For most of the religious world individuals are satisfied with wearing a name not found in the Bible, because they belong to some church not found in the Bible. I suppose most have found that the building they worship in is not the church, but they identify themselves with a church that doesn’t relate to Christ or biblical teaching.
It is rare when asked: “What are you religiously?” that they will say: “I am a Christian”. For the most part they will answer with a denominational name that corresponds to their church name. The name “Christian” becomes a secondary name to their religion, their first choice is a name related to their Church. Of course, it does no good to call yourself “Christian” if you are not.
If you are in Christ and follow his teaching then you wear that name proudly and accurately.  In prophesy the prophet Isaiah said “The Gentiles shall be called by a new name which the Lord shall name”.  Isaiah 62:2
Let’s notice a few scriptures that describe the name we should wear. In the New Testament, we find these; “The disciples were called Christians at Antioch”.  Acts 11:26  “Let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf”.  I Peter 4:15, 16
As the apostle Paul spoke to King Agrippa, he asked; “Agrippa believeth thou the prophets?” I know that thou believeth. And Agrippa said to Paul: “Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian”.  Act 26-28  Agrippa knew that if he obeyed Paul’s words that he would be a Christian.
Does it not seem logical that Christ would want you to wear his name?  Christ gave his life for mankind and wants us to glorify him by wearing his name. What man would not be insulted if his wife refused to wear his name? Note also: Christians are married to Christ. “Wherefore my beloved brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that you should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit to God”.   Romans 7:4 
Christian is the only name that glorifies Christ.  So, that you may be consistent in wearing that name, you must be in Christ, you are joined to Christ by obedience to his commands and putting Him on. Everything begins with faith, but that faith has to be an active and obedient faith.  “Without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is rewarder of them that diligently seeks him.” Hebrews 11:6
That faith is produced by hearing God’s word: “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.  Romans 10:17
Faith produces works of obedience:  “Even so faith if it has not works is dead being alone”.  James 2:17
“Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he had offered Isaac upon the alter?  See how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect”.   James 2:21, 22
When Peter preached that great sermon on the day of Pentecost, many were reminded about everything that Jesus was and is and the sins they had committed in crucifying Jesus. The evidence that Peter presented produced faith in Jesus and it also produced guilt that brought about repentance: Note: Act 2: 37, 38  “And when they heard this they were pricked (convicted) in the heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles: “Men and brethren what shall we do?” then Peter said unto them “Repent and be Baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy spirit”.  Still further, that same day: “And they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there was added unto them about three thousand souls”.  Acts 2:41  “They continued with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people and the lord added unto the church daily such as should be saved”.  Acts 2: 46, 47  The ones Jesus added was the saved, Acts 2:47, the saved were those that obeyed the gospel and were baptized for the remission of sins.  Acts 2:38
To give praise to God when wearing his name one must be in Christ. Some clear scriptures that explain being in Christ are: “Know ye not that so many of you who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death.”  Romans 6:3  “For as many of you as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.  Galatians 3:27 “Buried with him in Baptism wherein ye are risen with him through faith of the operation of God who has raised him from the dead”.  Colossians 2:12  That New Man in Christ is a new creation so that the Old Man is dead. See, II Corinthians 5:17
For an in-depth study of the new life, see Romans 6:4-23, these verses detail the new life that started through baptism into Jesus. Baptism puts you into Christ, baptism saves.
I Peter 3:21  Baptism adds you to the lord’s church – Acts 2:47
Baptism puts you into the Body of Christ – I Corinthians 12:13
The body is the Church – Col. 1:18
The church is his body – Eph 1:22, 23
There is one body – Ephesians 4:4
All spiritual blessing are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3
So to be pleasing to God and to be saved is to be baptized and be added to his church.  Jesus himself said “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (the whole creation) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved – he that believeth not shall be condemned”  Mark 16:16
In addition to Mark 16:16, Jesus told the apostles, “Go ye therefore and teach (make disciples) of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and the Holy Spirit”  –
Mathew 28: 19, 20   If Jesus says it, surely you would not want to argue against Jesus, be aware of the penalty placed upon false doctrine on this subject.
The apostle Paul said “I marvel that you are so soon remove from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ”, “But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let               him be accursed”. “As we said before: so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which ye received let him be accursed”.  Galatians 1:6-9
Cliff  Chandler

