This article explores the topic of becoming and being a disciple of Christ. Key scriptures are: Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28-29; and 1 Peter 4:16.
Acts 11:26 tells us that the disciples of Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. It does not tell us who recommended the term. But 1 Peter 4:16 as well as Acts 26:28-29 confirm the apostles saw the term Christian as an honorable word to use to identify disciples of Christ.
Let me provide a relatively brief statement about my faith regarding becoming and being a Christian.
I have concluded my faith to be the following: We are saved by grace through faith in the sufficiency of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ; and, God expects us as one of the so saved to by faith do good works out of love for God and those good works include but are not limited to keeping God’s commandments applicable under the Covenant in effect at the present time. This involves repenting from trusting in self for salvation and righteousness to accepting and trusting in Christ for salvation and righteousness. It involves repentantly surrendering to and following the Holy Spirit in doing God’s will for one’s life to include keeping God’s commandments and otherwise doing good works serving and following Christ taking up one’s cross daily not turning back but enduring unto the end.
1. Getting Saved by Grace Through Faith – That foundationally is about repentantly recognizing the need for a Savior beyond oneself and humbly accepting the divine gracious gift and work of God including the role of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with respect to the virgin birth, perfect sinless life, crucifixion, body bruised, bloodshed, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ Jesus. That Jesus who is the prophetic Messiah, Son of God, son of Abraham, son of David. Example scriptures about getting saved by grace through faith in the sufficiency of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross are: Matthew 4:17; Luke 19:10; John 3:1-8, 14-16; Acts 15:24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 9:11-22.
2. Living Saved by Grace Through Faith – That foundationally is about our praise and glorification of God rooted in a repentant faith that expresses in attitude, voice/speech, and action obedient love for God, self, and others every day everywhere and in everything through keeping of his commandments because of love for God; the commandments which we should keep are those applicable under the New Covenant whose foundation is Christ Jesus. Example scriptures about living saved by grace through repentant faith for Jew and Gentile are: Matthew 4:17; 5:13-16; Luke 9:23-26; John 8:31-32; 14:15-16; John 16:7-15; Acts 26:20; Ephesians 2:10; as well as 1 John 1:9; 5:3; Psalm 19:7; 119:97; and Romans 7:12.
The Christian is not to turn back but is to endure unto the end per Matthew 24:12-13 praising and glorifying God for giving his only begotten Son to save us, taking up one’s cross daily per Luke 9:23-26 serving and following Christ per John 12:26.
Getting saved is not about gender or skin color or nationality or whether in bondage or free. Living saved like getting saved is not about skin color. Living saved does involve consideration of elements of gender. For the role of men and women differ in some areas of life. Living saved does involve consideration of elements of nationality but one’s nationality does not give one any inherent superiority or greater value to God over a person of a different nationality. Especially after Christ death and resurrection Israelites can be salt and light to Gentiles and Gentiles can be salt and light to Israelites. Living saved does involve consideration of nationality with respect to righteous cultural norms. One cultural example is the cultural emphasis of Israelites on physical circumcision but that is generally not a cultural emphasis for Gentiles. These are discussed in greater details below.
Getting saved is not about gender or skin color or nationality or whether in bondage or free per scriptures such as Psalms 24:1; John 3:16; Acts 6:5; Acts 15:1, 11, 24 and Galatians 3:26-29.
Living saved like getting saved is not about skin color. People of all skin colors are equally acceptable to God. Skin color does not matter to God. He made them all equally beautiful whether Black, White, or otherwise. There is absolutely no scripture where a person can conclusively determine the skin color of anyone in the Bible. Any such attempt amounts to speculation often rooted in outside the Bible information that is untrustworthy for spiritual purposes.
Living saved does involve consideration of elements of gender. For the role of men and women differ in some areas of life per Ephesians 5:21-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7.
Living saved does involve consideration of elements of nationality but one’s nationality does not give one any inherent superiority or greater value to God over a person of a different nationality. No matter a disciple of Christ’s nationality, Jew or Gentile, American or non-American, just like no matter one’s race, Black or White or other, one is to be the salt and light of the earth to every other human no matter the other human’s nationality or skin color or gender per Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 5:8; and Philippians 2:15. This means especially after Christ death and resurrection Israelites can be salt and light to Gentiles and Gentiles can be salt and light to Israelites.
