The disciples were first called "Christians".

[0:00] Let's turn in our Bibles to the passage of Scripture which we read in the book of Acts chapter 11. We'll read again verses 25 and 6.

[0:15] The book of Acts chapter 11 verses 25 and 6. So Barnabas went to Tarshish to look for Saul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.

[0:31] For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

[0:50] As God would help me I'd like to concentrate on that last sentence. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

[1:07] I don't know if you've noticed but the Bible very very seldom uses the word Christian. In fact the word Christian is only in the whole of the Bible three times.

[1:24] On another two occasions only does the Bible speak about Christians. And one of them you remember is when King Agrippa was confronted by Paul.

[1:35] And he complained and said do you expect to turn me into a Christian in a short while? And the other occasion where the word Christian is mentioned is Peter talking about the suffering church.

[1:54] He says if anyone suffers as a Christian. Let them not be ashamed.

[2:06] When our Christianity gets us into trouble we normally get embarrassed don't we? The Bible tells us when that happens. Don't be ashamed.

[2:18] Don't be ashamed of your Christianity. So the Bible seldom uses the term Christian. The term most frequently used in the Bible for a Christian is if someone is in Christ.

[2:38] You'll know the text 2 Corinthians 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is a new creation.

[2:51] I think it's over 75 times it's in the Bible. And it's also used the other way. If Christ is in you.

[3:03] That's not so frequent at all. And I remember thinking of that first of all. And asking myself. Have I to be in Christ?

[3:14] Or is Christ to be in me? The Bible speaks of both things. How can they both be true? How can I be in something and that thing be in me?

[3:26] And then somebody gave me the illustration. Take a bucket. And put the bucket in the sea. And the sea is in the bucket.

[3:37] And the bucket is in the sea. And it's the same with Christ. We're to be in Christ. And Christ is to be in us.

[3:50] Now. Here. The Christians are called. Disciples.

[4:02] The word. Disciple. It's the disciples. Who are called Christians. The word. Disciple. Is taken. From the word.

[4:14] Discipline. Do you feel. You're under Christ's. Discipline. Now that's not a negative thing.

[4:27] It's actually a positive thing. Does Christ. Influence. The way you live. Are you under his discipline. Those. Those.

[4:40] Under Christ. Discipline. Were first. Called. Christians. At Antioch. I. I. I have always found. That verse. Or.

[4:51] It's only. A third of a verse. Actually. I've always found it. Amazing. First of all. Because it was. If I've got my dates.

[5:01] Right. And I might not have. I am open to correction. It was something like. Ten years. After. Christ. Ascended. When this took place. Ten years.

[5:12] Before disciples. Were called Christians. But what's. Even more. Amazing. It's the people. Of Antioch. That called them. Christians. Was Christ.

[5:24] Ever. In Antioch. He was never. In Antioch. As far as I know. And it's the people. Of Antioch. That called.

[5:35] The disciples. Christians. For the first time. Ever. Isn't that amazing? It's important.

[5:47] To realize. That people. Do not give. Themselves. Nicknames. It's other people. Who give you a nickname. The disciples.

[5:59] Didn't call. Themselves. Christians. They didn't object to it. Of course. It was a perfectly. Logistimate. Nickname. Of course it was. As I trust.

[6:10] Will notice. But they didn't give it. To themselves. The world. Noticed. Them. And that's. What the world. Nicknamed them. The Christians.

[6:26] They were followers. Of this Christ. We heard about. We never saw him. But we heard about him. And these people. Remind us. Of that man.

[6:37] That walked this earth. And claimed to be God. The world. Noticed. These disciples. These followers.

[6:49] These learners. From Jesus. Jesus. The world. Noticed. That they were different. Different from others. And they gave them this name. The world.

[7:01] Noticed. That they were committed. To a certain. Way. Of living. A certain. Lifestyle. As it were. And in. Acts chapter.

[7:13] 24. You'll. Discover. The. Christians. The. Christianity. Was. Initially. Called. It was.

[7:23] Treated. As a foreign. Sect. When it began. And it was. First of all. It was called. The. Way. The way.

