altogether� (26:29).

C. A Christian is a disciple of Christ (Acts 11:19-26).

1. It involves turning from sin to the Lord (11:21).

2. It involves continuing with the Lord (11:23).

3. To understand what a Christian is we must understand what it means to be a disciple.

� One must bear his cross (Luke 14:26-27).

� One must deny self (Mark 8:34-35).

� It involves Baptism and obedience (Matt. 28:16-20).

II. How the Name �Christian� is Not used in the New Testament.

A. As a category or genre. It is used to describe people, not things.

1. Music, books, or schools may or may not� hold to truth.

2. This concern led the college some brethren operate as individuals to no longer be called �Florida Christian College� but simply �Florida College.�

3. Some would argue that it cannot be used as an adjective at any time. Can �Christian� be used as an adjective? Properly, it is an adjective used as a noun. Latin ending �ianus� came into Greek �ianos� as an equivalent to the possessive (cf. kuriakos� �Lord�s Supper� 1 Cor. 11:20; �Lord�s Day� Rev. 1:10).

4. Christians are the people that belong to the Lord.

B. Of those who accept part of the gospel, but not all of it.

1. �Altogether� (Acts 26:29).

2. Turning to the Lord and from sin (Acts 11:21).

3. Obedience to Jesus� commands (Matt. 28:20).

4. It communicates the wrong thing to call those �Christians� who do not match the biblical definition of the name.

Conclusion. �Are you a Christian?