In more detail, this being the salt and light of the world involves Jews being salt and light to other Jews first; this is what Jesus means in Matthew 15:24 where he says “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Yet, we know that after Jesus death, burial, resurrection he and his disciples mission dramatically expanded to focus on both Jews and Gentiles per Acts 1:8. This expansion involves Jews being salt and light to Jews and Gentiles and Gentiles being salt and light to Jews and Gentiles; this is what the scripture means when it says to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16) and also to the Gentile (Romans 2:9-10). Here in Romans 1:16, the word Greek refers to Gentiles that dominated the times and areas in which the New Testament biblical authors lived and interacted primarily.
In the Bible, it is abundantly clear that Gentiles may be salt and light to both Jew and Gentile just as Jews can be salt and light to both Jew and Gentiles now that we are beyond Christ being sent only and first to the household of Israel. The principle of Gentiles being salt and light to Jews as well as other Gentiles is present in the case of Nicolas the Proselyte who was one of The Seven in Acts 6:5. The principle of Gentiles also being salt and light to Jews as well as other Gentiles is present concerning the case of Titus a Gentile of whom a whole book of the Bible is named. There is no biblical indication that the proselyte Nicolas of one of The Seven in Acts 6:5 was less than the others who were Jews/Israelites; there is biblical indication that The Seven including Nicolas oversaw Jews, Grecians and non-Grecians, with respect to their appointed business in the church. There is no biblical indication that fully non-Jew/non-Israelite Titus was any less than the partially Jew Timothy; there is no indication that Titus did not ordain Jews/Israelites as elders and there is no biblical indication that Titus did not oversee Jews/Israelites as an overseer in God’s church.
Living saved does involve consideration of nationality with respect to righteous cultural norms. For cultural norms are largely a function of nationality. A righteous cultural norm example in which Jews/Israelites and Gentiles differ under Christ is that of physical circumcision. The Jew/Israelite disciple of Christ in the New Testament after Christ resurrection continued in physical circumcision but did not impose their choice to continue upon Gentiles for their cultural norm per Acts 15:1, 11, 24 and Acts 21:17-26 and Galatians 2:3-5. Jews/Israelites continued in physical circumcision even though the apostles by the Holy Spirit said physical circumcision was not required for salvation. Only a deceitful coward would not have told the Gentiles they needed to be circumcised to be saved and therefore be in covenant relationship with God. If the Gentiles needed to be physically circumcised to be saved and therefore in covenant relationship with God, the apostles would have told them so. Otherwise, they would be deceitful cowards in saying what they said in Acts 15 and Acts 21:25. Certainly, the apostles were not deceitful cowards. Note that if physical circumcision is not required for non-Israelites to be saved and in covenant with God, it is reasonable to conclude that it is not required for Israelites though Israelites seemingly chose to continue in it as a cultural norm.
Living saved does involve elements of whether one is in bondage or free. For when one is in bondage it may impact one’s ability to fulfill God’s purpose for his or her life and the ability to keep God’s commandments. Biblical evidence of this is that when the Jews/Israelites were in captivity at various times they could not keep laws at the Temple.
Now for some details about becoming and being a Christian.
There is not a particular formula or place one has to go through or to in order to be saved.
We do know that Matthew 4:17 says when Jesus began his public ministry he preached repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Therefore, it is clear that repentance is part of the process of being reborn unto salvation. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says to people which believed on him: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It is therefore, reasonable to conclude that repentance is also part of the process of living the saved life.
Jesus teaches us in John 3:3-8: that the rebirth occurs by the Holy Spirit. Jesus says we know not when or how the Holy Spirit comes. The person must recognize and surrender to the Holy Spirit whenever and however he comes. This recognition and surrender includes repenting and confessing the Lord Jesus Christ to God believing in the sufficiency of his crucifixion unto actual physical death, body bruised, blood-shed, burial, resurrection, ascension and promise to one day return. Romans 10:8-13 speaks of this where it says:
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The reborn saved person should then unashamedly publicly confess his or her repentance and as a first sign of commitment to obedience get water baptized. For water baptism is the easiest one-time commandment of God to obey. For baptism as a matter of obedience is instructed to be done by Jesus example in Matthew 3:13-17, and Jesus and Peter words in Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 2:38, respectively, although no particular baptism formula or location is commanded.
One then through praise, prayer, preaching, personal bible study, discipleship by church elders and others, and fellowship with fellow believers learn and practice being the best Christian one can be in attitude, speech/voice, and action in worship of (humbly bowing down to) God everywhere, every day, in everything. When one falls short as all except Christ tend to do, then one finds comfort in going to God and confessing to God with godly sorrow and repentance sufficient for God if not sufficient for humankind.
It is through repentant faith that God promises to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness per Matthew 4:17 and 1 John 1:9. It is reasonable that God and all would expect a characteristic of one’s confession to include godly sorrow and a sincere desire and commitment to not sin again.