[7:34] Followers. Of Christ. Lived. A certain. Way. They had. A certain. Lifestyle. And.

[7:45] Followers. Of Christ. Were. Prepared. To. Suffer. For. Their. Beliefs. In fact. We read. There. When.

[7:58] Those. Were. Scattered. Because. Of. The. Persecution. That. Arose. Over. Stephen. Stephen. Was. The. First. Christian. Martyr. You. Remember. And.

[8:08] As a result. Of. That. The. Christians. Spread. Away. But. They. Were. In fact. All. The. Disciples. Apart. From. The. Disciple. Of. Love.

[8:19] John. All. The. Disciples. Apparently. According. To. Secular. History. Were. Martyrs. They. Were. All. Killed. For. Their. Faith. The.

[8:29] World. Noticed. That. That. They. Were. Prepared. To. Die. For. Their. Beliefs. Isn't it.

[8:40] Interesting. About. Satan. He. Watches. Everything. And. Satan. You know. Cannot. Create. Anything. All.

[8:51] He. Can. Do. Is. Imitate. God. And. Because. Christ. Sent. Out. Prophets. He. Says. I'll. Send. Out. False.

[9:01] Prophets. Because. The. Way. Of. God. Is. Through. Teaching. He. Says. I'll. Send. Out. False. Teachers. And. These.

[9:12] Christians. They're. Prepared. To. Die. For. Their. Faith. I'll. Create. People. To. Die. Believing. In. Me. I'll.

[9:22] Give. Them. A. False. Doctrine. The. Way. To. Learn. Is. By. Sound. Doctrine. So. He. Says. I'll. Teach. Those. Under. My. My. Spell. I'll.

[9:33] Teach. Them. To. Die. For. Me. Through. False. Doctrine. Through. Lying. They.

[9:43] Notice. These. People's. Lives. Were. Transformed. By. Their. Commitment. And. Zeal. And. Faith. In. Christ. But.

[9:53] The most. Important. Thing. To note. Is. Why. The world. Called. The disciples. Christians. Is. They. Recognized.

[10:05] And. It's a real challenge. To ourselves. They. Recognized. That. Their. Different. Lifestyle. That. Their. Preparedness. To. Die. For.

[10:16] Living. A. Certain. Way. Was. All. To. Do. With. A. Relationship. To. A. Person. And. That. Person. Was. Christ.

[10:27] So. They. Call. Them. Actually. Christians. Is. The real. Name. I suppose. Isn't. That. Challenging. Would.

[10:38] That. World. Out. There. Identify. Us. Our. Lifestyle. With. Christ. Challenging.

[10:49] Isn't it? In Antioch. The. Disciples. Were. First. Called. Christians. But.

[11:01] I want. To. Ask. What. Is. A. True. Christian. How. Can. You. Recognize. A. True.

[11:11] Christian. The. Devil. Has. His. Imitations. His. Duplicates. What. Is. A. True. Christian. Well.

[11:23] Let's. See. What. We. Can. Learn. From. This. Passage. About. That. The. First. Thing. And. It's. The. First. Thing. I'm. Going. To. Mention. The. First. What.

[11:33] Marks. Of. Two. Christians. They. Received. Of. The. Bible. As. God's. Infallible.

[11:44] Word. That's. The. First. Thing. You see. Where did I get that? I get that from verse one. The. The apostles. And. The brothers. Who were throughout. Janina. Heard.

[11:55] That. The. Gentiles. Also. Had. What? Become. Christians? The. Gentiles. Also. Received.

[12:07] The. Word. Of. God. It. Was. Jesus. Himself. Who said. The. Scripture. Cannot.

[12:19] Be. Broken. Cannot. First. Thessalonians. Two. Verse. Thirteen. Tells us.

[12:31] We. Paul. Is. Writing. To. This. Fledgling. Fledgling. Church. Of. Thessalonica. Thessalonica. You remember. He. Wasn't. Very. Sure. He. Was. Remember. Paul.

