Being a Christian is more than making a claim. Some have claimed to be doctors but were later exposed as frauds and accused of practicing without a license. One is not a Christian unless God calls him one. The term “Christian” in the New Testament is associated with a saved person. Jesus told His disciples to “make disciples” (or followers) by baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20). In Acts 2:38, Peter proclaimed how men are saved by Christ: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Those who did so were saved from sin (Acts 2:40) and added to the church (Acts 2:47). These baptized believers were later called “disciples” (Acts 6:7). So, the true disciple is a baptized believer who has been added to Christ spiritual body, the church. Later, Acts 11:26 says, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Only those who believe on Christ and are scripturally baptized are truly Christians (Mark 16:16). Making a claim based on “faith only” does not make it so.
Ken Tyler
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