It is God not any human who will judge all unto either eternal life in Heaven with its blessed rewards or eternal death in Hell with its undesirable rewards. For Jesus himself says in Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Peter in 1 Peter 1:17 also speaks to this biblical principle regarding judgment to come.
The reborn has a desire to love God first above self and others and secondly to love others as one loves oneself as Jesus says in Matthew 22:34-40. The reborn has a desire to please God. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
The Word of God tells us that Jesus says if you love me keep my commandments. Jesus speaks for the Father God. God has had commandments from the beginning, has them now and into the future.
The commandments of God run from Genesis to Revelation. The reborn out of love and desire to please God will labor, seek and strive to surrender to the Holy Spirit to learn and obey God’s commandments as they apply to his or her life.
Being a Christian means not devaluing the role of Christ for righteousness/salvation. For our righteousness is in his sacrifice on our behalf per scriptures such as John 10:11-18; 15:13; Romans 10:4; and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Being a Christian also means not devaluing the role of the law by claiming the law has been totally done away with for all purposes. Being a Christian means recognizing the law has changed in at least one instance and therefore different now than before per Hebrews 7:12 but not totally done away it. Christ is the new one-time sacrifice superior to repetitive animal sacrifices such that our righteousness/ salvation is in Christ by faith. Yet God expects us to obey his commandments because we love him (John 14:15).
Being a Christian is not just about being made righteous. It is also laboring in the Spirit to live righteous. The Holy Spirit leads and guides the believer. However, the Holy Spirit does not force us to surrender; we must choose to surrender. Otherwise, Paul in Galatians 2:11-14 would not have had to rebuke/chastise the saved sanctified Holy Spirit filled Peter for his unrighteous behavior even after the day of Pentecost. The law is one way we know how to live righteous. That is why the New Testament mentions many laws that tell us what to do and what to not do. With respect to the Great foundational Commandments Jesus gives in Matthew 22:34-40 about loving God and loving others as oneself, much of the New Testament tells us how to love. This is why in Romans 3:31 Paul says faith does not void the already existing law but rather establishes the law. He does so to warn folks that when he says we are not justified by the law in that earlier verse (Romans 3:28) and not under the law in the later verse (Romans 6:14), he is not saying the law is totally done away with for all purposes. Though the law does not justify us, it still is important in the life of the Christian. This is abundantly clear in Ephesians 6:2-3 where Paul quotes from Exodus 20:12, part of the Ten Commandments which was part of the law of God given under Moses. Certainly, disciples of Christ are instructed by God to live out Ephesians 6:2-3 in serving and following Christ.
Being a Christian means attending to Jesus words in Matthew 16:24-27 where it says: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”
Being a Christian means being in the world but not of the world. It means being the salt of the earth and light of the world. For Jesus says to all his disciples, both Jew and Gentile, as recorded in Matthew 5:13-16 which says: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Certainly at the time Jesus spoke those words it was before his death which means his focus was as recorded in Matthew 15:24 where he speaks of being sent only to the lost sheep of the household of Israel. This is consistent with the scriptures that say to the Jew first but also to the Gentile. Indeed after Jesus resurrection it is clear that his mission dramatically expanded as he told his apostles/disciples to go into all the world. Scriptures about the expanded scope include Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20.
For Acts 1:8 says: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
And Matthew 28:18-20 says: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Indeed, Nicolas one of The Seven was a proselyte (Acts 6:5). Also Titus of whom a whole book is named was a Gentile who ordained elders in every city, cities which most likely consisted of both Jew and Gentile
Moreover, Paul echoes Jesus saying his disciples which includes both Jew and Gentile are to be the light of the world as recorded in scriptures such as Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:8; and Philippians 2:15.
Romans 13:12 says: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”
Ephesians 5:8 says: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
Philippians 2:15 says: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Being a Christian means recognizing that though we are not cursed by the law, a consequence of disobedience may be chastisement by God per Hebrews 12:5-11.
Indeed, Hebrews 12:5-11 says: “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Being a Christian means attending to Jesus words in Matthew 10:25 where he says: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Of course, this is not to fear God so as to try and run from God but rather to run to God as a matter of reverence for God.
One should realize we all are engulfed in spiritual warfare. So not only will at times one’s own flesh be against the Holy Spirit but the flesh of other humans as well as Satan will at times seek to turn one against knowing and living out God’s commandments by faith. Galatians 5:17 and Hebrews 12:3-4 speak to this battle between flesh and spirit within and regarding others.
