BIBLE CHRISTIANS

The word Christian appears three times in the New
Testament (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). The disciples (followers of Christ) who were called Christians in Acts 11:26, had believed the gospel, turned unto the Lord, and had been added unto the Lord (Acts 11:21,24). The Church is the family of God and those meeting the conditions of faith, repentance, and water baptism were said to be added to the Lord, or Church (Acts 2:47; Acts 5:14; and 1 Timothy 3:15). Christians with "purpose of heart....continue with the Lord" and show the "grace of God" in their lives (Acts 11:23). Those who want to wear the name Christian and fail to meet these conditions are pretenders.

Those called Christians in 1 Peter 4:16 were souls who had met the Bible conditions that entitled them to that name. They were souls "purified...in
obeying the truth" and "born again...by the word of God" (1 Peter 1:22,23). The Lord saved them when they were baptized in water (1 Peter 3:21). They were the "spiritual house", the "people of God", who worshiped God according to the Testament governing God's present preiesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:5,9,10). They were trying their best to live holy lives ,to resist the lust of the flesh, and
to endure faithfully under severe persecution (1 Peter 4:1-18). So living, they could "commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19). Bible Christians (those with the above characteristics) have a "living hope", "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3,4). But those who are guilty of bringing shame and dishonor in the use of the name Christian will not be spared the punishment of God who gave the name to grace those born into His family (2 Peter 2:9).

King Agrippa recognized Paul to be a Christian (Acts 26:28). The name was given by God in fulfillment to prophecy to those born into His spiritual family, the Church (Isaiah 62:2; Isaiah 56:5; Acts 11:26; 1 Timothy 3:15). The name Christian was used to identify the followers of Christ so much so that Agrippa knew who was entitled to wear the name. When Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who would hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am" (Acts 26:29), he knew and they knew, that certain gospel conditions had to be obeyed for them to be called Christians. Paul tells the conditions he met to be entitled to this God given name in Acts 22:16. Paul knew, and Agrippa knew, that just being religious was not enough to be entitled Christian (Acts 26:5). The final condition of the gospel Paul met to be saved (Acts 22:16) was the final condition met to be added to the Church, God's family (Acts 2:38,47; 1 Timothy 3:15). To be baptized into Christ is to be baptized into His body, the Church (Romans 6:3; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Paul knew, and Agrippa knew, (AND EVERYONE TODAY SHOULD KNOW), THAT ALL WHO ARE UNWILLING TO MEET THE CONDITIONS OF THE GOSPEL ARE NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR THE NAME CHRISTIAN. HAVE YOU MET THE CONDITIONS?

By Robert Martin