What Is A Christian?What Is A Christian?

What does it mean to BE a What does it mean to BE a Christian?Christian?

““By Way of Reminder”By Way of Reminder”

Reminders are important.Reminders are important.– The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:26).The Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:26).– 2 Pet. 1:15; 3:1: Stir up your minds by 2 Pet. 1:15; 3:1: Stir up your minds by

way of reminderway of reminder

Why? Why? – ““That you may be mindful…”That you may be mindful…”

We need to be mindful of our roles We need to be mindful of our roles and responsibilities as Christians. and responsibilities as Christians.

Several Words are Needed toSeveral Words are Needed toDefine What a Christian IsDefine What a Christian Is

DiscipleBeliever

Saint

Templeof the Lord

Child

of God

Servant of God

Several Words are Needed toSeveral Words are Needed toDefine What a Christian IsDefine What a Christian Is

Christian

BelieverBeliever

““But without faith it is impossible to But without faith it is impossible to please Himplease Him” (Heb. 11:6). ” (Heb. 11:6).

““He who believes and is baptized will He who believes and is baptized will be savedbe saved” (Mark 16:16). ” (Mark 16:16).

Therefore they are called “believers” Therefore they are called “believers” in Acts 5:14. in Acts 5:14.

““You have been saved through faithYou have been saved through faith” ” (Eph. 2:8). (Eph. 2:8).

BelieverBeliever

A true believer is not one who walk A true believer is not one who walk around saying, “I believes in Jesus.” around saying, “I believes in Jesus.”

But rather, by works faith is made But rather, by works faith is made perfect (James 2:22; 2:14-26). perfect (James 2:22; 2:14-26).

Though many people wish to stop Though many people wish to stop here in the definition of a Christian, here in the definition of a Christian, God shows us that there is much God shows us that there is much more involved. For a Christians is more involved. For a Christians is also a…also a…

DiscipleDisciple

Mark 16:16Believe and be Baptized

Matthew 28:19Make Disciples=

Learner: Matt. 11:29, “learn from Me”

Being a disciple of Christ requires knowledge of who He was, what He did, and what He taught.

Follower: Luke 9:23, “follow Me”

Being a disciple requires that we put our knowledge to use in our actions.

DiscipleDisciple

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

1 John 2:6

Since discipleship requires obedience, it may also be said that a Christian is a…

Servant of GodServant of God

We were “We were “purchased with His bloodpurchased with His blood” ” (Acts 20:28). (Acts 20:28).

We were “We were “bought at a pricebought at a price” (1 Cor. ” (1 Cor. 6:20). 6:20).

Therefore we have been freed from Therefore we have been freed from sin.sin.

However, we are now servants to the However, we are now servants to the One who purchased us.One who purchased us.

Servant of GodServant of God

“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but

for Him who died for them and rose again.”

2 Cor. 5:15

Outside of Christ In ChristIn Sin

Judgment

Servants of Sin

Our reward, eternal condemnation

In Righteousness

Salvation

Servants of God

Our reward, everlasting life

Servant of GodServant of God“Do you not know that to whom you present

yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or

of obedience leading to righteousness?”Romans 6:16

Though we are called Christians, if we want eternal life we must stop serving sin and start serving God with our lives.

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness,

and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus

our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

Child of GodChild of God

When we were purchased as servants, When we were purchased as servants, we were also “born again” (John 3:3, we were also “born again” (John 3:3, 7).7).– Sins forgiven, made pure and holy, made Sins forgiven, made pure and holy, made

a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).– But who begat us when we were born?But who begat us when we were born?

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ.”Galatians 3:26-27

Child of GodChild of God

That God was willing to send His Son That God was willing to send His Son to die so that He may adopt us and to die so that He may adopt us and call us His children shows His great call us His children shows His great love for us (1 John 3:1). love for us (1 John 3:1).

But with this blessing comes great But with this blessing comes great responsibility.responsibility.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

Ephesians 5:1

Child of GodChild of God

If Christians, as God’s children, If Christians, as God’s children, continue to act like people in the continue to act like people in the world, then they cannot be called His world, then they cannot be called His children. children.

Just as the one we serve becomes Just as the one we serve becomes our master, so the one we imitate our master, so the one we imitate becomes our father. becomes our father.

Child of GodChild of God“Little children, let no one deceive you. He who

practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the

devil.

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been

born of God”

1 John 3:7-9

Temple of the LordTemple of the Lord

In the Old Testament the temple was In the Old Testament the temple was where God made His presence where God made His presence known on the earth. known on the earth.

But there is no temple today. Why?But there is no temple today. Why?

““Do you not know that you Do you not know that you (the (the church)church) are the temple of God and are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in youthat the Spirit of God dwells in you?” ?” (1 Cor. 3:16).(1 Cor. 3:16).

Temple of the LordTemple of the LordBoth collectively and individually we are Both collectively and individually we are said to be God’s temple because He dwells said to be God’s temple because He dwells in us (1 Cor. 6:19).in us (1 Cor. 6:19).– He is not a second entity inside our bodies.He is not a second entity inside our bodies.– But as we imitate Him, learn from His word, But as we imitate Him, learn from His word,

and fill hearts and lives with things from above, and fill hearts and lives with things from above, He is in us. He is in us.

– Through our works His presence is made Through our works His presence is made known to the world!known to the world!

But if we are not glorifying Him in our But if we are not glorifying Him in our bodies, how can we be called His temple? bodies, how can we be called His temple? (1 Cor. 6:20)(1 Cor. 6:20)

Saint—Faithful OneSaint—Faithful One

This word summarizes all that we This word summarizes all that we have discussed.have discussed.For it describes a person who is For it describes a person who is faithful in all things to God. faithful in all things to God. – Saints are not people who have done Saints are not people who have done

miracles. miracles. – Saints are not people of legend.Saints are not people of legend.– Saints are all of God’s people—All who Saints are all of God’s people—All who

lives by faith as disciples, servants, and lives by faith as disciples, servants, and children and who keep themselves pure.children and who keep themselves pure.

Saint—Faithful OneSaint—Faithful One

Col. 1:12: They are the ones that will Col. 1:12: They are the ones that will receive an inheritance in heaven. receive an inheritance in heaven.

There will be many who believe in There will be many who believe in Christ and claim to do many works in Christ and claim to do many works in His name.His name.

But only those who are But only those who are faithfulfaithful to do to do the will of the Father will enter the the will of the Father will enter the kingdom (Matt. 7:21). kingdom (Matt. 7:21).

Saint—Faithful OneSaint—Faithful One

Christians, as saints, must be faithful Christians, as saints, must be faithful in all things. in all things.

Hebrews 11 shows us the kind of Hebrews 11 shows us the kind of faithfulness we need as saints. faithfulness we need as saints.

Heb. 12:1 tells us to run with Heb. 12:1 tells us to run with endurance as they did!endurance as they did!

Jesus said to “Jesus said to “be faithful until deathbe faithful until death” ” (Rev. 2:10).(Rev. 2:10).

ConclusionConclusion

Are you striving to be the kind of Christian Are you striving to be the kind of Christian God wants us to be?God wants us to be?

Though you believe, are you…Though you believe, are you…– Walking in the footsteps of Jesus?Walking in the footsteps of Jesus?– Serving God in righteousness?Serving God in righteousness?– Imitating God as His children?Imitating God as His children?– Keeping yourself pure as the temple of God?Keeping yourself pure as the temple of God?– Being faithful in all things as the Lord’s saint?Being faithful in all things as the Lord’s saint?