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Who Is A Who Is A Christian?Christian?

Acts 11:26Acts 11:26

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Acts 11:19-26Acts 11:19-26 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution

that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the unto the Lord. 22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 Then of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called ChristiansChristians first in Antioch. first in Antioch.

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Acts 26:28Acts 26:28

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a thou persuadest me to be a ChristianChristian..

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1 Peter 4:161 Peter 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Yet if any man suffer as a ChristianChristian, , let him not be ashamed; but let him let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.glorify God on this behalf.

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ChristianChristian Defined Defined

Christianos = Christianos = a Christian, i.e. a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ:--Christian. follower of Christ:--Christian.

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Acts 11:26Acts 11:26 ……And the disciples were called And the disciples were called

Christians first in Antioch.Christians first in Antioch. ““disciplesdisciples”” - - mathetesmathetes = = a learner, i.e. pupil: - a learner, i.e. pupil: -

disciple. disciple. ““were calledwere called”” – – chrematizo chrematizo = = to utter an to utter an

oracle i.e. divinely intimate; by implication, to oracle i.e. divinely intimate; by implication, to constitute a firm for business, i.e. (generally) constitute a firm for business, i.e. (generally) bear as a title:--be called, be admonished bear as a title:--be called, be admonished (warned) of God, reveal, speak. (warned) of God, reveal, speak.

cf. Rom. 7:1-3cf. Rom. 7:1-3 Isa. 62:2Isa. 62:2

““ChristiansChristians”” – – christianoschristianos = = a Christian, i.e. a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ.follower of Christ.

1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called (chrematizo) an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. (Rom. 7:1-3).

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name (Isa. 62:2).

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The proper name The proper name ““ChristianChristian”” abused!abused!

When asked, When asked, “What are you “What are you religiously?”religiously?” Some reply… Some reply… ““Catholic-Christian”Catholic-Christian” ““Baptist-Christian”Baptist-Christian” ““Methodist-Christian”Methodist-Christian” ““Presbyterian-Christian”Presbyterian-Christian” ““_________-Christian” (you fill in the blank)_________-Christian” (you fill in the blank)

““Christian” not so used in the Bible!Christian” not so used in the Bible! Never a hyphenated word with an Never a hyphenated word with an

adjective!adjective!

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Who is a Christian?Who is a Christian?

According to Bible teaching!According to Bible teaching! Acts 5:29Acts 5:29

The Bible tells us!The Bible tells us! It answers our question above!It answers our question above!

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who is a One who is a ““discipledisciple”” of Christ!of Christ! Acts 11:26 – Acts 11:26 – ChristChrist--iansians A follower of the Master teacher – A follower of the Master teacher –

Christ!Christ! One who adheres to the teachings of Christ!One who adheres to the teachings of Christ!

Matt. 11:29; 1 Pet. 2:21Matt. 11:29; 1 Pet. 2:21 Jesus taught by parables so that they might Jesus taught by parables so that they might

learn of Him and His kingdom!learn of Him and His kingdom! Matt. 13:1-35Matt. 13:1-35 Jn. 13:1-17 – He taught a lesson on humility & Jn. 13:1-17 – He taught a lesson on humility &

service!service!

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who One who wearswears the namethe name of Christ!of Christ! Acts 11:26 – Acts 11:26 – ““ChristianChristian”” Does not wear the names of men or Does not wear the names of men or

denominations!denominations! Christ is Lord of their life!Christ is Lord of their life!

Lk. 6:46Lk. 6:46

There is There is no otherno other name! name! Acts 4:12Acts 4:12

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who is One who is ““born againborn again”” ! ! Jn. 3:1-5Jn. 3:1-5

Born of Born of “the water and the spirit”“the water and the spirit” Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20Mk. 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20 Rom. 8:1-9Rom. 8:1-9

This is the This is the newnew birth! birth! Jn. 1:12, 13Jn. 1:12, 13 1 Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 181 Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who is One who is called by the Gospelcalled by the Gospel!! Rom. 1:6; 8:28; 9:11, 23-24Rom. 1:6; 8:28; 9:11, 23-24 2 Tim. 1:92 Tim. 1:9

Saved from past sins!Saved from past sins! Acts 4:12Acts 4:12 Eph. 2:8-9Eph. 2:8-9 Heb. 5:8-9Heb. 5:8-9

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who is One who is morally & doctrinally puremorally & doctrinally pure!! Moral purity necessary:Moral purity necessary:

Phil. 4:8Phil. 4:8 2 Tim. 2:222 Tim. 2:22 1 Pet. 2:221 Pet. 2:22 1 Jn. 3:1-31 Jn. 3:1-3 1 Cor. 6:9-111 Cor. 6:9-11

Doctrinal purity required:Doctrinal purity required: 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:6, 13-16; Tit. 1:9; 2:1-71 Tim. 1:10; 4:6, 13-16; Tit. 1:9; 2:1-7 1 Tim. 6:1-51 Tim. 6:1-5 2 Jn. 9-112 Jn. 9-11

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A Christian is…A Christian is… One who is One who is FULLYFULLY persuaded! persuaded!

