The term Christian was originally used when believers of Jesus Christ took the gospel from Jerusalem to Antioch. As a result of this, the people in Antioch looked at these disciples as “Christ-like” and because of their full devotion to the teachings of Jesus Christ they called them “Christians.”
Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)
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 and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
The title of Christian carried with it so much consistent and straightforward meaning. Despite the use of the original word, we tend to throw around the word loosely today to describe someone who might simply check a box to say that their religion is “Christian”.
Some people who self-identifies as Christians might be from a nominal Catholic to a legalistic fundamentalist or anywhere in between. Almost every branch of every Christian denomination, such as Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Mennonite, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, and Mormons would use the same title to describe their religion category.
This issue has become so confusing and twisted that many Christians prefer to be called a believer or a follower of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the word Christian still generally means someone who follows, worships, and obeys Christ.
You might call yourself a “born-again” Christian or a “committed” Christian to distinguish yourselves from a “nominal” Christian or a “carnal” Christian, but sadly, we might even properly need to use the title “fake” Christian to describe someone who claims to be a Christian when their lifestyle clearly disagrees with that claim. While this is difficult to describe, nevertheless it’s true, that by the fruits they bear in their lives, you know what they are, A fake Christian!
Matthew 7:17-23 (NKJV)
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Many people wrongly consider themselves Christians, but in fact they are “fake Christians.” Some people declare their desire to worship God although their hearts are far from God, their intention is more selfish than anything. While it would be ideal to never have to use any kind of qualifiers when using the word “Christian,” to talk about someone in reality we often have to. So, a good question to ask yourselves: what kind of Christian are you?
Romans 5:9-11 (NKJV)
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
This means that if anyone recognizes that they are, in fact a “fake” Christian then God is ready and willing to bring you into His family if you confess and repent of your sins and faithfully believe in our Lord and saver Jesus Christ.
God Bless, Israel
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