Christian
Series: Names for the People of God
Chuck Sligh
June 5, 2016
NOTE: A PowerPoint presentation of this sermon is available upon request from me at chucksligh@hotmail.com.
TEXT: Acts 11:26 – “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
INTRODUCTION
JOKE – One time a guy hired a hit man named Arty to assassinate his wife. The guy asked Arty how much he would charge and he said one dollar.
The man said, “Only $1.00?! Arty, is that all you charge?”
Arty said, “Well, I really love my job. I don’t really do it for the money.”
To which the man replied, “You’re hired!”
So Arty followed the man’s wife to a Kroger grocery store parking lot, planning to use his method of choice—choking. When she came out, she had two other women with her, so Arty decided he would choke all three of them, which he promptly did because he loved his job so much.
The police showed up, however, and apprehended Arty and put him in jail.
When the newspaper came out the next day the headline read, “ARTY CHOKES THREE FOR A DOLLAR AT KROGER!”
Well you see, names ARE important aren’t they? That has been our theme in our series on “Names for the People of God.” We looked at the names Believer, Child of God, Disciple, Faithful and Saint.
Our text says that the followers of Jesus, were first called Christians at Antioch. “Christian” has become the most widely used name for the followers of Christ.
But prior to this time in the book of Acts, there was no particular name for those who followed Jesus Christ other than those names believers called themselves (such as “believers” and “children of God”), and derogatory names given by their enemies.
The word in the Greek here is christianos which comes from two Greek words:
• Christos – which was the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for “Messiah,” the long promised one of the Old Testament.
• “–ianos” is a Greek word ending which means “of the band of,” or “one of.”
So christianos means basically, “of the band of Christ,” or literally “one of Christ’s” or simply “Christ’s one.” Isn’t it precious to be so intimately associated with the title of our Savior? If you’re saved today, you’re a “Christ one”—you’re “one of Christ’s.”
Interestingly, the name Christian is only found 3 times in the Bible. However, each time it’s used tells us of a way that we show the world that we’re Christians—that we’re one of “Christ’s ones,”—one of the “band of Christ.”
So let’s look at these 3 passages and learn how the world can tell if we’re one of Christ’s ones.
I. FIRST, WE TELL THE WORLD THAT WE’RE ONE OF CHRIST’S BY THE WAY THAT WE WALK – Acts 11:26 – “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
In the New Testament, how we live is often referred to as how we “walk” in this world. The verses previous to verse 26 tell us some things about the walk of the Antiochians:
• Verse 21 says, “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.”
That phrase “turned unto the Lord” is important. It implies that when they trusted in Christ to be saved, they had a determination to turn from their sin to serve God.
• Look also at verse 23 – “Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”
Barnabas preached to them to “cleave unto the Lord.” In other words, he was telling them not to return to their old life, but to cleave to the Lord and their new life and their new relationship. He was telling them to live for and to honor God rather then returning to their old lives of sin.
So as the citizens of Antioch watched this group of believers, they were impressed that they had a distinctive lifestyle. And their conclusion was, “These are Christ’s ones. They’re like Christ was!”
So, one way the world can tell that we are Christians is by the life that we live—how we walk in this world.
One sure way to turn people off to the Gospel is to be a hypocrite. Nothing hurts the name of Christ more than Christians who claim the name of Christian, but deny their Christianity by walking as the world walks. To be a Christian means to be holy, to be loving, to live as a servant—because those three descriptions describe how Jesus lived.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
This means that we are not to stay the way we were before we believed. It means that the old life passes away, that we enter into a new way of living.
Look at Ephesians 4:20-24 – “But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation [or “way of life”] of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
When God saved you, He created you for righteousness and true holiness. We prove that we live up to the name of Christian by the way that we live.
Illus. – I remember working at the Tappan stove factory in Springfield, TN. I worked on the assembly line making stoves and ovens. One time they took me off the assembly line to cut cables into four feet lengths with another man we called “Billy Bob.” I’m not sure that was his real name, but you’ve got to remember, we’re talking small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music.