[12:41] Was. Driven. By. Persecution. Away. From. Thessalonica. Driven. By. Persecution. And. He. Didn't. Know. Were. They. Still. Meeting. And. In. Chapter. Three.

[12:51] Of. The. First. Letter. To. Them. He. Says. When. I. Could. Bear. It. No. Longer. I. Sent. Timothy. To. Find. Out. Are. You. Still. Meeting. Together. And.

[13:02] When. Timothy. Came. Back. With. The. Good. News. Yes. They. Are. Still. Meeting. Together. His. Heart. Was. So. Full. But. You. See. How. He. Describes. Them. Chapter. Two. Verse. Thirty. We. Thank.

[13:12] God. Constantly. For. This. That. When. You. Received. The. Word. Of. God. Which. You. Heard. From. Us.

[13:22] You. Accepted. It. Not. As. The. Word. Of. Men. But. As. What. It. Really. Is. The. Word. Of. God. Now.

[13:37] It. All. Very. Well. To. Say. Oh. I. Believe. In. Jesus. I. Don't. Haven't. You. Come. Across. Them. People.

[13:48] Who. Say. Oh. Have. No. Problem. With. Jesus. I. I. Love. Jesus. But. I'm. Not. Into. This. Book. I'm. Not. Into.

[13:58] The. Bible. I'm. Not. Into. Reading. I. Don't. Go. In. For. That. But. I. Love. Jesus. Listen. Where. Do you. Get. The. Information. About.

[14:08] Jesus. How. Do you. Know. What. Jesus. Is. Like. What. You. Do you. Just. Make. Up. An. Idea. Of. Jesus. Where. Do you. Get. Your. Knowledge. Of. Jesus.

[14:19] Wherever. From. The. Word. And. You. Remember. That. Solemn. Warning. Which. He. Himself. Gave. In. Mark. Chapter. Eight. Whoever. Is. Ashamed. Of. Me. And.

[14:31] My. Words. Of. Him. Will. I. Be. Ashamed. Of. At. Last. You. Cannot. Separate. Christ. From. His.

[14:41] Word. From. His. Teaching. They. Have. The. Conviction. That. This. Is. The. Word. Of. God. I.

[14:53] Believe. In. The. Christ. Which. The. Bible. Reveals. Not. A. Christ. Of. Our. Own. Imagination. And. We. Can. All.

[15:04] Make. Up. Our. Own. Mind. What. We. Would. Like. Christ. To. Be. Is. He. The. Christ. That. Is. Revealed. To. Us. In. The. Word. Second. Mark.

[15:14] Given. Of. These. Christians. Is. That. In. Verse. 18. That. They. Genuinely. repented. Of. Their. Sins. Then. Disciples.

[15:28] Of. Christ. Repentance. That. Leads. To. Life. How. Can. You. Read. The. Bible. And.

[15:40] Not. Be. Convicted. Of. Your. Personal. Sinfulness. And. Sinnership. How. Can. You. Read. The. Bible. And. Not. Realize.

[15:51] You. Come. Short. Of. The. Standard. God. Requires. Of. Us. But. Here's. The. Thing. It's. Possible.

[16:02] To. Be. Convicted. Of. Your. Failings. Of. Your. Sins. Of. Your. Shortcomings. And. Your. Sins. It's. Possible. To. Be.

[16:12] Convicted. Of. Sin. And. Not. Repent. Of. Them. Some. People. Are. Convicted. Of. Sin. And. They. Go. Into. A. Monastery.

[16:23] In. A. Convent. And. They. Cut. Off. Associations. With. Anything. And. Everything. Some. People.

[16:33] Convicted. Of. Sin. And. Change. Of. The. Religion. We. Are. To. Repent. Of. Our. Sins. God. Granted. To. Them. Repentance.

[16:45] Unto. Life. So. What. Is. Repentance. Of. Sin. Sin. It's. Hating. It. It's. Turning. From. It.

[16:57] And. It's. Fighting. Against. It. Now. It is. Vital. To. Note. At. This. Point. Christians. Are. Not. Immune. To.

