|
UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN. |
|
|
DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH
In the New Testament, members of the church of God are described in various ways. It is written that saved people are added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47), and each member of the church is considered a new creature in the Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Let us turn to the Bible and find some ways in which the people of God are described. 1. Disciples: The word "disciple" means a learner or pupil. Even before the church began, those who followed Jesus were called "disciples" (Luke 6:12). After the establishment of the church, the number of disciples multiplied (Acts 6:1). Before Saul of Tarsus was converted, he persecuted the church (Acts 8:1). But the Bible says that he was persecuting "disciples" (Acts 9:1). Thus, the disciples were members of the church. Acts 20:7 says that those who break bread on the first day of the week were "disciples." Other verses which show that members of the church are disciples include Acts 6:7; 9:19,25,26,38; 11:26,29; 14:20,22,28. 2. Christians: The word "Christian" means one who is a follower of the Christ, and who thus belongs to Him. A Christian is one who not only believes in Jesus, but truly follows Him and His teachings. The word "Christian" is used in three New Testament verses. "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed" (1 Peter 4:16). In the New Testament the word "Christian" is used to refer only to those who were members of the Lord’s church. We need to make certain that we "speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11) and use the word "Christian" in harmony with the way that it is used in the Bible. 3. Saints: The word "saint" means a person who is set apart for God, and in a moral sense is pure in his lifestyle. "Saint" does not mean sinless. Those disciples whom Paul persecuted were called "saints" (Acts 9:13; 26:10). The Holy Spirit later guided Paul to write letters to different churches, and he often described those to whom he was writing as "saints." One instance of this is Philippians 1:1, where it is written, ". . . to all the saints in Christ Jesus" (cf. Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:2). Since Paul wrote these epistles to people who were still living, and he called them "saints," it is false to say that saints are persons who are already dead. 4. Priests: The book of First Peter was written to Christians (cf. 1 Peter 1:2; 4:16). Peter described them as a "holy priesthood," then again as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5,9). Thus, all Christians to whom Peter wrote were priests. In the New Testament the term "priest" was not restricted to a special class of members of the body of the Christ. Another reference to members of the church as "priests" is found in Revelation 1:6, where it is written, "And (Jesus, rdc) hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father …" We are priests in that when we each offer our worship to God, we do so through His Son, not through some human being. We offer spiritual sacrifices to the living God (1 Peter 2:5) in His spiritual temple, the church (1 Corinthians 3:16). 5. Children of God: As Christians we are called "children of God" because of our spiritual relationship with Him. He is our Heavenly Father. All those who are in God's church are in His family, "the house of God" (1 Timothy 3:15). We are all the children of God by faith, and we became His children when we were baptized into the Christ (Galatians 3:26,27). What great love God has shown in calling us His children (1 John 3:1). It is truly a privilege to be a child of God and to enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Along with our privileges comes the responsibility to be "obedient children" in all things (1 Peter 1:14). God calls the followers of Jesus "disciples," "Christians," "saints," "priests," and "children of God." May we all strive to "walk worthy of God," Who has called us into His kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12). -- Roger D. Campbell |
|
|