THEY WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH
"Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the Church......" Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)
BIBLE READING:
ACTS 26:15-32; ROMANS 8:1-35
One of the Most Profound Truths we, as Authentic Christian believers, must note is that the Early Church did not refer to themselves or each other as Christians. On the contrary, that was a moniker bestowed upon them by the people of Antioch. This was because the Christian believers in Antioch displayed a Culture far different from the culture of the city of their residence. Antioch was actually a Roman city that was influenced by the Roman and Greek ways of life. While the people observed the conduct of the believers in Antioch, a new title or name was created by the former for the latter, leading to them being called Christians simply because they were followers of Christ Jesus. Preceding this era as recorded in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, there was no particular name designated for those who followed Jesus Christ other than Believers, Followers, and Disciples.
The term "Christian" is derived from the original Greek word “Christianos,” which is jointly derived from two Greek words “Christ and tian.” The word "Christ" (or "Christos") means “Anointed” while the word "tian" means “little.” Therefore the word “Christian” literally means “little anointed ones.” During His Earthly Ministry and His Life as God Incarnate, Jesus was called "Mashiyach" or "the “Messiah” meaning “the Anointed One.” We are His “little anointed ones” who have been anointed by His Holy Spirit specifically to represent Him in this world. Interestingly, the term "Christian" can only be found three times in the entire Holy Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1Pet. 4:16).
In this Present Age, the word “Christian” is viewed from both the positive and negative perspectives but the vast majority of the First Century followers of Jesus were mostly persecuted or killed because they were not ashamed to identify as Christians. After a careful study of the Holy Bible, we can identify Three (3) Defining Marks that separated the Christian believers of Antioch from the prevalent culture of their city:
THEIR DEVOTION TO CHRIST: This is clearly seen in the Second Verse of the Eleventh Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles according to the Amplified Bible Translation: "... When he arrived and saw what Grace (Favour) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of Joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain Faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] Purpose of heart." The lives of the Christian believers in Antioch were significantly distinguished from the rest of the society around them. Their morals were by far different from the norms prevalent in the city of Antioch. Still, the believers therein considered themselves as part of the city, unlike the isolationists amongst the Jewish community there. The Christian believers became a rare breed for many in Antioch because they were neither isolationist nor idolatrous.
THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER: This is also apparent in the Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth verses of the same Eleventh Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles: "... Then the Disciples, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN DWELLING IN JUDEA. This they also did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." The Love these believers manifested towards one another stood out most of all as they lived with each other daily. The rest of the community noted the way they treated not just each other but also those who were outside their group. They did not live like the world around them, but they loved the world around them by practising an Inclusive Gospel instead of an exclusive cult.
THEIR STRONG PASSION AND COMMITMENT TO THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST: The New Living Translation of the Twenty-fifth to Twenty-sixth verses of the same Eleventh Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles renders this Profound Truth in a wonderful way: "... Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. BOTH OF THEM STAYED THERE WITH THE CHURCH FOR A FULL YEAR, TEACHING GREAT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE. (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)" They exhibited an intense Passion and Commitment to the Teachings of Christ because they invested so much time in receiving the required training they needed in order for them to be effective in the Work of Christ and also for them to fully manifest the Life of Christ.
Being a Christian is a Way of Life whereby we seek to identify closely with the Lord Jesus. Following Him is actually a Lifestyle Choice that can be observed whenever we do the following:
Accept Him as our Personal Saviour and Lord.
Decide to believe even at times when it seems impossible.
Choose to love those whom we would rather despise.
Choose to value God far above every other attachments
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we magnify Your Holy Name. O Lord, we pray that You might help us in this Season to manifest the Life and Essence of Christ as His Disciples in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.