By Broderick Greer
Christian is probably the most misused word among religionists today. It is used so inaccurately in our society that it is easy to believe that Christian is just a generic term that has no actual connection to Jesus Christ. However, God has given us an accurate description, and we must search the pages of the ultimate dictionary - the Bible – to find His definition of this noble name.
(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 our misconceptions and misinterpretations must conform 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 at Antioch” (Acts 11:26, FHV). 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 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.
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 every one of the Teacher's words.
It is foolish and soul-condemning not to 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 convinced 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 (cf. James 2:20-24; Titus 2:14; Ephesians 2:8-10). Christians work out their salvation with fear and trembling, because faith alone does not save one from eternal separation from the Almighty.
As long as Paul had lived, he had done all things in good conscience (Acts 23:1). This included killing innocent people (Acts 8:1-5). Was he sincere? Yes. Was he sincerely misled? Yes. Many sincere people will plead with Jesus in judgment that they were sincere and had served Him with their whole heart, but He will pronounce eternal deportation upon them (Matthew 7:21-23).
Does this mean that all sincere people are on the way to eternal punishment? By no means! Sincerity has always been required by God (Joshua 24:14 – God must be served in sincerity and truth). Christians have “obeyed from the heart” that standard of teaching (Romans 6:17). Sincerity is indeed essential, but it alone will not save. You can be sincerely misguided!
Death will be a rude awakening for so many religious people. Many will have lived their whole life attending church services and Bible classes and will still find themselves in eternal darkness, separated from God, and the eternal bliss of heaven. 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.”
“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 mournful scene were very religious, and even dedicated many works to God, but their religion was not pure and undefiled.
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 have taken from this article:
The Bible is a Book filled with insight into God's mind and will. From that Book, one can know whether or not he is truly a Christian, a servant of Jesus Christ. Study its content, and compare your life to what it says. If you are not a Christian, in the purest definition of the word, please become one today.