God’s definition of a Christian
Acts 11:19-26
There are many today that call themselves
a Christian. In fact the
The first thing I want you to consider is that God foretold of a special name He would give His people in.
Isaiah 56:5 Even to them I will give in My
house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and
daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.
He we learn that this new name would not be given
by some human. No, it would be given in God’s house and we find out that the
church that Jesus establish is the house of God in,
1 Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you
may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
Isaiah also tells us
when we would receive this new name in,
Isaiah 62:2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of
the LORD will name.
This name would be
given by God when the Gentiles were able to see God’s righteousness. In fact,
the first time we find out when this new name was given in our key text.
Acts 11:26 …And the
disciples were first called Christians in
So we see that
Christian was that name and that it was not given until Gentiles were also
taught the good news about Jesus and how His salvation is available for all.
This shows why the followers of Christ were not called Christians at Pentecost
because it would be several more years before God would reveal that Gentiles
were included in His new covenant.
So those who try to
say that the term Christian came from man is wrong and we can even see this
from Acts 11:26 from the word “called”. The Greek word used here is only used 9
times in the NT and always implies a divine source.
Thayer defines this
way, “…to give a response to those consulting an oracle,
to give a divine command or admonition, to teach from heaven 2a) to be divinely
commanded, admonished, instructed 2b) to be the mouthpiece of divine
revelations, to promulgate the commands of God…”
Now that I have
established that God has given us this name Christian, I want to show you God’s
definition of a Christian by looking at our key text in Acts 11:19-26.
Acts 11:19 Now
those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled
as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the
Jews only.
This talking about
the event that took place in Acts 7 where Stephen was stoned to death for his
belief in Jesus. After Stephen death, these Jews lead by Saul were severely
persecuting the Christians which caused them to flee from that area. From this
we can see definitions of a Christians.
First, Christians
are not quitters. A true Christians understands the value of Christianity and
that nothing should keep us from serving our God. Unfortunately, many
Christians today will allow the smallest things to cause them to fall away a
quite on God. Compare that to how these Christians in the first century were
being thrown in jail, tortured and put death. They didn’t give up on their
Christianity. Now, they ran from the persecution, but they didn’t run from God.
Instead, they went to new areas and the kept spreading the good news of Christianity
which brings to our second definition.
Christians will
preach or teach the Word of God. Every Christian should be willing to share
their conversion story with those around them. We have no problem sharing the
good news of a new baby or how our child or grandchild has accomplished
something great. Well, in the same manner we should be excited about how God
loves us so much and has allowed us to become His children. When is the last
time you have told one of your friends or family members of how came to know
God and how it made you feel? This is just one way we can share the good news
of Jesus.
Every Christian
should be studying the Word of God so that they can be prepared to teach
another person about the basic principles of Christianity. We can also preach
Jesus by the way we live our life and how we treat each other.
Acts 11:20 But some
of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch,
spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Now depending on your
Bible version you will either have Hellenist, which was a Greek speaking Jew
that favored the Greek ways or you will have Greeks, which would refer to
Gentiles. The scholars are split right down the middle on this, but I believe
it includes both because
Verse 20 also shows us
that Christians should be willing preach the good news of Jesus to others as
well. However, in our previous verse, they just preached to the Jews only, but
in verse 20 these Christians were reaching out to those that Jews normally
wouldn’t talk to. This shows us that we should not show partiality by excluding
certain people we don’t like or who doesn’t look like us because no matter what
a persons nationality or outer appearance may be, doesn’t change the way their
soul looks to God.
James 2:9 but if you show partiality, you commit
sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Another definition we get
from this verse is that a Christian do not care who gets the credit for the
good that is done. The only named mentioned in these two verses we have looked
at so far is Stephen, and he wasn’t involved in this preaching that was
occurring. All we know is that some unnamed men from
1 Corinthians 3:6 I
planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything,
nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are
one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord
was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
This shows us that a
Christians is one who believes and turns to the Lord. This alone shows us that
more than belief is required to become a Christian because one must also turn
to Him. This is backed up by the Greek Grammar, which states that the word
“believe” is aorist participle, which must occur before the leading verb which
is turned. Let’s go a step further. I want you to notice what Paul was teaching
everywhere he went in,
ESV Acts 26:20 but
declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the
region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn
to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
As we look at this verse
with Acts 11:21 in mind we can see that belief and repentance must occur before
a person can turn to the Lord. This also shows us that turning to the lord is
something other than belief and repentance. So, what does turning to the Lord
involve? I believe we can answer that question by comparing two other verses
sided by side.
