"Christian"

Acts 11:19–26 (CSB)

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

“Christian”

What comes to mind when I say that word?

Biblically, the word Christian means, “to belong to Christ”

It is a title of possession.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (CSB)

19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Watchman Nee said, “We think of the christian life as a changed life but it is not that. What God offers us is an ‘exchanged life’ a ‘substituted life’ and Christ is our substitute within.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (CSB)

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Jonathon Edwards said, “the only thing you contributed to your salvation was the sin that made it necessary!”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (CSB)

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Ephesians 4:1–6 (CSB)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

With all that I have shown you this morning, is the life that you are now living worthy of that title, “christian”?

It’s not about doing better, it’s about knowing to whom you belong, the price that was paid for your redemption, and submitting yourself to the life that He wants to live through you.

This may seem to be some radical kind of Christianity to you but that’s only because our idea of what it means to be christian has been shaped more by our culture than it has by God’s Word.

Saint Ignatius said, “I wish not only to be called Christian, but also to be Christian.”