What are you called?

Have you ever thought about why we are called Christians?   The term literally means 'Little Christ' or 'Belonging to the party/group of Christ'.  The bible tells us Christians were first called by that name in Antioch.  

I have heard people say that it was a derogatory slur and I have seen people that say it was not bad, but was indicative that the people in Antioch distinguished between every other sect or group in the city and came up with this new terminology.   Either way, it referred to a very specific group of people that were clearly recognised by others.  

Today often we hear people describe themselves as 'Christian' simply because of the nation they live in.  When asked for their religion, people will often site a denomination 'catholic' or 'baptist' or whatever, but the truth is that a true Christian is one who looks like Jesus!   Not of course physically, but in our conduct, our actions

Paul told us in 1 Corinthians (more than once) to imitate him, as he imitated Jesus.   

I'm sure you've heard the saying that going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. To be called a 'Christian' is more than simply a reference to someone who goes to church. 

The bible tells us that we are to be separate, set apart; we should be marked by our love one for another.  We should be different to the world and we should look more and more like Jesus over time!

So if you realise you're not a 'Christian', how do you become one v just being a church-goer?  It's all about the relationship you have with Jesus. 

I don't have time here to tell you the whole story, but It starts with the one of the most famous verses in the bible:

John 3:16 (TPT) For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.

In that verse, God outlines i his salvation plan for mankind:  He gave us Jesus, who was willing to die for you and me, so that we could have relationship with God through the sacrifice of Jesus:

John 14:6 (TPT)
Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.

By accepting God's gift of life through Jesus and declaring that he was raised from the dead, the bible tells us we shall be saved (saved from everything that separates us from God).  And Paul tells us how we know we are saved:

Romans 10:9 (TPT)
And what is God’s “living message”? It is the revelation of faith for salvation, which is the message that we preach. For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will experience salvation.

This is a really simplified overview, and if you want more details, please contact us (info@johnandabiministries.com), but the point is that Jesus wants us to know him personally and once we know him, to live our lives actively growing in that relationship and becoming more and more like him. 

When that is happening we can be called. 'Christians' and we will be different from other people who don't know Jesus.   People will be able to clearly identify us and many will want to know Christ, because of our lives.

Have a great week.