So Billy Bo and I talked for some time about this and that while we cut cable.
Finally he said, “You’re a Christian, ain’t ’ya?”
I answered, “Yeah. How’d you know?”
He said, “Well, I just figgered as much. You put in a full day’s work and you ain’t no goldbrick; you treat people right kindly; and you usually walk away when Glen tells one of his saucy jokes.”
That was pleasing to hear, and then he said something like this: “And you always seem happy, about like I always thought a Christian oughta’ be.”
I was astonished. Though I had witnessed on several occasions to other people on the job, I had never said a word to Billy Bob about Christ. Yet he identified me as one of Christ’s ones by the life that I lived.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3 says something rather remarkable: “Ye are our epistle [an “epistle” was a letter, so he’s saying, “You’re our letter...”] written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
Do you realize that some people will never open the Bible in their whole lives and that you may be the only Bible they will ever see? You’d better make sure your life matches up with what the Bible teaches!
Do you see what I’m saying?—We tell the world that we’re Christians by the life that we live…so how are you living before a lost world that desperately needs a real live specimen of what the Bible calls a Christian!
II. THE SECOND PLACE THE WORD “CHRISTIAN” IS USED IS IN ACTS 26:28, WHICH TEACHES THAT THE WORLD CAN TELL WE’RE ONE OF CHRIST’S BY THE WAY THAT WE WITNESS – Acts 26:28 – “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Paul was a great witness for the Lord. Whenever he could, he found a way to talk about God and salvation in Christ. He was excited to share the wonderful story of the Gospel.
What’s interesting in Acts 26 is to see the method that Paul used. Paul used something every single Christian in the world has—his personal testimony of how he came to know Christ.
We certainly ought to know how to explain to someone how to be saved, but you should never forget the power of your own personal testimony.
Let’s look at the context of this verse and see what this passage teaches about the power of a personal testimony – Note in Acts 26:
Verse 1 tells us that Paul stood before King Agrippa as a prisoner, and he was given the opportunity to explain how he came to become a prisoner. He used this opportunity to tell how he came to believe in and follow Christ.
We won’t have time to read this whole passage, but let’s look at what he did: First, in verses 9-11 – he told about his life BEFORE Christ – He told about how he opposed Christ and Christians, jailing them, and even killing them, and at their trials, tried to get them to renounce and blaspheme Christ.
Next he told of the circumstances that led him to Christ in verses 12-18. He told about the miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus—how a light shined from heaven and blinded him, and how God spoke and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” and how God saved him and called him into His ministry as a preacher right on the spot. It’s one of the most remarkable conversions in history.
Finally, he detailed how Christ had changed his life AFTER his salvation experience in verses 20-22. – God transformed him and Paul became a flaming evangelist, preaching Christ all over the Roman Empire.
So let’s recap: He first told about his life BEFORE Christ; then he told about how he came to Christ; then he explained how Christ changed his life AFTER his salvation.
That was his personal testimony.
The power of a personal testimony is seen in verses 24-28 – “And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Note first of all Satan’s opposition by working through Festus in verse 24. Satan sought to stop Paul from going any further lest Agrippa be converted. SATAN KNEW THE POWER OF A PERSONAL TESTIMONY!
But Paul refused to be sidetracked in verses 25–26. In verse 27, Paul dug a little deeper into Agrippa’s personal relationship with God. Finally, Agrippa responds in those famous words, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” (verse 28)
Your testimony may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, but you still have one, and it’s just as miraculous in its own way.
Yes, as you grow in Christ, you need to learn all you can how to witness for Christ, but never forget that one of your most potent weapons in your arsenal to reach people for Christ is your personal testimony of what you were before you were saved; how you were saved; and how God changed your life after you were saved. There is no greater argument for Christianity than a changed life! People can argue about the Bible, but they cannot argue against a changed life.
