A.Shakespeare wrote, “What is in a name?”The answer is much, depending on what that name means.
1.Certain names have bad connotations.For example, no one today names a child “Jezebel,” “Judas,” or “Benedict Arnold” because of the bad association with those historical characters.
2.However, it is a tremendous honor and blessing to carry the name of Christ by wearing the name “Christian.”
B.Presently, let us consider the meaning of the blessed name “Christian,” what it implies about a person, and what its origin is by considering the disciples who were first called Christians.
II.THE NAME “CHRISTIAN”
A.The name “Christian” describes a person who is a follower of Jesus Christ.
1.In the original language, christianos (Christian) means “an adherent of the anointed one.”The Greek word christos means “anointed one” and is equivalent to the Hebrew word messias, or Messiah.
2.There are only three occurrences or the word “Christian” in the Bible – Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1Peter 4:16.Despite its scarcity in the Bible, “Christian” is one of the most common words used in religion today.
3.When we use the name “Christian,” we are expressing a connection with the person of Jesus Christ.
a.Such a name must not be used carelessly, but instead it should be used with all the reverence that Christ deserves.
b.One who claims to be a Christian is making a claim to being like Christ Himself.Therefore, it is more than a name – it is a profession.
B.The first occurrence of the name “Christian” was at Antioch of Syria around A.D. 47 (Acts 11:26).
1.This name was not adopted at the establishment of the church at Jerusalem, but rather several years passed before this name was given.
2.Naturally, this very Greek/Roman sounding name was more likely to emerge among the Gentile disciples of Christ at Antioch than the Jewish disciples in Jerusalem.
III.WHO WERE CALLED CHRISTIANS?
A.Let us notice who were called Christians at Antioch by considering the full context of Acts 11:19-26.
1.This episode at Antioch began when some Jewish disciples who were scattered from Jerusalem came to Antioch and began preaching to both Jews and Gentiles (vv. 19-20).
2.Through this passage, the people who are called “Christians” in verse 26 are described in many different ways.
a.Verses 20-21 describe these as people who believed the preaching of the Lord Jesus.
b.Verse 21 also indicates that these people turned to the Lord.This implies that they did what others had done previously in turning to the Lord (see Acts 2:37-47; 8:4-13, 36-39; 9:17-18; 10:47-48).
c.Verse 23 shows that they demonstrated the grace of God by what they were doing.
d.Verse 26 describes them collectively as the church and individually as disciples (meaning “learners”).
B.In the Antioch Christians, we see a pattern for all Christians.
1.For one to become a Christian, he must believe the preaching of the Lord Jesus.
2.For one to become a Christian, he must turn to the Lord (through confession, repentance, and baptism).
3.For one to be a Christian, he must demonstrate the grace of God by living in compliance with His gracious word (see Tit. 2:11-12).
4.For one to be a Christian, he must be a member of Christ’s church.
5.For one to be a Christian, he must be a true disciple of Christ, learning from His word and imitating His example.
IV.WHO CALLED THEM CHRISTIANS?
A.We know for certain that Antioch was the first place where the term “Christian” was used, but who gave this name to the disciples?
1.Really, there are only two possible sources for the origin of the name “Christian” – God and men.
a.Some will contend that the original language used in Acts 11:26 indicates that the name was given by God.We will consider this below.
b.Others contend that the name was given by men simply because of the disciples’ profession of the one whom they called “Christ.”
i.According to this belief, “Christian” was intended to be a derogatory term.Peter’s writings in 1Peter 4:15-16 are used to support this belief, for Peter indicated that Christians may have been categorized with murderers, thieves, evildoers, and troublesome meddlers in the eyes of hostile outsiders.This could also be the cynical interpretation of Agrippa’s use of the word in Acts 26:28.
ii.However, even though Christians may have esteemed by the world in this way, it does not necessarily mean that the term “Christian” originated with men.
2.Consider some implications of these possible origins.
a.If this name came from God, then it is a divinely sanctioned word that should be used to describe every follower of Christ.This is indeed how we use it.
b.If this name originated with men, then how is it better than other terms that men devised?Certainly, men have described the disciples of Christ by many derogatory names, but “Christian” is the name that has been preserved through the Scriptures.
c.If this name originated with the disciples themselves, then could they not also choose to call themselves by some other name (i.e., Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, etc.)?Yet the Scripture says, “…if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God” (1Pet. 4:16).This constitutes an inspired endorsement of the name “Christian” as a means of glorifying God.
B.To answer the question of the name’s origin, let us consider the meaning of the word “called” in Acts 11:26.
1.The word “called” is from the Greek word chrematizo, which means “to utter an oracle.”
a.In its spiritual sense, the word indicated that a divine admonition was given.
b.The word also had a secular use, indicating that a title for business was given.
2.The best way to determine the word’s meaning in Scripture is to notice how it was used.
a.It was used in Matthew 2 when God warned the wise men not to return to Herod (v. 12) and when God warned Joseph not to return to Judea (v. 22).
b.It was used in Luke 2:26 when the Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
c.It was used in Acts 10:22 when Cornelius was told by an angel to send for Peter.
d.It was used in Romans 7:3 in stating that a woman who joins to another man while her husband is still living shall be called an adulteress.
e.It was used in Hebrews 8:5 to describe God’s warning to Moses.
f.It was used in Hebrews 11:7 to describe God’s warning to Noah.
g.It was used in Hebrews 12:25 to describe God’s warning to those who refused Him.
h.In all of these cases, the word chrematizo is used in its spiritual sense to describe the giving of a message from God.The same is almost certainly true of Acts 11:26.
C.Therefore, the evidence indicates that the name “Christian” came from God.
1.“Christian” is a divinely inspired name that God intends for us to wear as a glory to Himself, His Son, and His Holy Spirit.
2.The giving of this name at Antioch fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 62:2 – “And you will be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will designate.”
V.CONCLUSION
A.Having studied these things, let us consider a few questions:
1.Knowing now the kind of people who were called “Christians” at Antioch, are you that same kind of person who can rightfully wear this name?
2.Can it be said of you that you are known as one who follows the teachings and examples of Christ?
3.Do you wear the name of Christ with honor and bring glory to His name?
B.Regardless of what men may think, if you can wear the name of Christ with sincerity, then you are blessed beyond measure and destined for eternal glory.
