What is a Christian? by  Frank Viola
Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:34 AM PDT
The following post was written by T. Austin-Sparks.  The term “Christian” was first used in Antioch in the first century to describe the early followers of Jesus. Sparks does a great job redeeming the original meaning of the word in a day where the term has become quite murky.

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“And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian” (Acts 26:28).

Let us say at the outset that we are using the word “Christian” strictly according to what is found in the New Testament, and it is assumed that this will be accepted. Our enquiry will take the form firstly of a process of elimination, and we shall observe

What a Christian is Not

(1) To become a Christian is not to become ‘religious’, or to adopt a new ‘religion’.

Among non-Christian peoples, a turning to Christ is often referred to as ‘accepting Christianity’, and in what are called Christian countries conversion is frequently referred to as ‘becoming religious’. Such expressions, with their associated ideas, are altogether inadequate and indeed fundamentally false.

There was no more religious man on the earth, in his time, than Saul of Tarsus. Read what he says of himself in Acts 22 and 26, and Philippians 3. Here was a man who was just aflame with religious zeal and passion. No argument is necessary, with history before us, to prove how wide of the mark religion can be.

And that is true of ‘Christianity’, when it is merely a matter of religion. To be a true Christian is not to accept a creed or statement of doctrine, to observe certain rites and ordinances, attend certain services and functions, and conform more or less diligently to a prescribed manner of life.

All this may be carried very far, with very many good works; but those concerned may still be outside the true New Testament category of ‘Christian’. Herein lies the danger of an assumed acceptance with God, which may bring that bitter disillusionment foretold by our Lord Himself in those startling words: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not… by thy name do many mighty works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me (Matt. 7:23,24).

No, religion is not Christianity, either more or less; it may be only a deception. So that when we seek that people should become Christians, we are not asking them to change their religion, nor are we asking them to become religious. Religion, as such, has never made this world happier or better.

(2) To become a Christian is not to join an institution called ‘The Church’.

If the truth were known, there is no such thing as ‘joining’ the Christian Church. We never took any steps, either of word or deed, in order to get our limbs to become members of our bodies. There is no distinction between our members and our bodies – our members comprise our bodies; but they do so, not by organization, invitation, examination, interrogation or catechism, but simply by life.

So, in the Church of Christ, provided that a true life-relationship exists, a ‘membership’ in the technical sense is a superfluity, and may be a menace. If there is not that relationship, then no ‘membership’ can constitute the Church of Christ.

There are multitudes, we fear, who have ‘membership’ in what is called the ‘Church’, who are not able to stand up to the test which will be presented when we come to speak of what a Christian is. But let us say here that when we appeal to people to become Christians we are not asking them to ‘join the Church’. And it must be realised that Christianity is not just one more institution or society. You may go to many places called ‘churches’, and never really meet Christ, or find satisfaction.

Of course, that is negative. We must realise, however, that when we become Christians we share one new life in Christ with all other born-again believers, and thus we become one in Christ. That really is the Church. It is for us, then, to cherish that relationship and jealously watch over its sacredness. There are immense values in it.

(3) To become a Christian is not to become a part of a new movement.

It is true that there is a sense in which Christianity is a movement, a Divine movement from Heaven. But there are very many who conceive of Christianity in terms of a great enterprise for world betterment or even evangelization. The appeal is so often made that people will come and associate themselves with this great ‘work’.

There is that in most people which makes a response to such an appeal, and would like to be in a great movement. But such a way of approach is to court trouble, or at least to be found sooner or later in a false position. Moses got the ‘movement’ idea in Egypt – and then had forty years’ inaction in the desert.

There is that which comes before the ‘movement’, and the movement is with God, not with us. The greatest value in movement, when God’s time comes for it, often is that we have learned not to move without Him.

We do not appeal to you to join a movement. We do not invite youth, saying, ‘Here is something into which you can throw all your natural powers and youthful enthusiasm!’ We would say: ‘God has a purpose: you are of concern to Him in relation to that purpose. But – you cannot even know or enter into that purpose until something has happened in you which has made you another person. In that purpose you will need much more than natural powers and youthful enthusiasm.’

That brings us to the positive side.

