Widespread definitions: (1) A good person (2) A believer in some form of Deity described in the Bible. (3) A religious person (4) A sincere person (5) A member of any church
As we search His Word for the answer, one thing must be acknowledged: God’s Word is the truth, and we must conform our misconceptions and misinterpretations to His perfect law (Psalm 19:1-7).
The first time the word Christian appears in the Scriptures is when Luke wrote, “the disciples were first divinely called Christians” (Acts 11:26). A special name? Yes. This event is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that God would call His people by a new name (Isaiah 62:2). This would happen when the nations (Gentiles) would see their (the followers of Christ’s) righteousness. Consequently, Cornelius (a Gentile) and his household had recently obeyed the gospel of Christ (Acts 10). The gospel message had been taken to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16). The event in Antioch was clearly divine in scale and a fulfillment of Isaiah’s inspired utterance nearly seven centuries before!
Aside from this point, two terms are specifically used to describe God’s people before the term Christian was “coined” in Acts 11:26.
The church
As was pointed out in a previous article, the word church means a called-out group of people. Jesus promised to form His church, and He fulfilled His promise (cf. Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:1-47). So, Paul and Silas did not meet and teach a man-made group for one year, but the Lord’s one called-out group. Therefore, only members of His church were called Christians.
Disciples
Jesus Christ is the ultimate Teacher. He explained and taught in a way that even great crowds would hear Him gladly (Mark 12:37). Those who would keep His teachings were (and are) called disciples (students, pupils). Disciples are people who follow their leader/teacher/mentor very closely, and listen closely to every one of his words. This is a Christian’s relationship to his Teacher, Jesus (cf. Matthew 4:4). This was Peter’s attitude when he exclaimed, “ Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we believe and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68). Christians are students of the very words of the Teacher.
Believers
It is foolish and soul condemning to not believe in God (cf. Psalm 14:1; Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6). Belief (trusting faith) is essential to eternal life (John 8:24). But is belief, by itself, pleasing to God?
Many people are of the conviction that faith in and of itself makes one a Christian. What they really believe though is quite different. They really mean mental ascent to or acknowledgement of Christ’s deity is all that God requires, but the Bible teaches otherwise (James 2:20-24; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:8-10). Christians work out their salvation with fear and trembling.
Sincere people
Paul had done all things in his life in good conscience (Acts 23:1). This included killing innocent people (Acts 8:1-5). He was sincere but wrong. Many sincere people will plead with Jesus in judgment that they were sincere and had served Him with their whole heart, but He pronounce separation on them (Matthew 7:21-25).
Does this mean that all sincere people are on the way to eternal punishment? No! Sincerity has always been required by God (Joshua 24:14 – God must be served in sincerity and truth). Christians have “obeyed from the heart” to that standard of teaching (Romans 6:17). Sincerity is indeed essential, but it alone will not save. You can be sincerely misguided!
Religious people
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he who practices the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name and in your name cast out demons and in your name do many miracles? And then I will confess to them, I never knew you: withdraw from me, you who work lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23). The people depicted in this sad scene have two things in common: They are religious yet they are still condemned to hell.
Death will be a rude awakening for so many religious people. They would lived their whole life attending church services and Bible classes and would still live in eternal outer darkness. It does not matter how sincere or religious, our life must be led according to Christ’s authority (Colossians 3:17). “Going to church makes you as much a Christian as standing in a garage makes you a car.”
Though a Christian is a member of a church, and is a religious and sincere believer in God, these qualities alone are not enough. Here are several things I hope you take from this article:
- It is not up to us to define who and who is not a Christian. God has already defined that for us.
- Though sincerity is essential to salvation, sincerity alone is not enough. Paul killed innocent people in all sincerity - Acts 23:1
- Though religious devotion is required in service to God, religious devtion alone is not enough. Remember the people at judgment - Matthew 7:21-23
- Believing in God is more than mental ascent, it is active. It alone cannot save either. - James 2:20-24; John 8:24; Titus 2:14
- You know whether or not you are truly a Christian, a member of the Lord's one church!
If you are not a Christian, in the purest definition of the word, become one today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment