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WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?

Acts 26:28 (King James Version)
28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

INTRODUCTION:

  • One the most misunderstood words in the world is the word Christian.
  • A preacher’s greatest fear is to preach to someone and that person perish because the message was not plain enough.
  • All of us use words everyday that we can’t define.
  • The same is true with the word Christian.
  • If we passed out a slip of paper today and asked you to write down the definition of Christian,
  • what would you write down? Do you know what the word really means?
  • What does it mean to be a good Christian?
  • The word Christian is used three times in the Bible:
  • Acts 11:26 (King James Version)
    26 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 11:28 (King James Version)
    28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
  • 1 Peter 4:16 (King James Version)
    16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
  • From these three passages from God’s Word, let’s find out what and who is a good Christian.
  1. A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO MAKES A CHOICE FOR JESUS
  • Acts 26:28 (King James Version)
    28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
  • It must be his own will, not someone choosing for him.
  • You are the only one who can make the choice to become a Christian.
  • Some may say, “I was sprinkled when I was a baby.” That didn’t make you a Christian.
  • Others may say, “I was confirmed.”
  • It must be your choice.
  • So, a Christian is one who must make a choice.
  1. A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO EXPERIENCES A CHANGE
  • Acts 11:26 (King James Version)
    26 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.
  • The world will laugh at you.
  • There are millions of people being laughed into hell by the world.
  • Afraid to get saved.
  • Don’t let some big mouth laughing at you keep you from being saved.
  • Lots of people here have refused Christ, afraid of what others will say.
  1. NAMED Christians =because they looked like Christ.
  2. When you get saved, your friends will know something has changed about you.
  3. If you professed to be saved and no one noticed it, and if it didn’t change you, then you didn’t get saved. You didn’t become a Christian,
  4. Salvation makes you act differently, talk differently, look differently, and live differently.
  1. A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS A CHALLENGE
  • 1 Peter 4:16 (King James Version)
    16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
  • It’s not an easy road. Jesus said, “Take up thy cross and follow me”.
  • If you are looking for an easy road, don’t come.
  • If you are not willing to be different, don’t come.
  • Christians have certain obligations.
  • Get baptized = identification.
  • Join a Bible believing church.
  • SUPPORT THRU GIVING IN OFFINGS.