WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

Act 11:26 ....And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Act 26:28 Agrippa replied to Paul, "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian."

1Pe 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia; { The name [Christian] did not originate with the Christians themselves. Nor would the Jews have applied it to the followers of Jesus, whose claim to be the Christ they opposed so passionately.

They spoke of the Christians as a sect; Act 24:5 "For we have found this man a real pest and a fellow who stirs up dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Perhaps also as “Galileans,” a term which the emperor Julian attempted later vainly to revive. The word must have been coined by the heathen population of Antioch, as the church emerged from the synagogue, and a Christianity predominantly Gentile took its place among the religions of the world.}

The early Christian movement was predominantly of humble folks, the majority unable to read or having any benefit from formal education. The simplicity of the Gospel enriched the poor while confounding the elite with it's complexity. Jesus had no problems relating to paupers and potentates simultaneously. Early believers were known as disciples, or followers and hearers of the Lord. Some were called the Sect of the Way. (We recall how Saul hunted and persecuted those of The Way)

I am a Christian. Through the wondrous gift of Almighty God, His Son, Jesus, took my place before the executioner and shed His blood and gave His life so that I might live and be free. Free of Satan's slavery, released from Adam's sentence of death, and delivered without blemish in the eyes of my Lord. From the moment that I accepted His offer and gift, my life was irrevocably changed and has not been the same since. It is this change that confirms that I am a Christian. That I belong to Christ.

Mar 1:15 ...."The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Won't you say YES to Jesus? Won't you accept His gift? Right now, where ever you are, ask Him to come into you. To fill you with His love, His peace, His Promise. Believe that Jesus is Lord. Believe that He died on the cross, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead by the mighty hand of Almighty God. Believe this, ask, and be set free. Call out to us fellow Christians, ask us to help you learn and grow in the Word. Learn from your brothers and sisters and be introduced to His scripture, the Holy Bible, and witness the change in you that will herald your conversion, and change your life FOREVER.

Become a Christian, give yourself to Him who created you.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?

[Graphic Credit: Charles M. Schulz-Peanuts]