What Does It Mean to Be Called a "Christian"?

The news believers were first called "Christians" in Antioch.  What did it mean to be a Christian in the context of Acts 11? Does this still translate in what it means to be Christian today?  Let's see what the grace of God did there!

The Church in Antioch - Acts 11

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 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. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Though the death of Stephen and the subsequent persecution brought on by the Roman empire was bad, God used it for good to spread the Gospel to new people.  As people were dispersed from Jerusalem to different parts of the known world, the church began to grow and spread as the disciples gave faithful witness to Jesus the Christ.  This was a fulfillment of what Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The gospel began to spread beyond Jerusalem to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, to Antioch, a city in ancient Syria, and to Cyrene a city in North Africa. The gospel spread mainly to Greek speaking Gentiles, some of who had converted to Judaism already.  At first the early church of mainly Jewish believers was resistant to Gentiles coming to faith in Christ. But when they sent Barnabas to Antioch, when he arrived he saw what the GRACE of GOD HAD DONE!  Interestingly the disciples were first called "Christians" in Antioch.  

What are some things we can learn about the explosive growth the church as it spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth?  

1. While the world thought that by persecuting the early Christians they could snuff out the Christian movement, it only served to spread the gospel.  Still today many are trying to stop Christians from sharing their faith.  Like then it only strengthens the resolve of the church.  Jesus promised that he was the rock of the church, and the gates of hell could not prevail against the church he died for.  

2. God's hand which was with them.  As the believers were faithful to preach the gospel, God faithfully called people out of darkness into the light of Christ.  People believed and turned to God under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Further it says Barnabas "saw the grace of God" in these new believers.  One commentator describes what this meant, 

"In whatever gathering of Christians we associate ourselves with, it is important that others be able to see the grace of God among us. They should not see an emphasis on self, on man-made rules, on human performance – but on the glorious grace of God. It will make them glad." (Guzik)

3. It wasn't enough just for people to be converted and baptized, they needed to be taught what they believed.  Barnabas went and got Saul (later named Paul) and they spent a year with the new believers in Antioch and taught them about the faith they had received by grace.  Paul had spent 12 Tarsus since we last had seen him, and had spent these years in preparation for the ministry the Lord had given him to be an apostle to the Gentiles.  Though God used Paul to be an apostle, his heart was that of a teacher. He was passionate that new converts would know "what" they believed and "why" they believed. 

Though the time and places have changed, the mission of the church has not.  Though it is easy to be content in our churches with the people we know and teaching we get, fundamentally we are called and sent out to reach the our neighbors with the gospel.  This does not necessarily mean going to another country like Turkey or Syria, but it does mean being willing to go where God sends us, even next door.  

We are too are called to be God's witnesses in Irvine, Orange County, California and to the ends of the earth. This disciples, who were first called Christians in Antioch, showed what the grace of God looked like. Let's carry on the work they started and will be complete when Jesus returns in great and promised glory.  




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