To start with, the word 'Christian' can be
divided into two. The first is 'Christ' which is the main word and the
second is 'ian' which is a suffix. Suffix are words added at the end
of a main word to give the new word a slight different meaning from the main word
– for example, king+dom, relation+ship and so on. I took you through that
route because we needed the main word far more than the suffix that was added. The
name 'Christian' did not spring up overnight. It originated from somewhere.
The name was given to a set of people after a careful observation and examination
of their deeds and conduct. The name 'Christian' shows that its bearers
are named after a Person called Christ. Being is the present
tense form of 'be.’ Being a
Christian is an everyday affair. One will have to deliberately decide that. But
to become a Christian, one has to believe with the heart and confess with the
mouth the Lord Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 says
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. People
were first called Christians in Acts 11:25-26
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass,
that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much
people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. There
are a few things we can draw from this scriptural reference. But we will list
them out later because those points are not elementary.
Fundamentally, whoever that is named after Christ must
follow closely whom he/she is named after. To say it in a simpler and clearer
way, whoever that is a Christian must closely follow after Christ in all ways. Many
opinions or arguments might arise from that last statement. Any argument
against the statement made is one of such doctrines that has watered down what it
takes being a Christian. The first scripture we will be considering is in the
book of Luke 9:23
And he said to them all, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Before
we look at the above scripture intently, let’s run through a few other
scriptures when a set of people wanted to follow Jesus and what was Jesus'
response to them. Luke 9:57-62
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a
certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds
of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
And he said unto another, Follow me.
But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury
their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee;
but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
And Jesus said unto him, No man, having
put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. These
verses are the conversations between some specific people that either wish to
follow Jesus or was called to follow Him. There are 3 people involved in the
above scripture (excluding Jesus Himself). Two of them supposedly decided to
follow Jesus whiles the third person was called by Jesus to follow Him. Two of
them wanted to do one thing or the other before they will eventually follow
Jesus. The third person whom Jesus Himself called, was informed of what is
involved in following Him. You will remember that there was a portion of
scriptures that spoke about the five thousand men that followed Jesus because
of the miracles He did and many other things He could likewise do (John 6:2 And a great multitude followed him, because
they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.) Probably he might be thinking of the many privileges
he is going to enjoy if you eventually follow Him. Rationally speaking, the reasons
of those two guys that wanted to follow Jesus were good enough to be
considered. Jesus’ response that “foxes have holes and birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” does not
mean that Jesus is homeless. Let’s consider the holes and nests of foxes and
birds, these homes serve as a supposedly permanent home to them if all things
go as expected. But what Jesus meant is that His primary assignment can lead
Him to various places which would mean that he must then sleep over in that
city or place. Scriptures below confirmed it.
Mark 2:1 - And again he entered into Capernaum
after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Luke 1:23 - And came to pass, that, as soon as the
days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own
house.
Luke 2:46 - And it came to pass, that after three
days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors,
both hearing them, and asking them questions.
John 4:40 - So when the Samaritans were come unto him,
they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two
days.
John 4:43 - Now after two days he departed thence,
and went into Galilee.
John 11:6 - When he had heard therefore that he was
sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. These
scriptures shows that Jesus had his own house but He never stayed in his house
for so long.
Jesus’ other response as “Let the dead bury
their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” was because
there could be distraction or discontinuity in his followership.
Now, we will be looking at the last scriptural
reference and Luke 9:23. These two scriptures relate. There are two main steps to
what it takes being a Christian. They are:
1. Deny
himself.
2. Take up his cross daily.
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The way to explain denying oneself is best illustrated
in the light of kingdoms. The kingdom we were of before we got converted to
being a Christian was the kingdom of darkness. And now that we are Christians,
we belong to the kingdom of His Dear Son. Denying oneself means exercising
one’s self control by the power of the Holy Spirit from fulfilling the deeds of
the old man. The fact that we are Christians does not by any means suggest that
we are free from exposures and temptations of the devil. In fact, we have
become his target. He’s going to put in all effort to try and ensure that we
are fully back into his kingdom. But one scripture strengthens our faith and walk
in God. It is Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure. God works in us to ensure that we have
the will power to mortify the deeds of the flesh and gives us the ability and
strength to do according to His good pleasure. If you remember what happened to
Moses in the land of Egypt. The scripture said in Hebrews 11:24-26 that
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused
to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Denying
oneself is largely dependent on one’s choice.
The other part of what it takes being a Christian is taking
up ones cross DAILY. The daily is very important. Without a daily exercise,
one will only seem to be a Christian but not no more. Taking up one’s cross
means doing what is expected and not what is wanted. It means rising
up to one’s responsibilities in Christ Jesus.
Conclusively, what it takes being a Christian is that
whoever that will follow after Christ, must totally put away distractions in
his/her walk. Because distractions have the ability in themselves to pull one
back.
Hmmmmm
ReplyDelete* Being a Christian is beyond being called a Christian.
* Being a Christian is everyday affair.
* Denying oneself is largely dependent on one's choice.
So powerful points .
More grace Sir.
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