What is a Christian?
The Bible tells us that the “disciples [of Jesus] were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Over the centuries, the term “Christian” has grown in its embrace of peoples and practices that are anything but what those who coined the term observed of believers in first century Antioch. Reviewing the term in its origin will give us a clear perspective of its scriptural distinctives.
Luke writes for us “Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution of Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:19-21).
At the heart of the term “Christian” is Christ himself. We are told that the people in Antioch responded to those “preaching the Lord Jesus”. One simply cannot be a Christian unless he or she is a believer in Jesus Christ. To believe in Jesus Christ is to accept his testimony that he is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Concerning the Lord Jesus, the Scriptures declare “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ himself claimed “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Being a Christian requires an exclusive belief in the deity of Jesus Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection. It’s one thing to acknowledge him as a good teacher. But it is quite something else to own him as Lord and Savior. We may want to enlarge the circle of who we call Christian, but faith in Christ is non-negotiable.
A second distinctive of those called Christians is they had a changed life. We note that in response to the preaching, they “turned unto the Lord”. The lives of those who believed went in a different direction after they came to Christ than the direction they were headed before Christ. These ones turned from their sin unto the Savior. Their lives took on a distinctive character of righteousness. This should be no surprise for Christ “gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). Paul wrote to Timothy, “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity [sin]” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Those who believe in Christ follow Christ. They are called “Christians” because they are followers. They desire to be like Christ. They follow him by obeying his word. Barnabus went to Tarsus to “seek Saul [later called Paul] …and he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people” (Acts 11:25-26). Through the Scriptures we learn of Christ and follow him. Christians follow a book, the Bible.
These three things distinguish Christianity, faith in Christ, a changed life, and obedience to his word. Would people call you a “Christian”?
Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.
Image modified from Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash