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10 Facts About Christians
Aaron Erhardt
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“Christians” are followers of
Christ
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The name appears
three times in NT 1 (1)
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The name was divinely given to the
disciples (2)
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The name was first given in Antioch
(Acts 11:26) (3)
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There are various descriptions of
Christians in NT (4)
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There is no such thing as a
hyphenated-Christian (5)
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One must meet
certain conditions to be a Christian (6)
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The name was worn
with great honor in early church (7)
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The name was not the “new name” of
Isaiah 62:2 (8)
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Christians need to live according
to their calling
Footnotes:
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The name “Christian”
appears in Acts 11:26; 26:28; and 1 Pet. 4:16.
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The disciples were
“called” Christians. That term is used exclusively of a divine calling in
NT. Hence, the name was not given in derision by the enemies of Christ as
some suggest. Furthermore, there is nothing about the name that would be
offensive to the disciples.
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The name “Christian”
was first given in Antioch of Syria. The Book of Mormon erroneously says
there were Christians in 73 B.C. Before Antioch, Christians were referred to
as those “belonging to the Way” (Acts 9:2).
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Christians are
called saints, servants, soldiers, priests, etc.
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Where in the NT do
we read about hyphenated-Christians? There were no Baptist-Christians,
Methodist-Christians, Lutheran Christians, Presbyterian-Christians, etc.
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One must obey the
gospel to become a Christian. Only those who have been immersed in water for
the forgiveness of sins are Christians (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
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Eusebius tells of
the martyr Sanctus, who replied to all of his torturers’ questions by
saying, “I am a Christian” (Ecclesiastical History, p. 151). This
illustrates how the name was worn as a badge of honor from early times.
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Isaiah says the name
of which he spoke was Hephzibah (62:4).
circumcision, the apostles reacted to such men strongly (Acts 15). No one
has a right to bind elements of old law on Christians.
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