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The term
"Christian" literally means "Christ-like",
specifically in reference to Jesus Christ. The
term was first used as a mockery against early New
Testament believers, instituting that they were nothing
more than mindless followers of Jesus Christ. As
any true follower of Christ would be, the
"Christians" accepted the reproachful term as
flattery for their faith, and the title eventually
became quite common; though Christian is only
mentioned twice in the Bible: Acts 26:28 and I Peter
4:16. Having this understanding of the origin of
the term, the question must again be ask, "What,
then, is a Christian?"
A Christian is simply a person who lives (behaves),
believes, and is becoming like Jesus Christ. Although
we will never be perfect as Jesus Christ (and God knows
and understands this), we should never stop just serving
Jesus Christ to the fullest by His example He left us.
First, is behavior important? Yes! As Jesus
said in John 13:15, "For I have given you an
example, that you should do as I have done to you."
This is imperative to being a Christian, according to
Christ Himself. This is very contradictory to the
way many people say, "Do as I say and not as I
do" because of the lack of responsibility and
accountability.
Second, a Christian must believe that Christ is the Son
of God, for Jesus said in John 14:11, "Believe Me
that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else
believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."
Finally, a Christian is someone who is continually
living for God, to become more like Christ. In
Hebrews 3:14, "For we have become partakers of
Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence
steadfast to the end"; therefore, a Christian must
remain such "to the end". The original
Greek word for "end" is telos. Telos
specifically means the end of a state (i.e.
death) as opposed to the end of a time. This is
important because this means that a Christian is someone
who actually lives their life for God "to the
end" of life and not until something else comes
otherwise.
Jesus explained in no uncertain terms that whether or
not someone was a genuine Christian was crucial
especially upon their passing away. He made it
clear that after death, a soul will either be joyfully
welcomed into Heaven or condemned to Hell. Jesus
said in John 3:18, "He who believes in Him is not
condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned
already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God" (Jesus Christ).
This is the judgment of those who did not believe in
Jesus. In Matthew 25:32-46, Jesus told the parable
of the sheep and the goats, where people who considered
themselves to be Christian are sent to the
"everlasting fire" (Hell) because they did not
live like or do the works of a Christian.
Therefore, it is not enough to simply believe in God or a
God, but it must be supported by works. In
Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said, "Not everyone who says
to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your
name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice iniquity!'" So,
too, it is not enough to believe and live like a
Christian but being a Christian is a way of life to the
very end of life. |
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2008 The Potter's House Christian Center Mesa, AZ - All Rights Reserved. |