This morning, we’re going to look at God’s definition of a Christian. Turn to Acts 11, where we’ll take our stand for this lesson. Be sure to listen to God's Definition of a Christian Part 2.
- Acts 11:26
But how do we define a Christian? In reality, it doesn’t matter how you or I define it—the important question is how God does. The word "Christian" has been used in many ways throughout my lifetime. Some use it broadly to refer to anyone who claims to believe in Jesus, regardless of denominational affiliation or personal beliefs. Simply acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God may be enough for some definitions.
Others define it more narrowly, restricting it to those who believe what the Bible teaches about Jesus—His identity as the Son of God, His establishment of His kingdom, His sacrifice on the cross for salvation, and His promised return to take the faithful home.
We will examine God's definition of a Christian and seek to understand it through His Word.
Is “Christian” From Man or God?
When we talk about being a Christian, we have an actual definition.
We have a standard against which we can measure our beliefs—the Word of God. By examining Scripture, we can see how our understanding aligns with God's truth.
First, consider the name "Christian." Did it come from God or from man? Let's read a few verses before discussing this further.
- Acts 11:19-26
"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." — Acts 11:26
Acts 11:26 is the first of three New Testament passages where the followers of God—often called disciples, followers, or those of "the Way"—are given a specific name: Christian. But to fully answer our question, we need to ask another: Is the name "Christian" from man or from God?
To answer this, we must examine another key word in verse 26: called. The Greek word used here is chrēmatisai, which means "to be called" or "to bear a title." This detail is significant because this word appears nine times in the New Testament.
Even more importantly, each time it appears, it is used in the same kind of context.
Appears 9 Times in New Testament
- Matthew 2:12 “…And being warned of God in a dream”
- Matthew 2:22 “…being warned of God in a dream”
- Luke 2:26 “it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit”
- Acts 10:22 “was warned from God by a holy angel”
- Acts 11:26 "were called Christians first in Antioch."
- Romans 7:3 “and shall be called and adulteress”
- Hebrews 8:5 “according to the pattern shewed to thee”
- Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God”
- Hebrews 12:25 “refused him that spake on earth”
So when we go back to our question, is the term Christian a word, a title, a name that came from God, or did it come from man? I think firmly we can answer the question yes. We can answer, yes. And we can answer, yes, because the word was designed by man. But, it was authorized by God. It was authorized that His people would be called by a new name.
"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." — Isaiah 62:2
The authority for the name Christian comes from Jehovah. Every instance of the word called in the passages we’ve examined carries the idea of divine revelation or communication from God. Are we to assume that all these instances indicate divine revelation—except for Acts 11:26? That wouldn't be a consistent approach to interpreting Scripture.
Applying proper hermeneutics, we can infer that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch because that is what God intended them to be called.
Why was the name “Christian” not used at Pentecost?
Why wasn’t the name Christian used earlier, in Acts 2, we see the establishment of the church—50 days after Passover, and therefore, 50 days after Jesus' death. Yet, in verse 41, when those who gladly received the word were baptized, no specific name was given to them.
Why not?
There are many possible explanations, but I’ll present three that seem the most logical and easiest to articulate in the time we have this morning.
1) Word Composition of "Christian"
First, consider the composition of the word Christian. It consists of two parts: the root comes from the Greek word Christ, while the suffix -ian is Latin. This combination of Greek and Latin suggests that the Jews would not have named themselves Christians, as they would have preferred a name from a single language rather than mixing two.
2) Place of Origin of "Christian"
Some have suggested that the early believers gave themselves this name, but that is not what happened. Instead, it likely came from those outside the Jewish community—people who spoke both Greek and Latin. This makes sense given the place of origin: Antioch.
"The people of Antioch were known for making fun of others, and one way they did that was to assign labels to people." — Chris Keener, IVP Bible Background Commentary of the New Testament
The followers of Christ were labeled Christians, meaning “little anointed ones” or “little Christs.” This name was originally given as a way to mock those who followed Jesus.
But as New Testament Christians, shouldn’t we strive to be more like Christ in our daily lives? If others look at us, see our beliefs and teachings, and say, Oh, you’re just trying to be a little Christ, should we be offended?
We shouldn’t be. And the early Christians in the first century weren’t offended either. Instead, the name Christian distinguished them—from those who continued practicing Judaism, from those who worshiped idols, and from anyone following someone other than Jesus.
Though the name may have been given in mockery, it set them apart from everyone else.
3) The Name "Christian" Given in God’s Time
Thirdly, in this particular thought, it happened in God's time. And this is really where we could rest on this particular argument, it happened in God's time.
Go back to Matthew 10:5-6 and the limited commission. When Jesus sent out His twelve apostles, He instructed them:
"Do not go to those outside the house of Israel. Do not go to the Samaritans. Do not go to the Gentiles or the heathen. Go only to the Jews." — Matthew 10:5-6
From that point on, the focus remained on the Jewish people. Who were present in Jerusalem in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost? According to verse 5, there were devout Jews. There were also proselytes—those not born as Jews but who had officially converted to Judaism, a practice dating back to the Old Testament. These devout individuals were there, but no Gentiles, religiously speaking.
Then, in Acts 10, Peter received a vision revealing that Gentiles were now welcome in the kingdom. This understanding set the stage for a unified identity among believers.