What a Christian Is

In seeking to show what a Christian really is, we can do no better than take the case of one who not only was a great instance himself, but whose experience has been that of every true Christian since. We refer to the one who was addressed by a Roman ‘King’ in the words at the head of this chapter – the Apostle Paul. While the method of his conversion may not be the usual or general one, the principles are always the same.

Here, then, are the first three principles and realities of a true Christian life.

(1) “Who art thou?” “I am Jesus.”

The first thing is the inward realisation that Jesus is (not was) a living Person.

The very first words of Paul when confronted by Christ were: “Who art thou?” To which the answer came clear and strong – “I am Jesus!” It was a startling discovery, and Paul might well have exclaimed, ‘What, Jesus alive?’ Jesus had been put to death, crucified. All that remained to do was to blot out the memory of Him and destroy what represented Him.

To this work Paul (then Saul) had committed himself. We can hardly imagine, then, what a startling and paralysing thing it was to be confronted with the fact that Jesus was not dead, but alive, and in glory. And not only with the fact, but with the Person Himself.

All that this implied and involved has been the teaching of many centuries since. But for those to whom these present lines are addressed, this can be resolved into a very simple matter. We begin our Christian life by an experience of this living reality. Not a Jesus of history, but a Jesus of heart experience.

That He really is alive is the one thing which is open to be proved by us, and it is the most serious matter as to our eternal destiny. We have only to drop our traditions, our prejudices, our suspicions, our questions, our mental problems, and, quietly kneeling, speak to Him (although unseen) as we would speak to one whom we could see; telling Him out of the honesty of our heart what we would tell Him if we were face to face. The first step is definitely to speak to Him, as to a Person.

This is the way of a discovery. We learn from the New Testament that the Spirit of God is abroad in the world just to bring about this discovery – to make real that Jesus lives to save and be our very life. This wonderful realisation, that Jesus lives, comes to the heart of every one who honestly turns and puts it to the test; and everything springs out of that.

There is only one way, really, of knowing Jesus, and that is by coming to Him. It may seem very unreal and foolish to say something to someone of whose existence you have no inward proof; but might this not be the same in other circumstances? You have heard of a physician.

What you have heard makes you feel that he is just the man for your case. Will you say that you don’t believe that there is such a person? Will you say that there is plenty of evidence available that he was killed some time ago? Will you go as far as going to his house and seeing the man spoken of, and then telling the man that you don’t believe that he is the physician? If you will do this, then either your case is not very serious, or you are refusing to admit its seriousness.

If you are really alive to your need, the very least that you will do will be to go to the physician, tell him your trouble, and say: ‘I am advised that you can meet my need, and I ask you to do so. My coming to you represents an honest enquiry and committal, in spite of many doubts and questions.’

My friend, Jesus Christ was ever ready to make the desired gesture to an approach like that. The discovery that Christ is a living reality is the first thing in the Christian life. This is a test as well as a testimony.

(2) “What wilt thou have me to do, Lord?”

The second thing – in Paul’s case, as in every true Christian life – is represented by one sentence: “What wilt thou have me to do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10).

This represents a new position and a new relationship. How very different from that of the old Saul! Hitherto his life and activity had been out from himself – what he thought he would do, what he proposed, purposed, planned, determined, and desired. Self-determination had been his way of life, although he would have said that it was done in a good cause – even done for God.

What an example Saul was of the fact that a man’s very best intentions and devotions, in what he believes to be God’s interests, may yet be doing God the greatest disservice – and he himself be totally blind to the fact. We shall speak of this again later (chap. 2, sect. 2).

We see here, then, that one thing is a clear evidence of a life truly acceptable to God; it is the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul first used that word, “Lord”, at his conversion; it came out spontaneously when he realised that Jesus lives! From that moment Jesus was his Lord, his Master. We know from his life afterward how utter was that surrender and change of government. Everything from that hour was on the basis of “What wilt Thou?”

Yes, it is the hall-mark of a true Christian life when, with the same inward realisation and abandonment, we say to Jesus, “Lord”, and thenceforth have our whole lives governed by Him as Master.

(3) “Christ in you”.

There is one more indispensable mark and feature of the Christian life to which we will point at this time. It is shown in the words addressed to Paul by one Ananias: “The Lord Jesus… hath sent me that thou mayest… be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).

