WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

By definition, the word “Christian” means “a follower of Christ”.

By concept, a follower is one who walks in the footsteps of his leader.

Therefore, a Christian is one who walks in the footsteps of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21)

1 Pet 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”

The word Christian is used only three times in the New Testament Acts 11:26 Acts 26:28 1 Pet 4:16

Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch 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”

Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

1 Pet 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”

Acts 11:26

At Antioch, many had been taught the word and had “turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21)

Acts 11:21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord”

Acts 26:28

Paul is preaching the word to King Agrippa concerning what he did to become a Christian and about the church (Acts 26:1-23)

Acts 26:1-26 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa…

Acts 26:1-26 …because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are…

Acts 26:1-26 …among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the…

Acts 26:1-26 …beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which…

Acts 26:1-26 …promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you…

Acts 26:1-26 …that God should raise the dead Acts 26:1-26 …that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the…

Acts 26:1-26 …saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled…

Acts 26:1-26 …them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the…

Acts 26:1-26 …chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth…

Acts 26:1-26 …I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus…

Acts 26:1-26 …whom thou persecutest Acts 26:1-26 …whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen…

Acts 26:1-26 …and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to…

Acts 26:1-26 …light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not…

Acts 26:1-26 …disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and…

Acts 26:1-26 …do works meet for repentance Acts 26:1-26 …do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and…

Acts 26:1-26 …great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise…

Acts 26:1-27 …from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest”

Agrippa’s response to Paul’s lesson is that Paul had almost persuaded him to be a Christian (Acts 26:28)

Acts 26:28 “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian”

Agrippa recognized what Paul was and understood what Paul had done to become a Christian. He was not ready to become One.

What did Paul do? In Acts 9, after listening to the teaching of Ananias, Paul responded to this teaching by being baptized into Christ (Acts 9:18; cf. Acts 22:12-16)

Acts 9:18 “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized”

1 Pet 4:16

1 Pet 4:16 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”

Who were these people?

They were the elect (1 Peter 1:2)

1 Pet 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied”

They were the obedient children (1 Pet. 1:14)

1 Pet 1:14 “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance”

They were those who had purified their souls by obeying the truth (1 Pet. 1:22)

1 Pet 1:22 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently”

They were a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5)

1 Pet 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”

They were a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5)

1 Pet 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”

They were a chosen generation (“chosen, favorite, elect”) (1 Peter 2:9) (“chosen, favorite, elect”)

1 Pet 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”

“peculiar” – Grk Lex 4047 peripoiesis {per-ee-poy'-ay-sis} - purchased possession, a preserving, a preservation, possession, one's own property, an obtaining

They were a changed people (1 Peter 4:1-4)

1 Pet 4:1-4 “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he…

1 Pet 4:1-4 …no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in…

1 Pet 4:1-4 …lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you”

They were a people humble before God (1 Peter 5:6)

1 Pet 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time”

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

What is a Christian? A Christian is one who has obeyed the word of God; has submitted himself to Christ; walks in the footsteps of Christ; and has changed so that even the world recognizes the change.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A CHRISTIAN?

What God expects of a Christian.

They are to continue in the way of God (Acts 2:42)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to live differently than the world (1 Peter 2:11,12).

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to never waver from their service (Galatians 5:7; 6:9)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to preach the word (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:2)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to always abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to study God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2).

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to develop into teachers of God’s word (2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:12-14)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

They are to be holy (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Matt 13:54-56 “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom…

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

Rom 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”

Jam 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only”

Acts 8:37-38 “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he…

Acts 8:38 …commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him”

Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”

Matt 10:32 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven”

Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou Acts 22:16 “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”

Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”

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