King Agrippa was only King Agrippa was only ““ALMOSTALMOST”” persuaded! persuaded! Acts 26:12-29Acts 26:12-29

A Christian is A Christian is FullyFully Persuaded BY THE Persuaded BY THE GOSPEL…GOSPEL… That Jesus Christ is the Son of God!That Jesus Christ is the Son of God!

Jn. 14:6; Rom. 5:10-17Jn. 14:6; Rom. 5:10-17 That he is a sinner in need of God’s saving That he is a sinner in need of God’s saving

grace!grace! Rom. 3:7-10; 23Rom. 3:7-10; 23 Eph. 2:8-9Eph. 2:8-9

That Jesus is the That Jesus is the ONLYONLY way! way! Jn. 14:5Jn. 14:5

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who has One who has convictionconviction!! Conviction = A strong persuasion or Conviction = A strong persuasion or

belief; the state of being convinced. – belief; the state of being convinced. – WebsterWebster Not “wishy-washy”Not “wishy-washy”

The Apostles were The Apostles were convictedconvicted!! Acts 5:12-29 Acts 5:12-29 Acts 9:10-31Acts 9:10-31 Eph. 6:18-20Eph. 6:18-20

They spoke the gospel They spoke the gospel BOLDYBOLDY in the in the face of persecution!face of persecution!

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A Christian is…A Christian is…

One who is willing to One who is willing to suffer suffer persecutionpersecution for Christ! for Christ!

1 Peter 4:12-19; Matt. 5:10-121 Peter 4:12-19; Matt. 5:10-12 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:142 Tim. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:14 2 Tim. 3:122 Tim. 3:12

Christ & the apostles suffered!Christ & the apostles suffered! Matt. 10:16-28, 34; Acts 5:40-42Matt. 10:16-28, 34; Acts 5:40-42

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A Christian is…A Christian is… One who is One who is added to the added to the Lord’sLord’s church church!!

Added BY the Lord!Added BY the Lord! Acts 2:47Acts 2:47

WHO were added?WHO were added? Acts 2:41-42Acts 2:41-42

What church is the Lord’s church?What church is the Lord’s church? The one purchased with His The one purchased with His ownown blood! - Acts 20:28 blood! - Acts 20:28 The church He The church He builtbuilt! - Matt. 16:18! - Matt. 16:18 The church He is the The church He is the HeadHead of - Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18 of - Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18 The church that wears The church that wears His nameHis name – Rom. 16:16 – Rom. 16:16 The Church that abides in The Church that abides in His doctrineHis doctrine – 2 Jn. 9-11 – 2 Jn. 9-11

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A Christian is…A Christian is… One who is One who is Baptized into Baptized into ChristChrist! !

By the By the “ONE Baptism”“ONE Baptism” … … Eph. 4:5Eph. 4:5

For For allall peoplepeople – Matt. 28:19– Matt. 28:19 That That follows faithfollows faith in Christ – Mk. 16:15-16 in Christ – Mk. 16:15-16 That That savessaves the lost – 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38 the lost – 1 Pet. 3:21; Acts 2:38 That is in the That is in the name of the Lord Jesusname of the Lord Jesus – Acts – Acts

10:4810:48 By which weBy which we contactcontact the the blood of Christblood of Christ - Rom. - Rom.

6:3-46:3-4 By which we By which we put onput on Christ – Gal. 3:27 Christ – Gal. 3:27 In which we are In which we are buriedburied with Christ – Col 2:12 with Christ – Col 2:12 That That continuescontinues until Christ’s return – Mt. 28:19-20 until Christ’s return – Mt. 28:19-20

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Who is a Christian?Who is a Christian? One who…One who…

Is a Is a ““discipledisciple”” of Christ!of Christ! WearsWears the namethe name of Christ!of Christ! Is Is ““born againborn again”” !! Is Is called by the Gospelcalled by the Gospel!! Is Is morally & doctrinally puremorally & doctrinally pure!! Is Is FULLYFULLY persuaded! persuaded! Has Has convictionconviction!! Is willing to Is willing to suffer persecutionsuffer persecution for Christ! for Christ! Is added to the Is added to the Lord’sLord’s church by the Lord! church by the Lord! Is Is Baptized into Baptized into Christ!Christ!

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Conclusion!Conclusion!

Are You A Christian?Are You A Christian?

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““What Shall We Do?” What Shall We Do?” Acts 2:37Acts 2:37

An alien sinner must…An alien sinner must… Hear the Gospel - Romans 10:17Hear the Gospel - Romans 10:17 Believe - Romans 10:10Believe - Romans 10:10 Repent – Acts 17:30Repent – Acts 17:30 Confess Christ - Acts 8:37Confess Christ - Acts 8:37 Be Baptized in water - Acts 2:38Be Baptized in water - Acts 2:38

An erring Child of God must…An erring Child of God must… Repent and Pray - Acts 8:22Repent and Pray - Acts 8:22