The consummation of this basic work, by which we become Christians in the true sense, is that everything which is true of Christ is made an inward thing with us. Up to this point, although everything has been very real and deep changes have taken place, it has been mainly as in an outward relationship with Christ. But it would have been fatal to have left it there, however great the discovery. We cannot live upon something which happened at a certain time.

We cannot meet all the tremendous forces of evil which will oppose us, in the strength of a mere memory, however vivid. We shall never live triumphantly, or serve effectively, or satisfy God truly, on any basis of what is merely outward and objective.

The fact is that only Christ can really satisfy God; only Christ can do God’s will and God’s work. Only Christ can overcome the spiritual forces of evil. Yes, only Christ can really live the Christian life. Hence, the one great inclusive and crowning reality of a Christian is – Christ Himself WITHIN! Paul later put this in these words:

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

This becomes true by a definite act when we believe. The Holy Spirit takes possession of us in an inward way. This indwelling of Christ had never been known by any man in history until Christ had died and risen and been glorified. It is therefore the peculiar wonder and glory of the Christian. It is this very thing that explains the New Testament term – “born anew”. There was nothing like it before.

So, then, in a word, our question, ‘What is a Christian?’ is answered in three initial things.

(1) Realising that Jesus is alive.

(2) Enthroning Him as absolute Lord.

(3) Having Him as an inward presence and power by the Holy Spirit.

The testimony of a true Christian must ever be –

‘He lives! He lives!
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me, He talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart!’

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This Cloth has been prayed over for the holder to receive God’s Grace of Healing for sickness, disease all forms of oppression.

God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,  so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. Acts 19:11-12

Instruction for use: Place it on your body where it it will contact you. Say as often as you will the following:

• Say: I have received the power of Jesus’s Healing Grace into my body.

Acts 10:38  “you know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

• Say: The power is working in me to effect a cure and a deliverance from __________ ( name the sickness , disease or habit) .

Philippians 2:13  That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. mark 5:30  immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “who touched my garments?”

• Thank Him for your healing before you ever feel that you are healed. Faith calls those things that do not yet exist as though they already did.

1 Peter 2:24  and he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed. Mat.  8:17  this was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

• After you have experienced the healing in your body tell someone about how God healed you.

Romans 10:9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord, and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead, you will be saved;  

If you would like a prayer cloth please send your request to chambliss.richard@gmail.com

Be Anxious for Nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to god. * See Note

Paul the apostle instructs the Philippians not to allow anxiety over any circumstance to rule their lives. Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything. Fretting is defined as :To feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like:to cause corrosion; gnaw into something:

Jesus’s knowledge of this is expressed in the Gospels as:  Mat . 6:25   “for this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26  “look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. are you not worth much more than they?

27  “and who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

28  “and why are you worried about clothing? observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

29  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30  “but if god so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more clothe you? you of little faith!

31  “do not worry then, saying, ‘what will we eat?’ or ‘what will we drink?’ or ‘what will we wear for clothing?’

32  “for the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things.

33  “but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34  “so do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus is saying that worry fretting anxiety about the basics of life do not change anything positively. They will cause change but it will be a destructive eating away at our lives both mentally and physically. There must be another way to change our circumstances moving towards a more secure and peaceful life . This is the secret Paul is talking about.  There are  several points both  Jesus and Paul make about an alternative to worry.

Jesus advises us to   “look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. are you not worth much more than they? he asks us to consider the observable fact from nature that birds are not required to labor and toil for their food but the creator made a way for them to live. Now we are not birds and don’t live like them but the point is our creator our Father provides for them and you are much more valuable to Him than a bird.

So we see two things. As we consider that our existence is due to being Fathered by the creator god that in His love and ability not only brought us into existence but devised a way for us to live Secondly that we have value. We have worth to Him. anything of worth especially a human is treasured and cared for. He is talking about you, consider it.

Paul explains what the alternative to worry is. He says we are to pray . The word prayer here means to address or speak to someone . The word supplication means definite specific requests. Paul is saying don’t waste time worrying. Talk to your Father god about it and make specific detailed requests about your needs.  When my children were young and wanted something they would go into great detail about what they wanted They listed the color size and quantity plus much  more.  They had in their mind definitely what they wanted. and they expected me to get it. Price, difficulty  etc. had no bearing on it. They ask and had faith I would give it them.  Once in my travels they requested I bring home to them each a small computerized pet called a Furbe. It was unavailable in the States at that time but readily available for a price in the U.K.  I had to get the right ones and bring them back to satisfy their need for electronic pets. Now if I as a earthly Dad would do this out of love for my children how much more would and will our Heavenly Dad do it for us.

