Who is a christian?

Call To Prayer 

Title: Who is a Christian? 

Date: 03.10.2022 

By: Njuacha Hubert 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’”  Mathew 7: 23-24 

Who is a Christian? Is it by birth? I was born into a Christian family so I am a Christian? Is it by region? I am from Germany or from Nigeria and we are Christians. Or is it by church attendance? Brothers and sisters ask yourselves what is the evidence of my Christianity. Is it by preaching? Is it by praying and fasting?  

The word Christian is derived from the Latin word Christianus which means “follower of Christ”. The bible records that the first time the disciples were referred to as Christians was in Antioch. (Act 11:25-26). If you read that chapter from the start (Act 11), you see that other people in other places had become disciples of Jesus but I ask, why is it that it was when the people in Antioch received the good news that they became known as Christians? Now, this is how it started, Acts 11:20-21 says some people preached to the people in Antioch and a great number believed and turned to the lord. Acts 11 also says that the church in Jerusalem heard about Antioch and sent Barnabas to go and see. And Barnabas “When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.” (Acts 11:23). Acts 11: 29 mentions how the church in Antioch provided help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.  

Brothers and sisters, a Christian is not by name. It is by fruits (Mathew 7:15-20). It is only the ignorant who can be deceived because the bible makes it very clear. If you want to know who is truly a Christian simply look at the fruits of the holy spirit in that person’s life. Do you see love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, in your life (Galatian 5:22-23). Do I love as I am loved by Jesus. Do I forgive since I am forgiven. Am I patient since the lord is constantly patient with me. Do I give since the lord has given me eternal life in Christ Jesus. A Christian is a follower of Christ. We are supposed to be the Jesus that people see. This leads me to think that it is because the disciples in Antioch significantly manifested these fruits that people were convicted to say truly these are followers of Christ: they are Christians. Remember that Jesus gave us this as new commandment: love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34).

All of this sound good but it is impossible without God. It is only possible by His grace. Without Christ we can’t be like Christ. As Jesus tells us in John 15:1-17, We are branches and He is the vine. We must therefore abide in Him. Always running back into His presence. Still in John 15:1-17 Christ reminds us of the new commandment: LOVE another as I(Jesus) have loved You. Beloved you are loved. Receive grace to love. Amen.  

Prayer Point:  

Let’s us thank God for His unwavering love. Let’s pray for the grace to show nondiscriminatory love because this is how we love God.