[17:07] Sin. They're. Not. Immune. To. Sin. We. Will. Still. Sin. But. The. Question. Is. Do. We. Hate. It. And.

[17:18] Do. We. Fight. Against. It. Are. We. Opposed. To. It. And. You. Say. Well. I'm. Really. Confused. Now. Because. How.

[17:28] Do. I. Really. Know. I. Hate. It. If. I. Still. Fall. Into. It. Remember. It's. A. Falling. Into. It. It's. Not. A. Lifestyle. For. A. Christian. But. We. Do. Fall. Into. It. From. Time.

[17:38] To. Time. The. Best. Description. I've. Ever. Heard. Of. Is. Can. You. Honestly. Say. I. Have. A. Genuine. Desire. Not. To. Sin.

[17:49] And. That. Is. Accompanied. With. A. Serious. Attempt. To. Oppose. It. Can. You. Say. You. Have. A. Genuine. Desire. Plus. You. Make. A. Serious.

[18:00] Attempt. Not. From. Time. To. Time. You. Fail. But. You. Opposed. To. It. You. Opposed. To. It. You. Repent.

[18:10] Of. It. And. I. Must. Immediately. Immediately. Turn. To. The. Third. Mark. Which. Is. The. Crowning. Overriding. Mark. Of.

[18:20] Them. All. There. Is. No. Genuine. Repentance. Of. Sin. Unless. There. Is. Also. A. Turning.

[18:31] To. Christ. For. The. Remedy. Verses. Seventeen. And. Twenty. One. Tell. Us. What? They. Were. Believers. Seventeen. If. Then.

[18:42] God. Gave. Them. The. The. Same. Gift. To. Them. As. He. Gave. To. Us. When. We. Believed. In. The. Lord. Jesus.

[18:53] Christ. When. We. Believed. In. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. And. Then. Verse. Twenty. The. Hand. Of. The. Lord. Was. With. Them. And. A. Great. Number.

[19:04] Who. Believed. Turned. To. The. Lord. And. That. By. The. Way. Is. Another. Biblical. Definition. Of. A. Christian. Believers. People. Who.

[19:15] Turn. To. Jesus. Without. Faith. In. Christ. It.

[19:25] Is. Impossible. To. Please. God. God. Even. Though. You. Give. Your. Body. To. Be. Burned. If. You. Do. Not.

[19:36] Have. Faith. In. Christ. You. Are. Not. A. Christian. That. Is. The. Overarching. Mark. Of. The. True. Christian. He. Believes.

[19:46] In. Christ. As. Christ. Himself. Categorically. Said. If. You. Believe. Not. That. I. Am. He. You.

[19:56] Will. Die. In. Your. Sins. Even. Although. You. Spend. The. Rest. Of. Your. Life. Trying. To. Be. Good. Even.

[20:06] Though. You. Have. Your. Body. To. Be. Burned. If. You. Do. Not. Believe. I. Am. The. Messiah. Sent. From. Heaven. You.

[20:17] Will. Die. In. Your. Sins. Sins. Sins. At what point. Is a human being.

[20:30] Safe. From the wrath of God. It is. What we call. Or what some people call. The journey. At what point.

[20:40] Do you cross over. Into the kingdom. Of heaven. The moment. You're united. To Christ. The wrath.

[20:52] Of God. Cannot. Touch you. Because. The wrath. Of God. Burned. At the place. Called. Calvary. Upon the head.

[21:03] Of Christ. And if you're. In. Christ. Then. Your sins. Were punished. At Calvary.

[21:16] And the wrath. Of God. Can't. Touch you. Because it's already. Burned out. At the place. Called Calvary. God. God is holy. And he cannot.

[21:28] Punish. Twice. The wrath. Of God. Was. Taken down. On the head. Of Christ. And if you're.

[21:39] In Christ. If you're. In Christ. Your sins. Were paid for. At Calvary. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you. Are you.

[21:52] A disciple. Are you. A believer. Do you. Believe. I. I remember. When I was. At the study. For the ministry.

[22:03] I remember. Having to do. A course. On world religions. And it. Terrified me. I thought. It would. Completely. Destroy. My faith. But instead. Of that. It did. The very opposite. It strengthened.

