What is a Christian? Nobody likes a complicated answer. That’s why I’m going to simplify this into four points.
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Acts 11:26
In case you only have time to skim this articles here are the four points to answer the question “What is a Christian?“:
- A Christian is a Disciple
- A Christian Assembles With the Church Regularly
- A Christian Adheres to the “Apostles Doctrine” in the Bible
- A Christian Has the Same Mission of Jesus
One. A Christian is a Disciple
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
The title of Christian was given to a very specific group of people in the Bible. This group is called the disciples. Christians are disciples.
Christians are disciples
What are disciples?
There are many “sects” of Christianity today. What’s odd about that is the Bible makes no room for kinds of Christians. There are scriptures against this.
Far too often and for far too long, Christians have divided themselves with Special labels instead of defining themselves with the Bible’s own definition.
What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 1:12-13
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
1 Corinthians 3:4-5
Early branches of Christian practice
In our modern terms we say, “I’m non-denominationalism”, “I’m Assemblies of God”, “I’m Methodist”. I could go on. However, God has made no such definitions in His Word concerning ‘types’ of Christians.
Disciple Defined
A learner, pupil.
The definition of the word “disciple” in Acts 11:26.
Since a disciple is a learner or a pupil, it begs the question: “who are disciples learning from, and what are they learning?” If the answer is a specific answer, then our Christianity today must follow the specifics of that answer.
Jesus, the Twelve, Then Us
Originally Jesus taught the 12 disciples. Judas killed himself, Matthias took his place. Later Paul came on the scene as an Apostle. Jesus’ teachings, through the demonstrated power And revelation of the Holy Spirit, continued through these apostles.
As they taught, their teachings were given a name, the “Apostles‘ Doctrine”. The Apostles‘ Doctrine is found in the Bible. The New Testament holds Jesus’ teachings and the Holy Spirits‘ teachings given through these Apostles.
The church learned their doctrine.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
A Christian is a disciple who is committed to learning and practicing both Jesus‘ teachings and the Apostles’ Doctrine found in the Bible and nowhere else.
Two. A Christian Assembles with the Church Regularly
Back to Acts chapter 11. The church was meeting together regularly.
“And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church”
Acts 11:26
There goes the notion that you can have church without assembling together. You cannot argue with scripture, it’s God’s own Word. He said what He meant and meant what He said. The scriptures cannot be broken (John 10:35b).
Argue with yourself if you need to argue with someone. If you do, argue yourself into believing God’s word is true. They literally met together, being taught God’s word, for an entire year.
They didn’t stop at a year.
Read these other scriptures and you will see:
- Jesus assembled in the synagogue regularly on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16).
- The church is instructed to meet together regularly, not forsaking their assembly together, in person (Hebrews 10:24).
- Note scripture tells us to meet together especially as the day of His return draws nearer. That means when the world gets worse and more hostile toward Christians, don’t forsake meeting.
Take these two scriptures: Luke 4:16 and Hebrews 10:24 along with Acts 11:26 and you have an established teaching.
Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
2 Corinthians 13:1
We call an established teaching in the Bible a doctrine.
- Do disciples practice bible doctrine? Yes.
- Did the disciples in the New Testament follow the Apostles’ Doctrine? Yes.
- Did Jesus’ disciples meet regularly with a body of believers to be taught the word? Yes.
- Did book of Acts disciples meet together regularly to be taught the word? Yes.
Today, in order to rightly call yourself a Christian, you must meet together regularly with the church and be taught sound doctrine.
Three. A Christian Adheres to the “Apostles‘ Doctrine” in the Bible
A careful look in the New Testament will show you that the “Apostles’ Doctrine” in Acts 2:42, and “Sound Doctrine” in Titus 1:9 and 2:1 are the same thing.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42
Chronologically, in the early chapters of Acts, the Apostles were receiving revelation from the Holy Spirit.
For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:12
Galatians 1:1 tells us the apostle Paul wrote the epistle. In it he says the gospel he preaches was given to him by revelation of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, who is God, appeared to Paul after He ascended to heaven. Amazing!
Jesus revealed things to Paul about the gospel. It is safe to assume that this was the basis for his ministry which includes writing letters of doctrinal instruction to the church.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
Again, Peter is saying that writings (scripture) come from the revelation given by the Holy Spirit, who is God.
Paul states in the book of 2 Timothy that all scripture (the sacred writings given by God) are breathed out by God.
In all three of these verses it’s clear that God the Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit delivered His word to mankind in the Holy Scriptures that we call the Bible.
The Bible contains sound doctrine
Within these scriptures are doctrines. Doctrines are rightly divided truths that release power and salvation to mankind.
A Christian clings to the sound doctrine of the Bible. Remember, sound doctrine is also called the Apostles’ Doctrine. This doctrine has to do with the New Covenant.
I hope I have established this Bible fact with you well enough for you to receive what I’m saying next.
There is no room in God’s Word to claim you belong to a version of Christianity. Assemblies of God Christianity, Baptist Christianity, Prophetic Movement Christianity. NO ROOM in the Word of God for that.
Four. A Christian Has the Same Mission of Jesus
I say this often:
The Great Commission is the church’s mission, there is no other mission.
This is a doctrinally sound statement which also defines the Church. Let me show you how it applies in context with Acts 11:26.
Paul came to Antioch to teach the church. He went there to make disciples, preach the gospel, and demonstrate the power of God.
The Apostle Pauls’ mission.
And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
Galatians 1:14-16
When God revealed Jesus to Paul, he adopted the same mission as Jesus. It’s important for you to know what this mission is.
Jesus’ Mission
Jesus clearly demonstrated His mission was to seek and save the lost.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10
He also made it abundantly clear that His mission focused on making disciples of those saved souls. Read through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to prove this out.
In the gospels you’ll see Him teaching people, and call some into extended periods of learning, the disciples.
Along with Evangelizim and Discipleship, Jesus demonstrated the power of God. This is important. Power moving through the preaching of the Gospel is what makes Christianity distinct from other religions.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Mark 16:17-18
Jesus became sickness, sin, and poverty for us. Through faith in His name, anyone anywhere can receive salvation through Him.
The Great Commission
Jesus’ mission was and is the Great Commission. The Great Commission is preaching the Gospel, making disciples, and demonstrating the power of God.
The apostles, and the disciples of the Bible committed themselves to this mission. This mission is known as the Great Commission.
It’s safe to conclude that Paul taught the church in Antioch to follow his mission.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Conclusion
Be a Bible Christian. Take your stand against the religious institutions that water down the power of God. Live your faith exactly as the Word of God says and shun the traditions of men.
so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:5