III. THE LAST PLACE THE WORD “CHRISTIAN” IS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT SHOWS HOW WE ARE ONE OF CHRIST’S ONES BY THE WAY THAT WE WEEP – 1 Peter 4:16 says, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”
The heathen tried to explain away some of the things about Christianity. They could ignore many of the claims believers put forth as proofs of Christianity. But there was one thing that baffled them—How they could endure suffering and persecution so calmly and peacefully?
The Bible never claims that being a Christian is a bed of roses. In fact, the Bible is clear that even though we’re saved, we still will face troubles and problems, even opposition, ridicule and persecution in this life.
This was the main reason Peter wrote the book of 1 Peter—to address the misconception many of his readers had concerning suffering, particularly persecution.
Look with me at 1 Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” Peter didn’t say, “Once you folks get saved, your troubles are over.” No, what he said was: “Don’t be SURPRISED by suffering. It’s going to happen. You might as well be prepared for it.”
Note 1 Peter 2:20-21 – “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” – Peter states that just as Jesus was called to suffering, so are we called to suffering.
What should be our response to suffering?—1 Peter 4:13 says, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
This verse is saying that there is a way for a Christian to suffer as opposed to the way a non-Christian suffers.
Peter’s reference is mostly about persecution, but Paul says something similar when we lose saved friends and loved ones in death in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 where he says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep [i.e., who have died as believers], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”
Paul teaches that when a fellow believer or saved loved one dies, yes, we sorrow too, but not as those who have no hope, for we know we’ll see them again someday! That’s why many believers’ funerals are celebrations mixed with tears of sorrow!
So Peter and Paul teach that when we suffer as a Christian, we give powerful testimony of the reality of Christ in our lives and the depth of our relationship to Christ. We show we are truly “Christians” by our worldview and frame of mind. We tell the world, “Though we’re not exempt from suffering, we have a wonderful Savior to go with us through the storm, and we have hope and peace in trial.”
Illus. – Many of you, no doubt, are familiar with the well-known story of the man who had a dream. He saw his life with God as footprints in the sand. When all was going well he saw two sets of footprints in the sand—his footprints and God’s footprints, as they walked together through life. But then he noticed that whenever he went through great suffering there was only one set of footprints instead of two.
So he asked the Lord, “Lord, why did you leave me in my darkest hour?”
And God replied, “I did not leave you, my child. When you saw only one set of footprints, those were MY footprints as I lifted you up in my arms and carried you through your darkest hour.”
What a beautiful story—and one that is SO true! Jesus said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Even in your darkest trial, God is there to comfort and strengthen and lift you up—IF you will let Him. And HOW you go through your trials gives a testimony of what kind of Christian you are and how real and near Christ is in your life.
CONCLUSION
What kind of a Christian are you? How do you live up to your name of Christian?
ARE you a Christian? If you were to die right now, do you know with certainty that you are one of Christ’s ones; that you will go to heaven to live with Him forever; that God has saved you and given you eternal life? If not, why don’t you turn from sin and turn to Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
If you’re already a follower of Christ, let me ask you three questions.
• Can others tell that you’re a Christian by the way that you WALK—by your life?
If you had to go to court tomorrow for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Do you show forth true commitment to Christ by the life you live?
• Second, can others tell that you’re a Christian by your WITNESS?
ARE you a witness? Do you share Christ with others, or cower in fear to stand for Christ?
You don’t have to go to seminary or be a Bible whizz to be a witness. You just have to have a testimony to give, and the courage to share that testimony when you have the opportunity. I challenge every one of you—Be a witness for Christ!
• Finally, can others tell that you are a Christian by the way that you WEEP?
Do you become all distraught in the midst of suffering and trial? Or are you learning to REST in Christ—to put your hand in His in simple childlike faith—and trust Him when He says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” and when He says, “all things work together for good to them who love God,…who are the called according to His purpose.”
God help each one of us to live up to that wonderful name of Christian by the way that we WALK, the way that we WITNESS and the way that we WEEP.
