The Good News

The word "gospel" is an old English word meaning "good news". The message Jesus preached was good news. The same message was preached by the apostles. That same good news is the only true message of the Christian Church.

Study 5. What It Means To Be A Christian

We begin this study by summarising what we have seen so far.

1. Summary of the Good News

God is willing, and indeed desires, to take us, his rightful subjects back under His rule, and to save us from sin, death and the control of the devil. He calls us to come to Him. But because of our rebellion and sin we are both unable and unwilling to respond. This is where God in his love, mercy and sovereign power steps in. By His Holy Spirit He convicts us of our sin, plants new life in us, and enables to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place on the cross, bearing our sin and enduring the wrath of God. He rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, poured out His Holy Spirit upon the church, and now prays for us. Thus we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ. Among the many blessings that salvation brings are justification, that is being made right with God, regeneration, in which we are born again and given a new nature, and eternal life, with the assurance of eternal bliss with God in heaven.

Some of these terms will need definition.

2. Some Definitions

1. Grace - God's free unmerited favour; God's undeserved benevolence, mercy and kindness shown to sinful man.

2. Repentance - A complete change of mind and heart in turning away from sin to God.

Repentance includes the following elements:

1. Sorrow for sin - Ps 51,17; 2 Cor 7,10-11;
2. Confession of sin to God - Prov 28,13; 1 John 1,9;
3. Forsaking sin - Prov 28,13; Is 55,7; Acts 2,38;
4. Turning to God and determining by His grace to lead a new life - Matt 3,8; Matt 9,13; Acts 3,19;
5. A work of the Holy Spirit, for repentance is a gift of God but we have to act upon it - Acts 11,18; cf 2 Tim 2,25;

3. Faith - not merely belief about God, nor even belief in Jesus Christ, but a real trust in Christ as Lord and Saviour, a resting and relying on Him. Discuss the difference between belief and trust.

4. Justification - being made right with God. Being counted as righteous in God's sight.

3. The Meaning of the Name Christian

How would you define "Christian"?

The word "believer" occurs twice in the New Testament. The word "Christian is found only three times. Acts 26,28; 1 Peter 4,16; Acts 11:26 - write this verse out.

This last reference is important. It reminds us that the only person who has a right to be called a Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. How would you define disciple?

N.B. The word "disciple" occurs 264 times in the New Testament. A few of those occurences refer to the disciples of John or of the Pharisees, but the vast majority refer to followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A disciple:
1. is an adherent
2. is a learner, not yet perfect
3. is a disciplined follower
4. has someone as his pattern not something.

Write out Luke 6,40.

Discipleship was a familiar method of education and training in the ancient world. It was aimed not merely at knowledge but at a different way of life. Jesus commanded His diciples to make other disciples to make other disciples and to teach them to observe (ie. live out), not merely to know, all that he had commanded. Matt 28,18-20.

4. The Marks of Grace

What are some of the signs that a person is a real Christian?

In Acts 2,38-42 we see several. Can you find them?

1. Repentance.
2. Hunger for teaching and understanding of the Word of God (Verse 42, cf. Luke 24,45).
3. Desire to pray (cf. Eph 2,18; Gal 4,6).
4. Desire to be with God’s people (cf. 1 John 3,14)
5. A new heart. See verses 46 and 47. they had gladness and singleness of heart (ie. loyalty to their new faith), cf. 2 Cor 5,17.

5. Joining the Church

According to Acts 2,38-41 the steps in becoming a Christian are:
1. Repent
2. Believe - this is implied in verse 41 and is taught throughout the New Testament. This means really believe in or trust.
3. Be baptised
4. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
5. Join the church

To be a Christian means that we are part of that great company of the redeemed. The "redeemed" are those who have been purchased by the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1,18-19; Rev 7,9). but we need to identify ourselves with the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12,27; Heb 10,25; Acts 2,41,47). Every Christian has a part to play in the body of Christ which is another name for the church. (1 Cor 12,7, 14-27; 1 Peter 4,10-11; Rom 12,4-8).

Identifying ourselves with the church is one way of showing that we are one with every other Christian in the church (Eph 4,3-16). The New Testament knows nothing of an isolated Christian. We were made to function in the body of Christ. If we are not in such a fellowship, not only are we prevented from growing as we should, but we are exposed to a great many unnecessary dangers and temptations. Moreover, we are not able to function as we should, for no Christian is complete in and of himself. We need each other.

6. Christ’s Lordship Over Us

What do the following verses say about:
1. The Lord and our bodies? Rom 6,13; Rom 12,1; 1 Cor 6,19-20.

2. Our mind and will? 2 Cor 10,5; Phil 4,4-8; Matt 12,50; Matt 26,39.

Exercise

Write out the answers to the following:
1. Define Grace, Repentance, Faith, Justification.
2. What are the signs of being a true Christian?