I wonder do you know the history of your family name?
Here is a family name that was first used over nineteen hundred years ago. It is a name that many people use today, even though it does not really belong to them. It is the name “Christian”. Let’s find out about the original genuine Christians.
Would they be proud or ashamed of those using their name today?
Some preachers had come to Antioch preaching the good news about the Lord Jesus to the Jews only; and others had come preaching to the Gentiles (non-Jews). (verses 19-20.) The message that Jesus, the Son of God, had paid for our sins by His own death for us, and that He had been raised to life to be able to save us, was well received there. “A great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (verse 21.)
“The news about this reached the Church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch.” He was glad “when he saw how God had blessed the people”; and many more people “were brought to the Lord.” (verses 22-24.)
Who were the people who were blessed by God in Antioch? They were the ones, either Jews or Gentiles, who when they heard the message about the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, they believed it, and turned to the Lord. They turned away from other beliefs they had had, to believe that Jesus alone was the Priest and Leader they needed. (Acts 10:42-43. 4:12.)
Barnabas “urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.” (verse 23.) Then “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So, for a whole year the two met with the Church, and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called “Christians” first at Antioch.” (verses 25-27.)
These “Christians” saw themselves as part of the great family of believers in God here on earth, and were eager to help meet the needs of other true believers - their brothers and sisters in the true family of God. (verses 27-30. Matthew 25:34-40. Galatians 6:10.)
For a person to be part of that true family of God today, he/she has to become a genuine Christian: a person who has believed the message that God’s Son is the only Saviour, and has truly turned to the Lord for Salvation. That person will be wanting to live a life that is faithful and true to their Lord, Jesus Christ, and be eager to learn more about Him. (verse 26.)
If you are not a genuine Christian yet, I hope you will want to turn to the Lord Jesus today, and trust Him to forgive you and make you one of His wonderful family. (John 1:12-13. Galatians 4:4-7.)
A true Christian will NOT want to live a life that the Lord Jesus Christ would be ashamed of. (1stJohn 2:28. Titus 2:11-14.)
Read about the original genuine Christians in Acts chapter 11, verses 19-30.
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