What is a Christian?
Acts 11:19-26 (NIV)
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Intro: we live is during some special times don’t we. We live in a time when everything is being questioned. Everything we once understood and clear and simple isn’t so simple anymore. We have a message given to us by and evangelist at camp meeting where he mentioned this. How at one time things were cut and dry and that’s not so anymore
a. There was a time that the good guy always wore white and the bad guy always wore black
b. There was a time when the good guy was good and the bad guy was bad. Now that’s changed. The cop is bad the thief is good
c. There was a time when the good guy won and the bad guy lost
d. Things where simple.
e. Now we don’t even know what marriage is.
f. For thousands of years….literally thousands of years, marriage was man and women. I don’t think there was ever a civilization that believed and accepted same sex marriage.
But now…..
With that in mind I want to clarify something today.
We are going to talk about what is a Christian. What does the bible tell us a Christian is.
Because even this is in question.
a. We live in a Christian nation don’t we?
b. You would figure we would know.
c. But that’s not so.
d. The term Christian is being applied to some many.
e. Many adopt it.
f. If you ask them what religion are you many would say Christian.
g. But what is a Christian in the biblical sense.
We can our answers in this scripture.
a. It was the first time anyone was given the term Christian.
b. It would be cleanest sense of the word.
c. Here in Antioch they were first call Christians.
d. Who where these people, how did they get the name?
These where people who
I. Believed in a specific God
Acts 3:13 (NIV)
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
a. A Christian believes in the God of the Bible
i. He isn’t just any god
ii. He is not Allah
iii. He is not the Muslim God
iv. Or a God of our imagination
v. He is Jehovah
vi. He has a name
vii. He has a personality
b. Many people today want to think that just believing in God is ok.
i. As if he is one god in many different forms
ii. This nations was started a as nation under God
iii. But he was Jehovah
iv. The politicians want to paint a picture as if all gods are the same and they are not
c. He does not believe in a God that is some external world force
d. He doesn’t believe in a God that is a figment of his own imagination
i. If he wants to know about God he gets his information from scripture
ii. Not from a gut feeling
iii. Or experience he has had
iv. He believes in the God of the OT
v. The God of Israel
vi. As reveal to us from scripture
1. He is God of mercy
2. He is a God of compassion
3. He is a God of Love
4. But he is also a God of Justice
a. Most want to leave this out
b. They say things like God could never do that
c. Well in scripture he did.
Question: Which God do you believe in?
II. Where conscious of Sin
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
a. He understand what sin is
i. Rebellion against God
ii. He knows and admits his sin
1. He doesn’t embrace it
2. Or accept it
3. He knows it is bad and needs to be dealt with
iii. And he was seeking redemption from it
b. Many people come to God today for all kinds of reasons
i. To pay the mortgage
ii. A self help program
iii. Many have turned God into a self help guru
iv. Say things like of you want a better life come to God
v. These are all well and good
vi. But Christians came to God because they were seeking redemption
c. It’s about sin
i. It always has been
ii. And always will be
iii. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing
d. To many people want to deny the reality of sin
iv. We claim to be Christian but we won’t admit there is a problem with us.
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Question: Do you find yourself making excuses for you sin? Or do you call it what it is.
III. They accepted Gods Provision for sin in Christ
Acts 11:21 (NIV)
21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord
John 8:23-24 (NIV)
23 But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am [the one I claim to be], you will indeed die in your sins."
a. He has made a decision to accept Christ for their redemption
i. Many people believe in God and believe in sin
1. But they have never really made a decision about Christ
2. They never come to Him and confessed their sins
3. They say Lord come into my heart but never say Lord I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness
4. And accept his forging act of the cross
5. He is ether our sin barer or not
6. If he isn’t our sin barer first then he is nothing.
ii. Those in this scripture had made a very conscious decision about who Christ is and what he has done
1. They didn’t believe he was a great prophet
2. Or just a good man
3. But he was God in the flesh
4. Crucified on the cross
5. and risen again
iii. They all in a point in time made a decision about this
b. Many today call themselves Christian
i. But never have come to the cross
ii. Never have placed themselves at his feet and repented of their sin
John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Question: Have you come to accepts Christ’s sacrifice?
IV. Followed Christ’s teaching
Acts 11:26 (NIV)
26 So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.
a. They devoted themselves to learning
b. There are many people who believe in God, believe in sin, even asked for Christ’s forgiveness
i. But they don’t follow his teaching
c. A Christian not only believes but follows what he taught
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
46 "Why do you call me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
i. Christians have come to believe that his word isn’t a bad thing
1. But a good life giving word
2. We know that in this book we find life
3. We know in his words we find life
Window: Too many go through life today and say hey I am a Christian but Christ’s words aren’t life bringing to them.
ii. They want to do their own thing.
iii. I don’t think that cuts it
iv. In this scripture we see people scattered for their faith
v. Scatter because they wouldn’t compromise what Christ taught.
Question: Are you following Christ’s teaching?
V. He embraces His mission
Acts 11:19-21 (NIV)
19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord
a. How many know we have been given a mission
i. To spread the good news
Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
b. That’s what those who were called Christians were doing
i. Thousands where coming to faith
ii. Because their faith was real
iii. It wasn’t a religion
iv. They truly come to a decision about who Christ was.
v. They believed God had come
vi. They believed their sins where forgiven
vii. It was real
viii. So they told people about it
Question: Are you embracing his mission?
Conclusion: We live in a world where things are being questioned. Definitions are changing. But scripture is clear on what a Christian is. Where they came from and where they are going. Aren’t you glad we have a God who cares enough to give us his word which will stand the test of time?
The term Christian is used loosely these days. But in a biblical sense it is revered for those who have confessed their sin to god, asked for forgiveness in Christ, they follow his teaching, and embrace his mission