For Galatians 5:17 says: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
And Hebrews 12:3-4 says “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
We stive against sin because we are still in the world though not of the world. There is still law and therefore Christians still can sin and are to repent of sin we commit confessing with godly sorrow and laboring to surrender to the Spirit not to do so again. As indicated earlier, this is what the saved sanctified Holy Ghost filled spoke in tongues Peter had to do after Paul rebuked him in Galatians 2:11-14. This is why 1 John 1:9 exists.
Hence, just knowing what God commands under the New Covenant is a challenge, especially in contrast to the Old Covenant. For some but not all things in the Old Covenant are brought forward into the New Covenant in some form to some degree.
In the final analysis each person must stand before God for his or her own-self.
2 Corinthians 5:7-10 says:
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
With respect to appearance at the judgment seat of Christ people disagree as to what that will most likely be about with respect to results. Well as for me no matter what the judgement will entail I would rather do good than do evil.
So let everyone labor by faith, hope, and love in surrender to the Holy Spirit being fully persuaded in his or her own mind as to that which is good and acceptable to the Lord our God. Let us so do always being mindful that the Word of God as compiled in the Holy Bible provides us with foundational principles or sound doctrines as to what constitutes that which is good and acceptable to the Lord.
Let no one be hopelessly depressed or hopelessly oppressed by life for our God is gracious and merciful to the sincere and he knows who is sincere and who is shucking and jiving.
Let us all in love be respectful of one another as each being God’s servant so as not to impose our will upon them so long as their will brings no harm to us or those for whom we are directly responsible such as family. Let us all be mindful to love God above self and others. Let us all be mindful to love all others as we love ourselves no matter the gender, skin color, nationality or socio-economic status. The good we want for ourselves let us want for all others. The bad we do not want for ourselves, let us not want for any other.
For a more detailed discussion of law under the New Covenant click here.
Additional notes and supporting scriptures:
Disciple: Student of Teacher Jesus; Follower of Saviour Christ
Root of the word Christian is Christ (1st 6 letters)
Occurrence of word Christian and by whom:
- Definition of the word Christian (Acts 11:26)
- Paul recognizes the word Christian as an honorable word in his response to King Agrippa saying Paul almost convinced him to become a Christian (Acts 26:28)
- Peter uses the word Christian in an honorable way dispelling it as a term of mockery (1 Peter 4:16)
Relationship of the Word Christian to the Word Christianity:
- The Word Christian is the base word for the word Christianity just as the word Christ is the base word for the word Christian. This truth establishes the validity of the word Christian and the word Christianity based on the obvious validity of the word Christ.
- Three Major Religions or Faiths in Western World are Judaism, Christianity, Islam in order of advent. The word Judaism is the transliteration of the Greek word (Ioudaismos, G2454) translated as the phrase Jews’ religion as found in Galatians 1:13, 14.
Salvation as a gift from God: John 3:14-18; 10:30; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-14; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:7s
God calling us out of darkness into the light of Christ by repentant faith:
Matthew 4:17; 21:32; John 1:1-3, 14-17; 10:30; 1 John 5:7; John 3:5-6, 14-18, 19-21; John 14:6; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:10; Philippians 1:6
Who can be saved? | Matthew 19:16-26; John 14:6
Receiving, Confessing, and Professing Salvation: Rev 3:20; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 9:23-26
Additional example scriptures regarding salvation are John 3: 14-18, 19-21; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:3-12
Salvation as a continuous divine gracious work of God into eternity: Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Matthew 24:12-13
Getting Love Right: Matthew 22:34-40
Being Impartial in Expressing Love and Compassion for Others: James 2:14-26
Obeying the Commandments of God applicable under Christ who brought in the New (Not Renewed) Covenant: John 14:15-21; 1 John 5:3; Romans 3:31; 1 Peter 1:13-16
Easiest Public Expression of Commitment to Obedience is Water Baptism: Matthew 3:13-17; Acts 2:38
Spirit of Repentance is Important: Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 2:15-16, 21-22;3:1-6, 19
Being Salt and Light and Good Works: Matthew 5:13,14-16; Ephesians 2:10
Suffering for Christ as a Christian: 1 Peter 4:15-16
Holy Spirit Role: Luke 11:9-13; Matthew 3:11-12; John 14:15-18; 16:7-15
Overcoming Failures in our Salvation Walk: Matthew 4:17; 1 John 1:9
Be Steadfast Enduring Until the End: Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 10:19-27, 28-39
Reference:
Jesus Fulfillment of the Law
Gospel of Jesus Christ Note
