WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?
I Peter 4:14
“If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ….”
Who is a Christian? Many are the answers that have been given to this question. A dictionary definition does not help us very much: "Christian -- the professor of the religion of Christ." According to that definition, the majority of people in the United States would be considered Christian.
Illustration: A pastor was invited to a home for Sunday dinner with one of the families in the church. In the course of their conversation around the table he asked the host’s little daughter how she would define a Christian? She answered, "People who go to church, talk about religion and take the preacher home for dinner." That was her idea of a Christian, which doubtless, she had gathered from the "professing" Christians with whom she had come in contact.
These definitions, while they may contain a minor grain of truth, are not correct. We need the Bible answer to this question for multitudes profess to be Christians who are not Christian at all. "Christian names are everywhere; but Christian men are very rare."
Some think that because they are born in a Christian country or have Christian parents, or have affiliated themselves with a Christian church, that they are Christian. The fact of the matter is that one can do all these things and still not be a Christian. We must turn to God's dictionary for the answer to the question, "Who is a Christian?"
In the New Testament true Christians were called "saints" about 60 times; "disciples" 30 times; "believers" 80 times; "brethren" about 200 times and "Christian" only three times and yet this is the name that has stuck through the centuries. Why is this? Because the name "Christian" not only denotes the one who is the leader, Christ, but it was also meant to describe the follower. The word "Christian" itself, as to its etymology, comes from two words: "Christos" which is the Greek for Christ with the Latin ending "iani."
Who is a Christian?
To answer the question, "Who is a Christian?" let us examine the three times in the New Testament where the word "Christian" is found and then allow the Spirit of God to measure us to see if we are deserving of this name.
I. A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO BELIEVES IN CHRIST.
“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’” (Acts 11:27, 28)
The apostle Paul witnessed to King Agrippa and encouraged him to believe savingly in Jesus Christ. In doing so he was not advocating a simple belief in the existence of Christ. There are those who do believe in the historical Jesus Christ -- that He was an actual person who lived in history and because they believe the historical record of his personhood, they assume that they are Christians. That cannot be the case at all. There are those who vehemently reject Jesus Christ as Savior, but who do believe that He existed.
James, in his epistle writes, "The devils also believe, and tremble." (James 2:19) To merely believe in the existence of Jesus Christ is only to believe as the devil believes. Obviously, this is not a saving belief. Agrippa himself already believed in the physical existence of Jesus Christ. Paul was not trying to convince Agrippa that Jesus existed.
A Christian is one who not only believes in the existence of Jesus Christ but who also willingly and lovingly embraces Jesus Christ as Savior from sin. Agrippa did not embrace Jesus Christ as his Savior. The word "believe" means to trust in, cling to, and rely upon. Therefore not just a profession of the religion of Christ but the possessor of the person of Christ is a Christian.
Good to hear from you EVADIVA, Thanks for sharing with Us!
..TH
@STEEMCHURCH
Many there are who wear the name "Christian" but are poor advertisements for such a high calling. The devil is willing for a person to profess Christianity just as long as he does not practice it.
Obviously people are getting the perception of Christianity very very wrong, being born or breed by Christians does not make you a Christian, in fact most people we look up to as holy people, they're not even Christians, only God himself can guarantee heaven for a person Who has been thoroughly born again, cleansed in the blood of the lamb doing God's will earnestly. These are deserved to be called the sons of God.
This is really beautiful,a christain is someone who believe the sacrifice of Christ,who have received Christ into his life,2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Just from the name a christian means "Christ-like". It was used to describe the followers of Jesus Christ because they believed in him and behaved or acted like him. This is quite crucial because that is God's will for us. For us to conform to the image of his son and be just like him and by so doing fulfilling his word that places Christ the firstborn amongst many brethren. That is what a Christian is all about; one who has Christ's nature. Not one running after a religion but one who has a relationship with God (Father-child).
Nice post and well outlined @evadiva. This are the messages that are needed to awaken self-proclaimed and religious people out there who profess to be Christians.