ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? - By Pastor Greg ... the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch (Acts 11:26). Are you a Christian? ... Notice I did not ask if you were born-again. I did not ask if you were saved. I did not ask if you had received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I asked, Are you a Christian? The word Christian comes from a Latin word meaning, followers of Christ, or followers of Messiah. Moreover, the word Christian signifies anointed ones - those who have been anointed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sealed thereby. In order to merit the name Christian, one must be a follower of the Man, Jesus Christ. You must make a conscience and concise effort to adhere to the teachings of Christ and follow in His footsteps. Only then can one claim to be a Christian. Is it possible, then, to be a born-again child of God and not a Christian? According to the definition, the answer is yes. A person may have truly repented of their sins and received Jesus Christ as Savior, but failed to mature and grow in the knowledge and actions of our Lord. Remember; to be a Christian is to be ‘Christ-like’. To take on the characteristics and demeanor of the One whom you claim to follow and emulate. A person could hardly be reckoned a fireman by just joining the local fire department. In order to be a fireman one must take on the characteristics of one who puts out fires. There is much training and preparation involved before someone earns the name/title of a fireman. The young believers at Antioch were visited by the disciples during the infancy of the Church and together, they were taught the ways of Christ and followed therein. The popular slogan, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ was widely circulated a while back. It was seen as bumper stickers on cars, printed on ‘T’ shirts, and published in books. In order to be ‘Christ-like’ this question needs to be asked on a consistent basis in addition to, ‘Where would Jesus go?’, ‘How would Jesus react?’, and ‘What would Jesus say?’ So I ask again; are you a Christian? Do you follow in the footsteps of Christ, or are you content on ‘just’ being born-again, or saved, but never placing your feet in the footprints left by the Master? Christ says, ‘Follow me’. Dear Father, help us to follow after your Son, Jesus Christ, that we may be proud to be called a ‘Christian’.
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 01:35:48 +0000
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