Text: Revelation 3:1
“Christian” is More than a Name
- The term “Christian” describes what we are — Christ-like
- Disciples of Christ (Acts 11:26) — daily, full-time responsibility
- One must be persuaded to become a Christian (Acts 26:28) — different than the world
- Target of persecution (1 Peter 4:12,16)
- If one wants to be a Christian, he must do more than say he is a Christian — must act, talk, and think like a Christian
Characteristics of One Who is a Christian in Name Only
- They try to blend in with Christians (when convenient) — they wear the name (Revelation 3:1), assemble (1 Corinthians 11:17-18), often keep Christian friends (Jude 12)
- They are friends of the world (James 4:4) — we cannot go out of the world (1 Corinthians 5:10), but we must be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17)
- Often unfamiliar with the word — do not study so as to grow in knowledge (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:18)
Christians in Name Only Reflect Poorly on Devout Christians
- A popular charge used to discredit Christians & the gospel is hypocrite — but this term does not describe faithful Christians, but those who claim to be Christians but do not live it it
- We must not allow our lives to hinder the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 6:3)
Read the article: Christians In Name Only