It makes sense that once it was clear that all who follow Christ—regardless of nationality, background, or lineage—are included in God’s kingdom, they would all be given the same name.
Now that both Jew and Gentile understood they had a place in God's kingdom, God gave them the name Christian so they could all be called by one name.
God’s Definition of a Christian
We're going to begin to look now at God's definition of what a Christian is.
God says that a Christian is one who has heard the gospel and believed it.
A Christian is one who has Heard the Gospel and Believed it!
- Acts 11:19-21
There is no evidence that the Gospel had reached Antioch before Acts 11. This directly connects back to the events following Acts 7. In Acts 7, we read about the death of Stephen. In Acts 8, Saul begins persecuting the church with relentless zeal, doing everything he can to eliminate those who call themselves disciples or followers of Jesus. As a result, believers were scattered abroad, and as they went, they preached the Gospel. It wasn’t until this scattering that the Word of God spread beyond Jerusalem.
But, do we remember what Jesus said in Acts 1:8? He told His disciples they would receive power from on high and be His witnesses—first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth.
Antioch, about 300 miles north of Jerusalem, became one of those far-reaching places where the Gospel spread. Since no one can be called a Christian without first hearing the Gospel and allowing it to transform their heart—convicting them of sin and leading them to understand Christ’s sacrifice—this growth was essential.
Only after believing can one choose to obey God's plan of salvation and His system of faith.
The Plan of Salvation
- Hear
- Believe
- Repent
- Confess
- Baptism
“Christian” AFTER Hearing and Believing (Faithful Obedience)
A Christian is someone who has heard and faithfully obeyed the Word of God—an ongoing process of devotion and transformation.
A Christian is one who is Indebted to Others!
- Acts 11:20
In Acts 11:20, we see that those who were not from Antioch traveled there with the purpose of sharing the Gospel. Some came from Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, while others came from Cyrene, located along the northern coast of Africa. They left their homes to bring the message of Christ to Antioch, a major city—at the time, the third largest in the Roman Empire. Antioch was a bustling center of commerce, well-traveled and influential.
The people of Antioch had every reason to feel indebted to these men who brought them the Gospel. Because of their efforts, those in Antioch had the opportunity to enter God’s kingdom—just as those who fled Jerusalem due to persecution spread the Word and opened the door for others.
Likewise, we, as members of the church today, should recognize our debt to those who came before us. Here in Oak Grove, we can be grateful for past generations who preserved the faith, ensuring that the Word of God remained in this place. Because of their efforts, we have a church where we can worship today.
But this also reminds us of our responsibility. We are now living in this generation, witnessing the next one rise. As Paul said to the Romans, I am indebted to you. I am a servant to teach you. In the same way, we are indebted to ensure the Gospel continues to be passed down, so that our children and grandchildren can gather here in Oak Grove and worship God faithfully.
A Christian is ultimately indebted to God.
A Christian is one that wants to Share the Gospel with Others!
A Christian is someone who desires to share the Gospel with others.
Spreading the Gospel is an essential part of Christianity. We cannot read through the book of Acts without seeing this truth repeated over and over.
The book of Acts is more than a record of conversions! It is the sharing of redemption!
The church was established in Acts 2, but as we continue through the book, we see that Acts is more than just a record of conversions. While it certainly provides a clear account of how individuals entered the kingdom of God according to His will, it is also a record of the spreading of redemption.
As believers traveled, they shared the Word of God because they carried the greatest message of all time—the message of salvation. Through Christ, we do not have to die in our sins. We do not have to remain separated from God.
- Acts 8:1-4, 5-25
In Acts 8, after the persecution we mentioned earlier (Acts 8:1-4), Philip goes to Samaria in verse 5, where he preaches the good news. We’ll discuss the meaning of "preaching" more this evening, but Philip shares the message of salvation with the people in Samaria.
- Acts 8:26-40
Then, in Acts 8:26, Philip is called by the Holy Spirit to leave Samaria and travel southwest toward Gaza, on his way to meet an Ethiopian man. There, he shares the message of redemption with the Ethiopian eunuch. As Philip approaches the chariot, he hears the man reading from Isaiah 53. He asks, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The eunuch replies, "How can I, unless someone guides me?"
A Christian is someone who wants to share the Gospel. A person who is not interested in sharing the message of salvation with others is not a Christian by God’s definition.
It doesn’t matter what we think of that individual. According to God’s definition, if they are not sharing the message of redemption, they are not Christians.
Perhaps you're here this morning as a member of the body of Christ, but maybe we've become caught up in man’s definition of Christian. We may think of it simply as going to church or assembling with others on the first day of the week, because that's what Christians do. But as we’ve seen so far, there is a specific way to be a Christian in the eyes of God.
Are You Living as a Christian?
Maybe you’re someone who is not yet a member of the body of Christ. Perhaps this concept is unfamiliar to you. If that’s the case, I hope you are considering your life this morning. Are you living in such a way that, when your life is over and you stand before God in judgment—something we know we all will— can do so without fear?
You can stand confidently, knowing you face a merciful Savior. That’s what I want. The alternative is standing before a righteous Judge who will give you exactly what you deserve. If you are uncertain about your relationship with God, or as we might say, God’s relationship with you, and if you want to explore that more fully, we encourage you to do so.
You can ask me, any of the elders in this congregation, or just about anyone else here, to study these matters with you. We would be glad to help. If we can assist you in any way, we encourage you to contact us.