[22:15] My faith. In Christ. You see. It's not. Faith. That saves. It's Christ. That saves. It's faith. In Christ. That saves. You can. Have a strong.

[22:25] Faith. In the wrong. Thing. I like. To give. The illustration. Of. Of. Of. A bridge. Suppose. You and I. Go along. The road. And I have to cross.

[22:35] A river. And there's. Two bridges. There. And I'm. Told. Put your faith. In one bridge. Only. One bridge. Will hold you up. The other bridge.

[22:45] Won't take your. Seventeen and a half stone. So. Put your faith. In one of the bridges. So I look at the bridge. And I study. Then I sit right. I'm going for the one.

[22:56] On the left. And I go across. The bridge. On the left. And halfway across. I fall into the water. That's not my faith. That let me down. It's the bridge.

[23:07] It let me down. My faith. It was in the wrong bridge. It's what your faith is in. And your faith has to be. In Christ.

[23:19] And I was telling you that. My tutor. Going through this. World religion. When it came to Christianity. I was. Very interested. And he gave a very accurate account.

[23:31] Of the crucifixion. And I of course. Wet behind the ears. And green. I just assumed he was a Christian. And I said. Oh. So pleased.

[23:42] To hear you're a Christian. Oh. I'm not a Christian. This is. Wait a minute. You gave a most accurate account. Of the crucifixion there. Very biblical.

[23:52] And accurate. Oh yes. He says. I believe it took place. I don't believe. But I don't believe. He was dying there. To pay God.

[24:04] For the sins. Of those who will be in heaven. Do you believe. You see. There was three people. Crucified. That Friday afternoon.

[24:16] Do you believe. The one in the middle. Was different. That he was paying God. For the sins. Of everyone that will be in heaven. And your sins.

[24:27] If you're a believer. If you're a believer. If you trust in Christ. That's the difference. You can acknowledge.

[24:39] Such a thing took place. You can acknowledge. Such a person. Walked the earth. As Jesus Christ. And he claimed to be God. But is your faith. In him.

[24:51] That's what's so vitally. Important. Well. How were they able.

[25:02] How did all these things. Take place. How were they convicted. That the word. Was the word of God. Not the word of God. What made them. Repent of their sins.

[25:14] What made them. Turn in faith. And confidence. That Christ. That Christ. Could pardon. Anyone. Who trusts in him. Because he already paid.

[25:24] For the sins of all. Who will be in heaven. At the cross. How. How are they able. To come to that. And as we read. Several times. The Holy Spirit.

[25:37] Indwelt them. How often. We read. Of the spirit. Working. Throughout that chapter. Chapter. It's the Holy Spirit. Who did it.

[25:48] And. Some people. Have a wrong. View of this. Oh. They think. They think. They think.

[26:01] The spirit. Twists your arm. To become a believer. Twists your arm. To become a Christian. That's the accusation. Made against Calvinism.

[26:11] That's wrong. That's not what. The scriptures teach. What do the scriptures teach? That they do these.

[26:22] What the spirit does. Is. Open our eyes. And open our hearts. So that we. Spontaneously.

[26:34] Trust him. And love him. We don't have to have our arm. Twisted. We recognize. Our awful. Sinnership.

[26:45] And sinfulness. And I say. Is there any hope. For a sinner. Like me. And then you hear about Jesus. And you say. But how can he forgive me. My sins.

[26:56] What can somebody else do for me. Ah. He was God's representative. God sent his son. Christ. In our place.

[27:08] To be punished. Christ. Instead of us. And God's spirit. Works upon you. You'll recognize that. You see that.

[27:20] When we see him. First of all. It's just a root out of a dry ground. But the spirit. Works in your heart. And it opens out to Christ.

[27:31] And you see him. As the fairest. As among ten thousand. And the altogether. Lovely one. You see Christ. As the. Only one.

[27:41] That's able to save. The only one. That's qualified. To save. Because he's atoned. For the sins. Of believers. And you.

