Who Qualifies To Be A “Christian”?

WHO QUALIFIES TO BE A "CHRISTIAN" (Acts 11:26)?

Yeow Chin Kiong

PROBLEM

If we even hint to our friends who are members of denominations that they are "Christians," we are already on our back foot when we begin to persuade them to obey completely the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 10:16). After all, they are correct in inferring that our willingness to consider them "Christians" suggests they are already saved, having ben added to the church of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:46-47)! Why, then, would they need to obey anything more (just to become what we concede they already are, i.e. "Christians")?

SOLUTION

We should refrain from calling persons "Christians" who are members of denominations,- those having never completely obeyed the Gosple (i.e. having heard and believed the Gospel, repented of their sins, confessed Jesus as the Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, and been baptised for salvation). Rather, it needs to be explained to them that a "Christian" is defined by God's word as His "disciple" (Acts 11:26) or one who learns from Him.

Jesus Himself implied that merely to believe in Him is inadequate; rather, "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32).

"Abiding" in Jesus' word means staying faithful to all His commands i.e. believing in who He is (John 8:24), confessing Him as God's Son (Matthew 10:32), repenting of sins (Luke 13:3, 5), being baptised (Mark 16:16) and being faithful to the end (Revelation 2:10). There are other scriptures which teach that these are the steps to salvation but we have refrenced only the recorded words of Jesus, whose commandments we must obey if we love Him (John 14:15, 23-24).

It must be stressed that ALL of God's revealed word is truth (Psalm 119:160) to be handled properly (2 Timothy 2:15). Belief in the person and mission of Jesus Christ alone is not enough to save mortals from the dire effects of sin. In Jesus' day, some Jews believed on Him but did not become His disciples because they feared being ostracized by other Jews (John 12:42-43).

ISSUES

[1] What are we to call those who believe in Jesus but have not yet obeyed the rest of the Gospel? Certainly they cannot be called "Christians." They may have names reflecting their denominational membership which properly designates them e.g. Roman Catholics, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists. Also, we call them "Bible believers" because they generally do believe in the Divine inspiration of the Bible even though they are unreasonably selective about what in it they will obey.

[2] What if they refuse to obey the Gospel completely to become Christians? They are at liberty in this world to do so, as King Agrippa did in Acts 26:28, the consequences of their rejection awaiting them at the world's end.