And They Were Called Chriatians

Acts 11:22-26

Citizens of a nation are called by the names of their nation. Nigerians are citizens of Nigeria, Americans of America, British of Britain, Togolese of Togo, etc. The people of a particular country can be identified with certain characteristics prevalent in them such as colour, culture, language, occupation, etc,. Also, within families (immediate and extended), members can be referred to by the names of their families such as the Philips, Owolabis, Okories, Musas, etc,. You find resemblance amongst those members - physical, characters/habits, career/occupation, etc,. Christians, therefore, are named after Christ and must definitely have marks or characteristics found in Him that are prevalent in His members (the Christians). What are those likely marks that were seen in the disciples which must necessarily be in today’s disciples that set them apart and got them that tag ‘Christians’.

The Indispensable Early Marks That Needs Be.

For anyone to possess and manifest any of the qualities and virtues in the Lord Jesus Christ, he must first have the Spirit of Christ in him (Rom. 8:9). This happens at salvation when a sinner on realizing the purpose of the death and resurrection of Christ for him, totally submits to it, confessing all sin from a broken heart and consciously accepts Jesus into his life (Tit. 2:14; 1Tim. 2:5-6; Gal. 1:3-4; Eph. 1:13; 2Cor. 5:5). This is the first step, after which the saved youth surrenders his whole spirit to the next operation of letting the Holy Ghost deal and destroy whatever nature of sin that remained which could revive interest again in things he has given up. Jesus hated iniquity, had dominion and victory over it and loved righteousness (Heb. 1:9; Matt. 4:1-11). For the child of God, bearing the name of the Saviour to tread this path as commanded (Rom. 6:11-14), he must also be able to withstand and quench all the fiery darts (including those that are technologically induced) and overcome compromising influences from ‘friends’, ‘peers’, ‘so-called Christians’ and from the pits of hell. This has to be by the power of the Holy Ghost that comes into the saved and sanctified child of God (Heb. 1:9; cons. Jn. 3:34; Act. 4:16-21, 31; 3:37-39; Eph. 5:18). The beauty of Jesus will radiate more and more as this child of God learns more about the Lord Jesus through these experiences and greater commitment/consecration to His service, prayer and the word (Rom. 8:4-6; Gal. 2:20; 5:16-18; Phil. 1:21). The Spirit of God in him naturally manifests His fruits in that individual (Gal. 5:22-25). These are sweet experiences for him. The same were in Jesus and made it easy for Him to obey the Father, living to please him, loving him, showing kindness, mercy and compassion, praying through the night, eating the word, sacrificing his life, etc,. This is the mind all must possess (Phil. 2:5) and the effects are those examples representing the steps and path left for the believer to walk in and tread (1Pet. 1:21). At this point, any youth having these testimonies can begin to say "he that hath seen me hath seen ....." (cons. Jn. 14:8-9). He has become a Christian.

This is true, but for us who have been brought in a period like this before the Lord, there are certain truths and awareness that the Lord would want every Christian youth who is praying to walk in the steps of Jesus must know, be overwhelmed with and be partaker of (Eph. 1:17-19). What art they?

Today, the name Christian as it relates to the believer is taken/given once one is born again and experienced what have been outlined above. For some there may not even be such experiences but involvement in Church activities, long time membership, as a matter of being born in the church, etc, they are called Christians or profess to be Christians. At Antioch, when the disciples were firs called Christians it was not so.

·         The name came not from the disciples themselves but from those that observed, tried, interacted with and who lived amongst them.

·         The people that heard the word of God from the preacher had testimonies of conversion, clear change of lives and progress in it (Act. 11:19-21; 2Cor. 5:17).

·         The grace of God was evident on them as the visiting minister confirmed. Their victories over persecution, trials, temptations, labour and love for the Lord must have been clear (Act. 11:23).

·         They had evangelism prowess just like those that brought them the gospel (Act. 11:20-21, 24; 2:14, 37-41; Mk. 16:15; Lk. 9:1-2).

·         The atmosphere in their fellowship was such that made easy the operation of the Holy Ghost in the man of God (Act. 11:12). There was no room for quarrels, secret sins, immoral and ungodly acts and other properties of Satan that could hinder the move of the Holy Ghost or constitute obstacles to the faith of the minister (cons. Habk. 1:13; 2Cor. 3:17; Isa. 59:1-2; Josh. 7:10-12).

·         They were teachable. They had an increasing hunger and thirst for God’s word which made them not to forsake the assemblying together of the brethren (Heb. 10:25; Ps. 42:1-2; 119:125-131, 9-16; Isa. 2:3). Each gathering worked new things in them, imparted the qualities of the Lord and made them more like Jesus (Jn. 15:1-6; 2Cor. 3:18).

·         There was unity of purpose, same spirit, oneness, submission, uncompromised lifestyle as they dwelt together (Act. 11:23, 26; Jn. 13:34-35; 1Cor. 1:10; Rom. 12:16; Phil. 3:16).

·         There must have been no doubt great manifestations of the presence and power of God on the lives of the needy, sick, troubled, etc, because of the preaching and teaching of the word of God (Lk. 5:17; Mk. 16:15-20; cons. Lk. 4:17-19).

The people of Antioch on comparing what they knew about Jesus (precepts) and the lives of the followers of this Jesus (practice), they saw the people as the exact copy of their Lord.  They were His image. After a whole year of observation, it was concluded that no doubt, these ones are CHRISTIANS.

Many youths are called Christians because of their testimonies after attending youth programmes and special meetings. They even have wonderful visitations in many other areas, but the question thereafter is "can you be called a Christian" considering the experience of the CHRISTIANS in Antioch? What is your attitude to regular meditation on and study of the word of God (2Tim. 2:15; Ps. 119:9, 11; Josh. 1:8)? Are you teachable? Or you want to make do with your initial experiences? Such youths remain carnal, struggling with the flesh and often being pulled down by them (cons. Rom. 12:2; 8:5-8). Christian youths are those who want to be more like Jesus each passing day and this is through consistent growth in and awareness of the word of God (2Pet. 1:4-10; 3:18). On gaining admission to higher institution or becoming employed, as you grow each day into adulthood, can you be called a Christian like the the disciples in Antioch of old? What is your lifestyle, your relationship with the opposite sex, and your reaction to the standard of the word of God and the Church on diverse issues concerning youths?

It is time to make an irreversible decision to move into the steps of the Saviour - going for expediency to become like Christ, and not being in bondage to things and influences that have hindered many Christian youths of this generation. Cross over to that point of no return. It is sweet to be a true Christian youth for only such will walk with the Master Jesus Christ through the streets of gold into the place He has prepared for them (Matt. 24:13; Jn. 14:1-3; Rev. 3:11-12; 21:21-27). Walk in His steps today and you will be happy for it.