WHAT (WHO) IS A CHRISTIAN?
Pastor J. C. O’Hair
Many define a Christian as one who is a follower of Christ. This definition needs to be clarified: for Jesus Christ, on the earth, was under the law, and members of the Body of Christ, in this age and dispensation of grace are not under the law. (Galatians 4:4 - Luke 4:16 - Romans 6:14).
It is interesting to know that the word “Israel” is found in the Scriptures about 2570 times, whereas the word “Christian” is found only three times. (Acts 11:26 - I Peter 4:16 - Acts 26:28). The Gospel of John is a great favorite with most Christians. In that Book we find the word “Jew” about 70 times, but not once the word “Christian.” However, it is interesting to compare John 15:8 with Acts 11:26. “Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” While Christ was on earth His disciples were under the law: but Christians are not.
Here then we can say that a Christian is a fruit-bearing branch abiding in Christ, the true Vine. A Christian is one in whom Christ lives (Galatians 2:20), one who lives in Christ, (Colossians 3:3 and 4).
Undoubtedly the Jews, in derision and hatred, called the disciples of Christ, “Nazarenes.” (Acts 24:5). The word “Nazareth” was a despised name of reproach with the Jews. Perhaps the Romans gave the name “Christians” to the disciples of Christ. Paul said; “for me to live is Christ.” “If any man be in Christ there is a new creation” - “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus” - “translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love.” (II Corinthians 5:17 - Ephesians 2:10 - Colossians 1:13). We read in II Corinthians 1:21 and 22; “now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath ANOINTED us (made us Christians) is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
Paul used the word “saints” many times in his recorded oral and written ministry; but we have no record where he used the word “Christian.” In II Thessalonians 2:13 we are told of the Divine process by which God makes Christians or saints. Note it carefully. “God hath chosen us to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit.”
Then, if you would visit God’s “saint factory” and again study the Divine process of grace and power and the human material out of which God makes saints, read carefully Titus 3:3 to 8 - Ephesians 2:1 to 10 and I Corinthians 6:11. Every Christian and every sinner should read and re-read these wonderful verses and see how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit change “dead sinners” into “living saints.”
If we would form the habit of asking the church-members, “are you a saint” instead of “are you a Christian,” the question would cause more searching of the conscience and the heart, for there seems to be the prevailing idea that any moral, religious Gentile who is not a Jew, is a Christian. But God’s command is that each individual be born again or become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Then, in such chapters as the third of Colossians, the fourth and fifth chapters of Ephesians, the twelfth and thirteenth chapters of Romans, and in many others, the Holy Spirit tells the Christian how he can by spiritual behavior prove to his fellow-men that he is indeed a genuine Bible Christian.
Paul addressed Ephesians, “to the saints.” (Ephesians 1:1). Then he instructed them how to conduct themselves “as becometh saints.” (Ephesians 5:1 to 5). How did they become saints? Not by conducting themselves “as becometh saints,” but by grace, through faith, without works or Christian behavior. (Ephesians 2:8 to 10). No one becomes a Christian by behaving, but by believing. Then Christians should behave “as becometh saints.”
But if Christians try to follow Jesus of Nazareth in Matthew, Mark and Luke (Acts 2:22) without obeying I Corinthians 11:1 and II Timothy 2:15 they may find themselves to be Old Testament Jews in Israel’s land instead of members of the Body of Christ seated in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:6).
How
God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
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