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Names by Which God’s People Are Called:. The Biblical names by which God’s people are called suggest the inter-relationship they share with one another , with Christ , and the world. Name: “The title by which any person or thing is distinguished.”
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Names by Which God’s People Are Called: • The Biblical names by which God’s people are called suggest the inter-relationship they share with one another, with Christ, and the world. • Name: “The title by which any person or thing is distinguished.” • Names are Important! Genesis 5:2; 17:5,15; 35:10.
Names Have Meaning! • Adam – means “man.” • Eve – means “life,” Genesis 3:20. • Abram – means “lofty father.” • Abraham – means “father of a multitude,” Genesis 17:5. • Jesus – Means “Jehovah is salvation,” Matthew 1:21.
“Babes” • From Nerios: • Used physically to denote infants, Matt. 21:16. • Used metaphorically to denote the immature in “spiritual understanding,” I Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13; Ephesians 4:14. • Comment: • Physically, we enter the world as babes. • Spiritually, we were all immature at some point, I Peter 2:1-2; Heb. 5:12-13; I Cor. 3:1; 2 Pet. 3:18
“Disciples,” Matthew 28:19: • From Mathetes, denoting “student, pupil, adherent, follower, imitator.” • Literally, a “disciple” is one who follows a teacher. • “Disciples of John,” Matthew 9:14. • “Disciples” of the Pharisees, Matthew 22:15-16. • “Disciples” of Moses, John 9:28. • “Disciples” of Jesus, Matthew 10:1; John 8:31.
True “Disciples” of Jesus: • Continue in His word, John 8:31. • Love one another, John 13:34-35. • Bear fruit, John 15:8; 2 Timothy 2:2; Ezra 7:10. • Bear His cross, Luke 14:26-27. • Try to imitate their Master, Matthew 10:24-25.
“Christians,” Acts 11:26; 26:28; I Peter 4:16 • “Christ” coupled with “ian,” meaning “of, pertaining to, belonging to. • Two requirements to be “of Christ, I Cor. 1:12: • Jesus had to die for us. • We must be baptized in His name • Religiously, we wear the name of: • The One Who was crucified for us. • The One in Whose Name we were baptized.
“Christian” – Further Comments: • Isaiah foretold the time when: • Gentiles would see the righteousness of God, Isaiah 62:2. • God’s people called “by a new name.” • A name which “the mouth of the Lord shall name,” Isaiah 62:2. • “Were called,” Acts 11:26 from chrematizo, a word denoting a divine calling. • “Christian” is a noun; not an adjective!
“Saints,” I Corinthians 1:1-2; Philippians 1:1 • Saint (Hagiasmos), literally, a “sanctified” or “holy” person. • The ones at Corinth who were “sanctified in Christ Jesus” were the ones who were “called to be saints,” I Corinthians 1:1-2. • God’s word is the means by which we are called to sanctification, John 17:17; 2 Thess. 2:14. • Observe: • As saints, we must live holy, sanctified lives, I Thessalonians 4:3-4,7; 2 Thess. 2:13; Heb. 12:14.
“Brethren” • From adelphos, “denotes a brother, or near kinsman.” It is used of: • Male children of the same parents, Matthew 1:2; 14:3. • Male children of the same mother, Matthew 13:55; I Corinthians 9:5. • People of the same nationality, Romans 9:3. • Believers, apart from sexual identity, Romans 1:13; I Thessalonians 1:4; James 1:2; 2:1, etc.
Comments: • As “brethren,” we are a part of the same spiritual family. • As “brethren,” we must “let brotherly love continue:” • Hebrews 13:1. • Romans 12:10. • 2 Peter 1:7.
“Servants,” Philippians 1:1 • Servant (doulos), one who “gives himself up to the will of another.” • As Christians, we must not serve: • Sin, John 8:34. • Mammon, Matthew 6:24. • Fleshly lusts, Romans 16:17-18.
We Must Serve: • God and Christ, Titus 1:1; Romans 1:1. • With Humility, Acts 20:19. • Sacrificially, Romans 12:1. • With a willing mind, 2 Corinthians 8:12.
“Soldiers” • Soldiers (stratiotes, Gk), It is used of: • Soldiers in the natural sense, Mark 15:16. • Metaphorically, of one who “endures hardness in the cause of Christ,” 2 Timothy 2:3. • As Soldiers, we must: • Learn to “endure hardness,” 2 Timothy 2:3. • Fight against the devil, I Peter 5:8-9. • “Fight the good fight of faith,” I Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
Conclusion: • If we are genuine “Christians,” we are not just “church members,” but all of the above, and our lives must reflect each of these aspects of the life of a child of God. • Are You a child of God? • Are You prepared to meet Jesus??