ESV Acts 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn
again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times
of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the
Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Once again we can
see that repentance happens before turn again can occur. As we compare we can
see that turn again is equivalent to be baptized because it is at the point of
baptism that a person’s sins are forgiven our blotted out. So, we can see that
God’s definition of a Christians is one who has obeyed the gospel call by
believing, repenting, confessing and turning to God by being baptized for
forgiveness of sin.
Acts 11:22 Then
news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent
out Barnabas to go as far as
This shows us that a
Christian should be ready to go where they are needed. Today many times
Christians will makes excuses of why they can’t help or what they cant be
involved, but that shouldn’t be the case. If we a capable of doing something
for the Lord, we should do it because God doesn’t want us to be like lamp that
is covered up that no one can see. No, He wants us to let our light shine and
to bring glory and honor to Him.
ESV Acts 11:23 When he came and saw the grace of
God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with
steadfast purpose,
God’s definition is that others should be able to
see the grace of God in you. Barnabas was able to tell that these new converts
were full of God’s grace and so every Christians should live their life in such
away that that other can tell that you are a Christian and that you have fully
embraced God’s grace. It should make us glad when see others do the same.
We also learn from this verse that a Christian is
a person who will exhort or encourage other Christians to remain faithful to
the Lord. God set up Christianity so that we could help one another so that we
can stand strong in Christ. If you try to go it alone you will fail.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one, Because
they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe
to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down
together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered
by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Notice Acts 11:23 also
says that our faithfulness to the lord is to be done with a steadfast purpose
and that steadfast purpose is putting God first as Jesus says in,
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the
Paul also gives this
same thought in,
Philippians 3:13
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, 14 I press toward the
goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
God defines a Christians
as someone who is good just like Barnabas was. No one should be able to say
that you are mean Christian because meanness and Christianity do not go
together. If you are living you life in such away that a person can call you
mean or bad then you do not fit into the definition God has given us and you
need to make a change in your life. People are always watching and so we must
always do our best to good example of what Christian should be like as Paul
told Timothy,
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no
one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct,
in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Because
Barnabas was a good Christian man and a good example he was able to lead many
to Christ.
Acts 11:25 Then
Barnabas departed for
Again, we can see that
God’s definition of a Christian is one that will seek help from another
Christian especial when it comes to proclaiming the good news. Apparently there
were many people who wanted to know about God’s new plan and Barnabas needed
some help so he went and brought Saul back with him.
Now our finally
definition that God gives of a Christian is that they assemble with the saints.
Paul and Barnabas assembled with the saints for a whole year teaching them
God’s Word and we should follow that example today. The writer of Hebrews
teaches this as well,
Hebrews 10:24 And let
us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Just
as some were in the habit of forsaking the assembly back then many are in the
habit of forsaking the assembly today. But, according to God definition every
Christian that is capable of doing so should assemble with saints every
opportunity they have.
We
need to remind ourselves that Jesus purchased the church with His blood Acts
20:28 and that is the only reason that the church exist today and that you and
I make up that church. So, when you forsake the assembly, you’re not just
letting your just letting your brothers and sisters in Christ down, you’re
letting Jesus down and your making His death and the freedom He has given you
into something that is not important to you. I really think it’s sad when
Christians don’t make the time to make it to few services that we have each
week. We only have 2 hours of worship on Sunday and 1 hour Bible study and then
1 hour of Bible study on Wednesday. We need to ask ourselves, is that really to
much time to spending worshiping and studying about God? It certainly is not
and that is why God says that a Christian is one who assembles with the saint.
Finally our text reads,
Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians
in
We have seen from verses
what God calls a Christians and His definition should be our definition. The
question becomes, “are you a Christian as God has defined it? Have you obeyed
the gospel call by believing, repenting, confessing and turning to God by be
baptized in the Christ for the remission of sins? If you are Christians have
you been living the Christian life as God has shown us in our text? Are you
striving to serve Him by putting Him first in your life and doing best to be an
example to others? Are you willing to teach others about God without
partiality? Are you assembling with the saints every opportunity you have?
These are questions we
need to ask ourselves from time to time because it will help us to decide
whether or not we are being a Christian as God has defined.