Christian - What We Are

Introduction:

1. What's in a name --

a. personal feelings - pride (illust. -- baseball announcer)

b. many implications when is wrong …

2. Biblically - name stood for the PERSON, his character -- what he WAS.

a. Abram à Abraham

b. Jacob à Israel

c. Jesus à 'Jehovah saves'

d. Etc.,

3. Problem as Seen in 1 Cor. 1: - causes divisions between people who would serve God.

a. This passages was preached on and explained by Martin Luther in his efforts to stop people from calling themselves after him.

b. Its application --

1. Not called after the person who baptized us …

2. Not called after the person who taught us …

3. Called after Jesus, the Christ …

4. Hence - called Christians - 3 uses in NT.

A. Acts 11:26 -

1. We are many things -- disciples, saints, pilgrims, children, priests,

2. CALLED Christians.

a. Mtt. 2:12, 22 - 'divenly warned' … 'warned of God'

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

b. Lk. 2:26 - 'revealed'

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

c. Acts 10:22 - 'divinely instructed' ('warned from God' KJV)

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

d. Heb. 8:5 - 'divinely instructed' (KJV - warned of God)

5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

e. Heb. 11:7 - 'divinely warned' (KJV = 'warned of God')

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

f. Heb. 12:25 -

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven,

g. Rom. 7:3 - ' will be called'

3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.

B. Acts 26:28 -- before Agrippa

1. Sermons about his conversion - Jesus was raised from the DEAD -

2. He appeared unto Paul - commissioned to preach - repent & turn,

3. Thus, Jesus was the CHRIST -- the fulfillment of the prophets ..

4. APPLIED -- DIRECT QUESTION -- BELIEVEST THOU???

5. Almost persuaded … to be a Christian.

6. Would to God that … all … would be …. Such as I am..

C. 1 Peter 4:16

1. Christians call to suffer -- following the example of Jesus, 2:21f; 3:18;

2. hence, fiery trial of these pilgrims … 4:13-15,

3. If suffer - do so AS A CHRISTIAN

a. in the MANNER that a follower of Christ would … innocent!

b. In the NAME of Christ --

5. Affirmation and Implication:

A. Faith in Jesus as the CHRIST -- the messiah, the promised one of the OT.

John 20:30-31 -- believe that Jesus is the Christ …

B. Faith to follow Him -- as our only savior …

1. faith that He can teach us the true way to serve God …

2. faith that He can provide salvation … Acts 4:12

12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 2:38 -- Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.