The Disciples were "Christians"

• The Disciples were “Christians”
• Acts 11:23-26
• Can We Still be known Simply as Christians?
• If this is the name God has given us, we should wear this name and make it one those who know us will respect …
• Who do you want to please?
• Gal. 1:10 - For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
• Wear the Name God Has Given …
• John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world…, therefore the world hates you.
• The Name “Israel”
• Genesis 32:27-28 So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." 28 And He said,"Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."
• The Name “Israel”
• Genesis 35:10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel.
• The Name “Israel”
• 2 Kings 17:34 To this day they continue practicing the former rituals; they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances, or the law and commandment which the LORD had commanded the children of Jacob, whom He named Israel,
• A New Name from the mouth of the Lord …
• Isaiah 62:1-2 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name.
• A New Name Promised
• Isaiah 62:3-4 You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem iIn the hand of your God. 4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, And your land shall be married.
• A Name Better than sons and daughters …
• Isaiah 56:5 Even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
• Various descriptions of Jesus’ followers ….
• Believers …
– Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
– Acts 5:14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
• Various descriptions of Jesus’ followers ….
• Disciples …
– Acts 6:2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said,"It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
– Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
• Various descriptions of Jesus’ followers ….
• Brethren ..
– Acts 9:30 When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.
• Saints …
– Acts 9:32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
• The Gospel to the Gentiles …
• Acts 11:22-24 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
• The Gospel to the Gentiles …
• Acts 11:25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
• A New Name Given...
• … And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
• A New Name Given...
• To those willing to obey Jesus as Lord and be known as His followers ..

• Visible evidence of God’s grace in changed lives …

• Given to those who were disciples (learner, follower of Jesus)
• Given by Whom?
• "Christian" is "the name given to the disciples by pagan gentiles at Antioch" (A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, G. Abbott-Smith, 484).
• The name "Christian" was first given to the worshippers of Jesus by the Gentiles" (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Joseph Henry Thayer, 672).
• The name "Christian" was "coined by the pagan slang" of "the citizens of Antioch" (James Moffatt, A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, I, 316).

• Given by the mouth of the Lord
• Isaiah 62:2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
• Unbelievers called them a sect of Nazarenes
• Acts 24:5 For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
• “Called Christians” by God!
• “Called” (Ac 11:26 from Greek CHREMATIZO) = Revealed Divine Utterance
• Compare: Luke 2:26 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.
• Always a Divine Message
• Matthew 2:12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
• Matthew 2:22 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.
• Always a Divine Message
• Acts 10:22 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."
• Always a Divine Message
• Romans 7:3 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.
• Always a Divine Message
• Hebrews 8:5 as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle.
• Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark …
• Hebrews 12:25 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,
• A More Accurate Translation
• Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first (divinely) called Christians in Antioch.

• Paul Before Agrippa
• Acts 26:27-29 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." And Paul said,"I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."
• Suffering as a Christian
• 1 Peter 4:14-16 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
• The Bible alone makes Christians alone …
• What do you get when a person follows the Bible, the Bible alone for his beliefs and practices?
• Just a Christian!
• Just Christians, Nothing More, Nothing Less.
• We can be just Christians by following the Bible only.
• We can be just Christians by our commitment to imitate Christ.
– To “follow in the footsteps of Jesus”, to think, speak, and act like Christ!
• 1 Corinthians 1:10
• 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
• Colossians 3:17
• And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
• No Other Name Given
• Acts 4:10-12 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole….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.
Can You Be Just a Christian Today? Yes You Can!
• The Disciples were “Christians”
• Acts 11:23-26