Review……Acts 11:19-30
The Church had stayed in and near Jerusalem until Stephen was killed and persecution broke out. Although these Christians were living in new towns and meeting new people, they continued to be effective in leading people to Jesus Christ as Savior. Some were telling the Jews/Gentiles about Jesus in Antioch.
Jesus had dramatically changed their lives, and their lives reflected that change as we see them sharing the good news of the gospel. One of the tragedies of today is that some people want to trust Jesus without their lives changing. They want what He has to offer, but they don’t want Jesus to change their life.
Acts 11:21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
Because God was with them, their ministry was blessed and multiplied, the result was that a significant number believed and turned to the Lord.
A ministry can’t turn people to the Lord unless the hand of the Lord is with them.
You can turn people to a personality without the hand of the Lord. You can turn people to a social club without the hand of the Lord. You can turn people to a church or an institution without the hand of the Lord.
But you can’t turn people to the Lord without the hand of the Lord.
The phrase, “believed and turned to the Lord, ” describes the work of faith and repentance.
Acts 11:23 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.
Barnabas has seen the grace of God, There was something in the work and atmosphere among the followers of Jesus in Antioch that made Barnabas able to see the grace of God. And I want you to know the grace of God is visible.
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
2 Cor. 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Ephesians 2:9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith..”
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
In whatever gathering of Christians we associate ourselves with, others must be able to see the grace of God among us. They shouldn’t see an emphasis on self, on man-made rules, on human performance — but on the glorious grace of God. It will make them glad.
Acts 11:26b 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.
The word Christian is found only 3 times in the bible. In our text. In Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. It was a word given to us by the pagan world to identify those who believed in Jesus Christ. Over time a derogatory term became a positive designation.
Christians called themselves by different names: Disciples, saints, believers, brothers, witnesses, followers of the Way
But here they are called Christians. This meant that the pagan world saw Jesus Christ reflected in the lives of these believers.
What was it these followers were doing that got them the name Christians?
We know the hand of the Lord was with them, we know that they had received the grace of God.
These early believers were identified as Christians because of their Commitment.
Persecuted-left Jerusalem-Shared the gospel.
Commitment to God is not measured by what we do for God; but what we allow God to do through us.
These early believers were identified as Christians because of their…Concern.
Acts 11:27-30 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Based on a prediction of a famine, (which did happen); the disciples in Antioch “as each one was able” sent gifts to help the Christians in Judea. They were concerned for the well-being of others.
They called them Christians because they acted like Jesus Christ.
Do people identify you as a Christian based on your actions?
The key to our effectiveness is our identity. Everyone has an identity. Identity is what others think when they see you or hear your name spoken.
What is a Christian today? Because the word has been watered down.
- Christian is a good person.
- A Christian is a churchgoer.
- A Christian is someone who is baptized.
- A Christian is someone whose good outweighs their bad.
- A Christian is someone who gives to the poor.
- A Christian is a moral person,
- A Christian is a Bible believer.
All of those are popular answers, and they have a ring of truth to them.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- A Christian is someone who’s been born again!
- A Christian is someone who’s been washed in the blood of the Lamb!!
- A Christian is someone who has been justified, sanctified, and one day glorified!
- A Christian is someone whose sins have been forgiven!
- A Christian is someone who has been saved by grace,
- A Christian is someone whose name has been written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
- A Christian is someone who has God as their Father! Jesus as their Savior! And the Holy Spirit as their guide!
- A Christian is a born-again follower of Jesus Christ.
Listen please, it’s so easy today because the definition of the word Christian has been watered down so much that it’s easy to become an ‘admirer of Jesus’ instead of a follower. James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
You can admire Jesus from a distance and be relatively unaffected – but born-again followers of Jesus Christ have their lives turned upside down. If the gospel doesn’t/hasn’t turned our life upside down then we need to ask why? Are you an admirer or a follower?
Admirer included: Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is 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 in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Why follow Jesus? Because in Him is the life that God intended for me to have. Following Jesus is a journey and adventure. Jesus calls us to a drastically different way of life.
I must say again, if the gospel hasn’t turned your life upside down why? Are you really following Jesus?
WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
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