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Who Is A Christian?

By William J. Stewart

The word Christian has become a greatly overused and misapplied word in our society. The general understanding of people today about who is a Christian is much different than what the Bible reveals on this question. Let us consider such herein.

The word Christian appears just three times in the Scriptures: Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16. The word simply refers to a follower of Christ. It indicates possession or affiliation, much the same as Canadian reveals the association of individuals with the country of Canada. Not just any person may claim citizenship as a Canadian. Certainly, there are those who are born Canadian, but of those who are not, certain conditions must be met which will qualify one for citizenship. Likewise, those who are Christians have an association with Christ; but, this affiliation is based upon conditions or terms established by Jesus Christ, not by those who might seek to enjoy the association.

First Called Christians (Acts 11:26)
These folks who were called Christians at Antioch are identified in two other ways in the text. They are referred to as "the church" and also as "the disciples". Church, from the Greek ekklesia, speaks of a gathering or an assembly of people, and though it could be used generically of any meeting of a multitude, it became associated exclusively with those who came together to worship the Lord.

Commenting on Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God, the Lord said, "...on this rock I will build My church..." (Matthew 16:18). There are a number of different churches in the world today; but those who are referred to as Christians are members of the Lord's church. (For a detailed discussion of the Lord's church, see the series of articles beginning at November 26, 2006.)

These Christians were also called disciples, from the Greek mathetes, meaning a learner or pupil. Those who are Christians learn and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Thus, they associate themselves with the Lord in two respects, being a part of the church which He built, and following the teachings which He taught. Indeed, one cannot be the first without doing the latter.

Become A Christian (Acts 26:28)
While in prison in Caesarea, Paul had the opportunity to give his defense before King Agrippa. His defense was Christ, dead, buried and resurrected. He mentioned his own opposition to the Christians at one time (Acts 26:9-11), and then his eventual obedience to the Lord (Acts 26:15-20). What was it that Paul sought to persuade Agrippa regarding?

Notice that the apostle did not seek to persuade Agrippa to be a Catholic, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, or any such classification. He simply compelled people to become Christians. There were not a variety of different types of Christians in the first century, nor are there today. One becomes a Catholic differently than one becomes a Christian. The two are not synonymous. Likewise, becoming a Baptist is incompatible with becoming a Christian. These and other denominational groups are not segments of Christianity; they are all different from Biblical Christianity. Such a thought may not be popular in our modern day of ecumenicalism, but it is truth.

Agrippa was almost persuaded to become a Christian. Were he indeed persuaded, what would have made him a Christian? Some will tell us that if we just believe, then we are a Christian (John 3:16). Certainly, faith is essential if we are to be saved, but we are not saved by faith alone (James 2:14, 24, 26). Others will tell us that we must believe and repent of sin (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:19). Indeed, repentance is necessary, for it is in repentance that we turn away from sin; but there is more. Still others say that we must also confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10). Amen! The Lord Himself said, "...whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father..." (Matthew 10:32). But there is yet more. We need to believe, repent, and confess, but if this is all we do, we will still be as dead in sin as we were before believing. Had Naaman only dipped in the Jordan river six times, he'd have remained as leprous as he was at the start. Had Israel stopped walking around the walls of Jericho before the seventh rotation on the seventh day, they would not have gained the victory. Friend, we need to not fall short.

“...Christians have an association with Christ ...based upon conditions or terms established by Jesus Christ...”

What is the culminating point of our salvation? When is it that we've accomplished what the Lord has commanded for salvation? The people at Pentecost wanted to know this, and Peter responded, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38). Years later, the same apostle wrote, "There is an antitype which now saves us - baptism..." (1 Peter 3:21). Peter was teaching nothing less than what he'd received from the Lord, who said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." (Mark 16:16). Those who have not be baptized for the remission of sins are like Naaman before the seventh dip, or Israel before their thirteenth march around the city. They've gone part way, but have a bit further to go to receive the promised blessing from the Lord.

"But I was baptized as a child," claims the Catholic. Did you believe first? Jesus says we must (Mark 16:16). Did you repent first? Peter says we must (Acts 2:38). Young children are not capable of saving faith, nor do they have sins to repent of. Paul speaks of when he was a child, saying, "I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died." (Romans 7:9) Those who are spiritually alive do not need to have the old man of sin (which is not yet present) buried in baptism.

