CHRISTIAN. To many of us, it’s a glorious word. But that word, “Christian,” may be one of the most misused words in the world, and it’s, perhaps, true because most people who call themselves “Christians” do so based on the fact that the word’s primary meaning is, “One who is a follower of Christ.” But those three…little…letters at the end of that word, i…a…n, can provide us with a number of thoughts, which could help us guide the lost to an understanding of what it REALLY means to be a Christian.
Sometimes, it’s helpful to view religious concepts in the light of, perhaps…“secular examples,” we might call them, which are familiar to us. Jesus used this technique many times through His teaching of godly concepts by the use of parables.
In the case of this word, “Christian,” there are countless ways which we see those three letters, i…a…n, used in a secular way: physician; electrician; beautician; technician. These, and many others, identify a person with a chosen career, a certain type of job.
Well it’s always amazed me [that] the concepts which are easily grasped, when used this way in a worldly context, are not so easily understood when used in a religious context. It should be pretty obvious to each of us, for example, that an electrician does not become an electrician by simply saying, “I’m an electrician!” In the case of almost every kind of career imaginable, there are standards, requirements and qualifications, which must be met before one can be identified with a certain category of job. Yet, this easily understood concept is completely ignored, in most cases, when you talk about being a “Christian.”
Well, let’s imagine this scenario for a moment:
You’ve applied for a job, say…well, we’ll use a “technician” as an example. You’ve gone through the interview stage, and after having been offered a position, you have this conversation in the office with your perspective new boss:
“Sir, I thank you for your offer of this job, as I realize I am in dire need of employment. I accept this job, and I will make it a part of my very being. I thank you for not requiring me to do anything else to become a technician, other than just accepting your offer.”
What a guy!
Well, just as one cannot become a doctor, a lawyer, a mechanic, a homemaker, teacher, cook, janitor, college student, or thousands of other professions, without meeting certain prerequisites and qualifications, so it should be easy to see that one cannot become a Christian without also meeting certain qualifications.
I’m reminded of stories of certain individuals who have “passed themselves off,” so to speak, as members of professions, for which they had no education, and for which they were not qualified. And it seems to me that the same is sadly true for the vast majority of people who “pass themselves off” as Christians. Simply calling yourself a “Christian” just does not make it so. Now, others might believe that you’re a Christian, because you say so, and your life may exhibit some of those qualities. But, God is not fooled.
Why is it so hard for self-proclaimed “Christians” to love Jesus in the way in which HE requires? “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” John 14, verse 15. “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” John 14, verse 21. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love” John 15:10. “And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of My Father Which is in heaven,” Matthew 7:21.
Well, this is such an easily understood concept in the business world. Yet, if you teach this same principle, as it applies to becoming a Christian, you may very well be met with shock and disbelief. [You might hear,] “How can you say that there are requirements and qualifications that I must meet in order to become a Christian?!?!” Indeed, one may as well ask, “How can you say that there are requirements and qualifications I must meet in order to become a doctor…a nurse…a schoolteacher…truck driver…or any other job title you might care to name?!?!”
Many also view being a Christian as a “one-time event.” “I’m a Christian! Now, let me get on with my life.” In the broadest sense, however, being a Christ is a career. In fact, being a Christian should be our PRIMARY career.
But again, let’s be clear on this. Even though you may do everything that, say, O, a doctor might do; even though you might be the world’s greatest surgeon, if you have never met the qualifications to become a doctor in the first place, all of the achievements in the world won’t…make…you…a real doctor.
In like manner, even though you may be the world’s most righteous person… Well, let’s let Paul explain it. He says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
And, what is “love,” in terms of becoming a Christian? “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” If you have not demonstrated your love for Christ, your love for God, by obeying His commandments, by meeting the qualifications for becoming a Christian, then all of the righteous works in the world will NOT convince God that you are a Christian, that you are saved. Even if you’ve been obedient to the Gospel, even having met the qualifications to become a Christian, it should be obvious that certain things MUST be accomplished in order to REMAIN a Christian.
Again, imagine our previous scenario, where you’ve accepted a job as a technician:
“Now that I’m a technician, I hope that you understand that I will only be here on Monday mornings for a couple of hours. I have so many other activities, which take up all of my time. I can’t possibly spare more than a few hours a week for you. And, in fact, I don’t really see why more than that would be necessary. Of course, I still expect to receive all the compensation and the benefits that you promised, and additionally, I expect to always BE a technician, with absolutely no work required on my part in order to maintain my position as a technician in your company. BUT, I still expect to be able to turn to you in time of need for anything I might require. Otherwise, don’t bother me.”
Okay. Maybe that analogy is a little heavy-handed, but does it fit? So many members of the church of Christ seem to think in terms of “once a Christian, always a Christian.” Now, if you were to take that same attitude with you into a job, I’ll guarantee you that you won’t have that job very long!
Now, why is the same concept so difficult for so many Christians to understand? Why is a job called “work”? In line with our earlier example, if you wish to be knows as a technician, you must do the work of a technician. In like manner, we must understand that if we wish to be known as “Christians,” once we’ve met the requisite qualifications, then we must do the WORK of Christians!
Well, this concept is tied up with reward, isn’t it? Now, even though I might derive great satisfaction from my work…or not, as the case may be, the main reason I work is to get paid, to receive my reward for my hard work. How did the Hebrew writer put it in terms of our Christian work? He said, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 11 Let us LABOR therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” Hebrews 4, verses 9 through 11. Our heavenly hope—a rest for the people of God. Let us LABOR to enter into that rest.
As in any secular job, the requirements and the qualifications are usually laid out in clear and concise terms. The means for learning what must be done to embark on a certain career are generally easy to obtain, and so is it true regarding the knowledge of what one must do to become and to remain a Christian.
The Bible, God’s Word, contains within it ALL that we need to learn in order to become Christians. The New Testament holds within its pages everything we need in order to live lives of faithful service to our Lord and Master. “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1, verses 3 and 4: “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
This evening, if you’ve read in God’s Word what you must do to become a Christian, and if you understand those qualifications and those requirements, won’t you come? Won’t you come to be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins?
If you’ve not studied these things yet, we invite you to do so. We invite you to seek one of us out, because we’ll be more than glad to sit down and study with you God’s Word so that you might learn what you must do to be saved.
If you’re already a Christian, we encourage you to continue in your Christian life, doing the work of a Christian. We encourage you to labor to enter into that rest.
Whatever your need might be this evening, won’t you come, while we stand and sing?