What It Means to Be a Christian

Acts 11:26 NKJV

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

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

To be a Christian we Must Receive Christ

Something changes on the inside of us

It is not just a club we join, or a group we attend -

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

To become a Christian means receiving Christ. It includes repenting, believing, and forsaking our sins. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

it is not popular to preach this these days, but the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God

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

we must put off the old man with his sinful desires

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

the new is far better

We Must Resemble Christ

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

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

Would you go there if He was with you?

Would you listen to that if He was there?

If He came to your house, what would you have to change?

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

Colossians 3:12–13 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

As Christians, we should work with diligence and purpose, setting our affections on things above (see Col. 3:1, 2).

where is your affection? your future?

We must keep going until we look like him

Ephesians 4:13 NKJV

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

We Must Represent Christ

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

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

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

In fact, Sundays are pretty easy to represent Him, so many people think that if they do good on Sunday, they are free to represent themselves the rest of the week .

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

Isaiah 43:10 NKJV

10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me.

We Shall Reign with Christ

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

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

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

Are you going through some struggles today?

Does it seem hard to Walk with Him today?

Know that, when He comes, we will reign with Him also, and what a glorious day that will be!!!

Romans 8:18 NKJV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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

Life Forevermore!