The New Name--Christian

By

Shelby G. Floyd

October 20, 2006

 

 

 

 

Almost Persuaded To Be a Christian

 

King Agrippa once replied to Paul, and said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28.) If the name Christian be not of divine origin, and be not approved by God, why then would Paul be try­ing to persuade King Agrippa to be a Christian? And why was Agrippa almost persuaded to be a Christian?

 

Isaiah Prophesied God Would Give His People a New Name

 

A name is used to distinguish, describe or des­ignate a person or a thing: therefore, a name is a very important thing. Approximately 700 years before Christ came into the world, Isaiah, the Messianic prophet, spoke of the time when God would give his people a new name:

 

“Even to them I will give in My house
           And within My walls a place and a name
           Better than that of sons and daughters;
           I will give them an everlasting name
           That shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 56:5.)

 

Just a few chapters later, the prophet added these words,

 

“For Zion’s sake will I not bold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salva­tion thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” (Isaiah 62:1-2.)

 

1. It Would Be Given Within God’s House

 

An analysis of these verses indicates several facts concerning the new name which God would give his people. First, a new name was to be given within God’s house “...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15.) Therefore this new name would not be given until God’s house, the church, would be established. God’s house, the church, was established on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the new name could not be given until after the establishment of the church.

 

2. It Would Transcend Human Names

 

Second, the name that God would give his people would be a name that would be better than the name of the sons and daughters of men. This simply means that it would be a name that would transcend any name that belonged to mere men, and it indicates that this name would be divine and from above, rather then a name originating with men.

 

3. It Would Be an Everlasting Name

 

Third, this name would be an everlasting name that would not be cut off or changed. The new name then was to be a name that would last as long as time would endure.

 

4. It Would Be Given After Salvation Went Forth From Jerusalem

 

Fourth, his new name would be given only after the righteousness of God would go forth from Jerusalem as brightness, and the salvation thereof would go forth as a lamp that burneth. Righteousness and salvation are here used as interchangeable terms. Salvation or righteousness did not go forth from Jerusalem until the day that the church was established in Acts chapter two. Therefore, the name would not be given until after the day of Pentecost: the day that 3,000 people were saved from their sins and added to the Lord’s church.

 

5. It Would Be Given To Both Jews and Gentiles

 

Fifth, this new name was to be given to Jews and. to Gentiles, and was not to be restricted to the Jews only. For the prophet said that the new name would be given after the Gentiles would see the righteousness of God and all the kings of the nations would see his glory. Therefore, the name would not be given until after the Gentiles entered into the salvation in Christ Jesus.

 

6. It Would Be Given Out of God’s Mouth

 

Sixth, after all of these things would have happened, they would be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord would name.

 

Cornelius Was the First Gentile to Receive Salvation in Christ

 

The Roman centurion, Cornelius, was the first Gen­tile to see the righteousness of God, and to experience the salvation in Christ Jesus. He was admonished to send for Simon Peter, who would tell him what to do to be saved. Peter did this, and later spoke of the mat­ter when he said, “Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15: 7.) Therefore, Peter by preaching the gospel to Cornelius and his household, intro­duced the Gentiles into the church and into salvation.

 

Even after Cornelius heard the gospel and was com­manded to be baptized; some of the members of the church traveled as far as Phenice, Cyprus and Antioch, but they preached the word to none but to the Jews only. However, some of these same men when they came to Antioch and Syria preached unto the Grecians, the Lord Jesus; and God’s hand was with them, and a number be­lieved and turned to the Lord.

 

When the church at Jerusalem heard about all these things, they sent Barnabas that he should go to Antioch. And when he came to Antioch and saw God’s favor upon the Gentiles, he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart, they should cleave to the Lord. It was during this time that great numbers of Gentiles were coming into the church that Barnabas departed from Antioch to Tarsus to find Paul. And the Bible says,

 

“And when he had found him, be 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.” (Acts 11:26.)

 

In this passage we have the fulfillment of the six facts enumerated from the prophecies of Isaiah.

 

The Name Christian Is Of Divine Origin

 

But there are some who insist that the name Christian is a name of derision that was called upon the disciples by the enemies of the followers of Christ. But is this correct? The author of Acts says, “...they assembled themselves with the church.” Who assembled themselves with the church? Obviously, the antecedent of they refers to Paul and. Barnabas. And the scripture says, “...they taught much people.” Who taught much people? Paul and. Barnabas taught much people. And then the same passage says, “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Who called the disciples Christians first in Antioch? Paul and Barnabas “assembled themselves with the church for a whole year,” and Paul and barnabas “taught much people” during that year. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas are the same people, who “called the disciples Christians first in Antioch.” And since the antecedent of the pronoun “they” in the two previous clauses refers to Paul and Barnabas, ob­viously then the subject of the verb “were called” re­fers to Paul and Barnabas. Christian is a name of divine origin.

 

Since the name “Christian” is a name of divine origin, let all of the followers of Christ pay attention to the admonition of the apostle Peter,

 

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:14-16.)

 

           Let us glorify God by wearing the name honoring his son Jesus Christ. The suffix ian when added to the noun Christ, means “of or belonging to Christ.”  Those who belong to Christ are Christians.   Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved