WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

I. We Must Receive Christ

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17).

A. To become a Christian means receiving Christ. It includes repenting, believing, and forsaking our sins. Jesus said, (Luke 13:3, 5).

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

B. Receiving Christ means being in him. “Old things are passed away” (2 Cor. 5:17). Old friends, habits, and sinful pursuits drop off.

C. In Christ “all things are become new” (v. 17). We receive a new life, faith, hope, love, joy, and peace.

II. We Must Resemble Christ

“… leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

A. As Christians we should emulate Christ in our thinking, seeing, hearing, speaking, doing, and going.

B. We should look for the positive and good; be kind, compassionate, and understanding (see Col. 3:12, 13).

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye

C. As Christians, we should work with diligence and purpose, setting our affections on things above (see Col. 3:1, 2).1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

III. We Must Represent Christ

“And ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8).

A. As Christians, we are to represent Christ at home, school, work, and play—everywhere. We should seek to exemplify him in deed and conversation.

B. Missionaries are to represent Christ on foreign fields. They speak and witness for him. We should do the same here at home.

C. We can represent Christ by giving words of encouragement, good deeds, and witnessing to the unsaved about him . Isa. 43:10).

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

IV. We Shall Reign with Christ

“And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17).

A. Those who receive Christ, resemble Christ, represent Christ, shall also reign with Christ.

B. The Scripture says, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4).

C. Being a Christian means that we are in Christ, like Christ, for Christ, and with Christ for now and throughout eternity.