"But I was baptized, as a symbol of my faith and salvation," claims the Protestant. If the Bible reveals that we were saved before baptism, then your baptism would suffice. If the Bible claimed baptism to be an outward sign of an inward grace (ie. a sign that we'd already been saved), then you're right on track. But, the Bible reveals that we are dead in sin until we are baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4). We do not bury those who are alive, but those who are dead. The Bible consistently places salvation after baptism, not before. We are not baptized because we are saved; we are baptized in order to be saved.

Paul, coming to Ephesus on his third missionary journey found some who had been taught John's baptism (Acts 19:1-5). These needed to be baptized again, for their previous baptism was not valid. Not just any and every baptism is acceptable. Biblical baptism involves a penitent believer, who is fully immersed for the remission of sins. Folks who are baptized as young children had someone put the cart before the horse on them. they need to now come, believing in the Lord and repent of sin, so that they might be baptized for the remission of sins. Those who were baptized as an outward sign of an inward grace (ie. believing they were saved first) have also put the cart before the horse. They have been baptized for a different reason than is specified in Scripture. Friend, will you be persuaded to become a Christian?

Suffering As A Christian (1 Peter 4:16)
The life of a Christian is filled with joy, for there is the knowledge and hope of salvation. But, at the same time, there are great challenges which confront the child of God. Throughout the Scriptures, we are told that sufferings will come (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 1:6; 2:21; 3:14; 4:1-2). And yet, we are also told that "...the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18). And again, that "...our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory..."(2 Corinthians 4:17). Thus, let us be willing to suffer as a Christian, that we might be glorified also.



Who is a Christian? Not just anyone who is religious or who calls upon the name of Christ. Only those who have responded in obedience to the word of God, and have been added to the Lord's church, and then continue faithfully are Christians. Are you?

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Answering The Atheist

By William J. Stewart

The Atheist's Complaint:
Is it OK to call someone a fool? Some Bible texts indicate that it is OK to do so (Psalm 14:1; 53:1; Matthew 23:17, 19; Luke 11:40; 24:25; Romans 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:36; Galatians 3:1), but Jesus forbids such in Matthew 5:22. Is there a contradiction?

Response:
There are a few distinctions which ought to be made as we begin to consider this supposed contradiction. Note:

As indicated above, Psalm 14:1; 53:1 and Romans 1:21-22 all speak of those who care not to know God as fools (Hebrew, nabal; Greek, asunetos). Why are they called fools? "...The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." (Psalm 111:10; cf. Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33). To reject the Lord is to reject wisdom and knowledge. By definition, that is foolishness. But again, this is spoken of the unbeliever, not the believer.

In the English, the word fool is used to translate more than one Greek word. Though the words convey similar thoughts, do not make the mistake of equating them with one another. In Luke 11:40, Jesus refers to the Pharisees as aphron (Greek), for they focused on outward washings, but not inward cleansing. The word means "...ignorant ...rash ...unbelieving ...unwise..." (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). This is the same word used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:36 of those who cast doubt upon the resurrection. In Luke 24:25, two disciples whom Jesus walked with upon the Emmaus road were called anetos (Greek) by the Lord, for their minds were closed to the reality of His resurrection. This is the same word used by Paul in Galatians 3:1, for the Galatians had turned from following the truth of the gospel.

But what about Matthew 23:17, 19? There, Jesus used the word moros in reference to the scribes and Pharisees. First, realize, that by their actions, they demonstrated that they were not servants of God. Through constant denial of His word, they made themselves enemies of the Lord and the way of truth. As such, they might be listed in the first group we considered, who are unbelievers, nor caring to know the God of heaven, and as such, make themselves fools.

Gr. moros
dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless, (morally) blockhead, (apparently) absurd : - fool(ish, X -ishness).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

...a fair equivalent of "raca". "Raca" expresses contempt for a man's head = you stupid! Moros expresses contempt for his heart and character = you scoundrel.
Robertson's NT Word Pictures

But, even if one does count the Pharisees and scribes as Jesus' brethren, His use of the word here is not contradictory to the use forbidden in Matthew 5:22. The setting in that text is of one who "...is angry with his brother without a cause...", who then resorts to name calling. Jesus' use of moros in Matthew 23:17, 19 is not name calling, but is identifying them for what they were, morally corrupt fools.

Consider that there are proper and improper uses of words like "retarded" and "dumb" in the English language. One may use these words to speak contemptibly about another, which usage is wrong and should not be engaged in. One the other hand, the words respectively refer to an individual who is slow in some capacity, or who is unable to speak. This latter usage is not from an improper heart, but a correct employ of the words. Similarly, Jesus condemned the spiteful name calling which some might engage in with the word moros, but in another place, used the word Himself, for it literally described those whom He was speaking about.

There is no contradiction.

This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.