Decide Daily to be a Christian

Decide Daily to be a Christian

Have you “chosen” to be a Christian? Many would shout out a hardy “YES” if you were asked whether or not you have been saved. If I were to inquire as to when you were born again it is certain most could give the day and maybe even the time when God saved them. Which, if you truly placed your faith in His finished work on the cross (Romans 10:9-13), would certainly indicate you have been born again. But are you a Christian? Read carefully the following passage. I could supply many very much like this one but I have chosen this specifically for verse twenty six. But please read the entire passage.

Act 11:19-26  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. (v.20) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. (v.21) And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (v.22) Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (v.23) Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (v.24) For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (v.25) Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: (v.26) and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. 

Why were they called Christians in Antioch? They suffered persecution for their faith (v.19). They shared their faith (v.20-21). Barnabas witnessed a change in them (v.22-23) as the grace of God became evident in their daily lives. Barnabas went to fetch Paul and bring him back to Antioch because of their eagerness to hear the Word of God preached (v.24-26a). The change in the lives of these believers was so real the community mocked them for acting like Jesus Christ; they called them Christians.

Today, I fear too many of us strive to blend in, to not seem like a fanatic. We try so very hard to live within the confines of scriptural mandates while still trying to act like the rest of the world so as not to seem like a religious nut. In this, Satan has found one of his greatest victories.

They were called Christians in Antioch because they acted like Jesus. They suffered persecution (v.19), they shared their faith openly (v.20-21), there were real changes in their lives, they didn’t just fit in (v.22-23), they acted like Jesus, and they loved to hear the Word of God preached (v.24-26a). When Paul talked about the average believer in II Corinthians 5:17 he said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Paul was saying we need to be like those in Antioch, we need to be Christ-like-ones.

When we get saved everything is new. Sadly, many will squelch those changes as quickly as possible. We do not want to be ridiculed, or mocked. The very thought of our friends, relatives or even our work associates laughing at us or even the chance that they may view us as some kind of religious nut is more than we can handle. That is why so much of the New Testament is dedicated to instructions in how to live a godly life. That part of salvation comes separately. It is a daily choice. Every morning when we awaken we must decide, not whether we will be saved again, but whether we will live like Jesus today.

We make a decision when we see our need of salvation. We decide to come to Christ for salvation. We pray and ask him to save us. But, what about the next morning? What about 2 months or 2 years from now? Salvation happens one time only and we are eternally secure. But what about the Christian life? We, as Christians, will be judged for how we have lived (I Corinthians 3:11ff). But more importantly, one day we will come to the realization that our fear of embarrassment and ridicule caused our witness to die in silence. Our testimony for Christ was never heard by those we loved most. I fear we will see the judgment of the lost and realize that our loved ones might have been won to Christ had we not been so afraid of being called a Christian.

We can be saved and not be a Christian. It is a daily choice.