[27:53] Spontaneously. Love Christ. You see. You want. No one else. You really. Want him. You're not forced. To him.

[28:05] You're drawn. To him. You're. Like a magnet. He draws you. To him. I want to go back. To my children's story.

[28:18] Are you made. Are you made. To become a Christian. Or. Is your heart. Opened. To embrace.

[28:30] Christ. To love. Christ. To spontaneously. Take him. As the savior. That's offered. In the gospel.

[28:42] It's the work of God. In our hearts. To embrace him. And love him. He's shown to you. As the fairest. Of ten thousand. And you love him.

[28:54] So now. It's a pleasure. To come to God's house. Now. It's a delight. To read his word. Now. It's something. To excite you. I can call on him.

[29:06] He's now. He died. Oh. He died. But wait. He's still alive. He's at God's right hand. And I can speak to him. I can speak to him.

[29:20] I can trust him. I can communicate with him. Well. I trust. You know now.

[29:31] The only Christian. Is not somebody. Simply. Is not a Hindu. Or a Buddhist. Or a Sikh. Or a Muslim. Christian. Christian. Convictions.

[29:45] And I trust. You see. Really. That while we might. Speak of. Someone who's a. Secret. Christian. Really. There's no such thing.

[29:56] Everybody else. Sees it. Wasn't that what happened in Antioch? The people saw it. And called them Christians. There is such a thing.

[30:08] Sadly. As a silent. Christian. Sadly. There's such a thing. But are they really. Secret. Isn't it David.

[30:20] Who said. I believe. Therefore. I've spoken. Not remain silent. I believe. Therefore.

[30:31] Have I. Spoken. A Christian. A Christian. Shouldn't be silent. No one's perfect.

[30:44] But. He asks us to. Stand up for him. And behave. In a Christian way. And I tell you. That world out there. Will notice.

[30:56] That world out there. Will notice. Christianity. Christianity. Is not all in the mind. It affects the behavior. And other people.

[31:09] Will notice. Well. We often talk about. A Damascus road experience. As if it was a classic. Christian conversion.

[31:19] It's not really. It's a true one. That's for sure. But. We don't need to have. A Damascus road experience. But I'll tell you. What we do need.

[31:29] We need. We need. Conviction. Regarding Christ. We need. A relationship. With.

[31:40] Christ. We need. A lifestyle. That. Honours. Christ. So. Now you know.

[31:52] Why. In. Antioh. Or at least. That's just some reasons. I've given you. In Antioh. The disciples. Were first. Called. Christians.

[32:04] May God. The Holy Spirit. Make his word. Effectual. To every one of us. Let's pray. Our gracious.

[32:17] Father. In heaven. We pray. That you might take. The things of Christ. And make them ours. This day. Bless.

[32:29] Your word. To us. We pray. Because we pray. In the name. Of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

[32:43] We'll conclude. Our service of. Worship. By singing. From Psalm 71. In the Psalter. Psalm 71. Page 310. If you've got the.

[32:55] New book. We'll sing. Verses. Mark 1 to 5. Psalm 71. O Lord. My. Hope. And confidence. Is placed.

[33:06] In thee. Alone. Then. Let thy servant. Never. Be put. To confusion. Then. Then. Verse 4. Free me.

[33:16] My God. From wicked hands. Hands. Cruel. And unjust. For thou. O Lord. God. Art. My hope. And from my youth.

[33:28] My trust. Psalm 71. Verses. 1 to 5. 1 to 5. 1 to 5. 1 to 5. 2 to 5. 1 to 5. Je含. Lord. My hope.

[33:39] I'm confident. Jesus Christ. Yes. And let.

[33:51] Thy servant. Then. The earth of your child Unplend me in thy righteousness From the earth and earth God's need is deep Inclined my ear Unplend me in a humbly ship Beloved my dwelling Long to which I ever hear you, Lord Against the land

[34:52] Let me to stay For Lord my love and joy Free me, my God From within And through the world And through the world And through the world For heaven, O Lord God art my hope Adore by you, my God The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ And the love of God And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Be with us all Now and forevermore Amen