Be specific . Vague prayers get vague answers . If anything will do that what you will get.  How can He get glory and thanks out of something you can’t be sure He supplied.   When you ask for a red car and a red car shows up you know He heard you and answered specifically. This causes your confidence in His existence and His love for you to grow. You have an experience with God that build your hope for the future. Hope is the opposite of worry. Worry is anti-hope. Hope is defined as a confident expectation in something good to happen. Worry is a expectation in the worst to happen. I can tell you what you expect you get.

Remember it is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is believing that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him . How do we seek Him by prayer and definite requests.

*Note: god is not the proper name of the creator. God in this writing and in the Bible refers to Yahweh the English translation of the Hebrew name of the creator.

Exodus 3:13  then Moses said to god, “behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘the god of your fathers has sent me to you.’ now they may say to me, ‘what is his name?’ what shall I say to them?”14  god said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (; and he said, “thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”15  god, furthermore, said to Moses, “thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘the LORD, (Yahweh) the god of your fathers, the god of Abraham, the god of Isaac, and the god of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ this is my name forever, and this is my memorial-name to all generations.

Peace

by John Paul Jackson

Contrary to modern Western thought, peace is a fairly violent word.

In Greek, peace means to obtain quietness by removing what seeks to distract and destroy you. It is not a compliant serenity but an aggressive taking out, a forceful extraction. 

Peace has a very similar meaning in Hebrew. When we study the Hebrew pictographs that comprise the word peace, we find that it, too, is not merely a state of mind; it means to destroy or remove the chaos and anarchy around you.

So based on this understanding, when Jesus said, “Peace be with you,” He was not simply greeting His disciples. No, He was issuing a command to the chaos and anarchy in their lives. Essentially, He was saying, “May the chaos and anarchy that are trying to keep you from doing what God wants you to do be removed from your life.”

Peace is not a passive word. The peace of God has the strength to root up and demolish every single work of darkness that is meant to keep God’s Kingdom from advancing. When peace comes, it literally destroys the work of the evil one (1 John 3:8). It tears apart the anarchy around us. It dissolves the tumult.

We could say that God’s peace is a weapon, not just our refuge.

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Peace and Relationship

How do we go about building peace in our lives? Peace, like authority, is not a spiritual gift that we were born with; it is something we experience and carry more and more the further we venture into God’s heart. The more we get to know Him, the more peace we will have because we trust Him and know His name (Isaiah 26:3).

Peace is directly proportionate to authority, because both are the fruit of relationship with God. The more authority we have, the more peace we have and the more we will be able to speak, “Peace,” to our circumstances.

When Jesus said to the storm, “Peace, be still,” He was rebuking the waves that were responding to the anarchy driving the storm. The peace He carried erased the devil’s plan around Him. It forcibly removed the chaos and anarchy, and therefore, the waves became still.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He came to bring us the gospel of peace (Romans 10:15). No one does peace the way Jesus does peace. One of the things that marked His life on earth was that nothing hindered His relationship with the Father; there was no sin in His heart. This is important to understand when talking about peace because as long as we have sin in our lives, we have an open door for chaos and anarchy. Sin separates us from God. But the moment we repent, the enemy no longer has a legal right to attack us.

As we begin to understand the depths of the perfect forgiveness God provided through Jesus, the gospel of peace takes our hopelessness and turns it into hope. We go from thinking, Why are all these things happening to me? I can’t control anything in my life! to understanding, The chaos around me can be controlled by what God has done in me.Hidden in the heart of our Father, we can speak, “Peace, be still,” and the “waves” in our lives will grow calm.

With this in mind, we can begin to understand how the peace of God makes us very dangerous in dark places, where the enemy is working. God’s peace does not affect our lives alone; we can carry it with us wherever we go and impact the lives around us as well (Luke 10:5).

The next time you ask God to bring peace into a situation, remember what peace actually means. It means to obtain quietness by removing the chaos and anarchy that seek to distract and destroy you. So when you ask for peace, you are not asking God just to help you trust Him in the midst of a difficult situation — He is His peace. He destroys the works of the devil and completely removes everything that threatens you.