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1. Who gave Steven permission to speak? 7:1
2.  Why did Steven address his audience as “brethren?” 7:2
3.  Outline Stevens sermon and Acts 7.
4.  Whom did Steven address as “fathers?” 7:2; 22:1
5.  What does the word patriarch mean? Who were the 12 patriarchs? 7:2
6.  What caused the patriarchs to call Joseph? 7:9
7.  How good an education did Moses have? 7:22
8.  What does “visits” mean in 7:23; in 15:36; and in James 1:27
9.  What does “church” mean in 7:38? What was the “church in the wilderness?”
10. At the conclusion for his sermon, name five charges which Steven leveled against the Jews. 7:51 – 53
11. What does it mean “to resist the Holy Spirit?” 7:51
12. Do people do this today? How? What did Stephen see in heaven? 7:55f
13. Discuss the stoning of Stephen. 7:57 – 59
14. What was Stephen’s attitude through it all? 7:60

1. As members of the body of which Christ is Head – Eph 1:22f; Eph 4:4; i Cor. 12; Col 1:18
2. As children in the house of family of God — I Tim 3:15
3. As sheep of which Christ is Shepherd – I Pet 5:4; I Pet 3:25.
4. As priest under Christ the high Priest – Heb 9:11; Heb 3:1; I Pet 2:5-9; Rev. 1:6
5. As branches grafted into Christ, the One true Vine — Jn. 15:1-6; Rom 11:15-24
6. As subjects in the kingdom of which Christ is King.–Jn. 18:36f; Rev 17:14
7. As the bride of which Christ is Bridegroom –Eph 5:22-23
8. As the house or temple of which Christ is the Foundation –I Cor 3:11-9
9. As members of the body of which Christ is Saviour – Eph 5:23; Acts 2:47
10. We can pray to the Father and know He hears Mt. 6:14; Lk 11:5-13 ;Lk18:1-8
11. As heirs of salvation or eternal life – Rom 8:14-17; Tit 1:2; Rom 8:25
12. All the things of Mt 6:33 will be added to you.

Responsibilities of Christians

1. As saints-to remain set apart – Rom 1:7; Rom 12:1-2
2. As supporters of the truth – I Tim 3:15
3. As branches – to bear fruit – Jn. 15:1-6
4. As the bride – to keep ourselves pure; to be true to the Bridegroom – Rev. 19:6-9
5. As subjects in the kingdom –  to serve the King- Jn 18:36f
6. As in the church – to stay called out of the world of sin to serve Christ – Rom 12:1-2; I Jn 2:15-17; 2 Thes 2:13-14
7. To glorify Christ in the church- Eph 3:2-12
8. To be united- follow Christ- I Cor 1:10
9. To be faithful even if it costs us our lives, and until we die – Rev 2:10

QUESTIONS:

1. Discuss any other responsibilities that Christians have which are not specifically mention in the above list.
2. Realizing the importance of our duty to God, how careful should we be not to overlook any?
3. What is the whole duty of man? Eccl. 12:13
4. When men are not accepting their obligation as to why they are in the world (to glorify God- Eccl 12:13), is there any reason for them to exist?
5. What would be the meaning of life without glorifying God?
6. Discuss how this lesson helps to give meaning to worship!

Reference:  “The Church – The Greatest Work of God.”, David Bonner, 1971, pp 70-71.

Before you can do anything as a Christian, there are a number of test that the thing must pass before it can possibility be right.  Are you willing to up what you do to the test?

1. Is it sinful?  (condemned directly) We can’t do anything the Bible condemns by name or principle.  See Gal 5:19-21
2. Is it harmful to your body?I Cor. 9:24-27; I Cor 6:19; Rom 12
3. Is it doubtful? Rom 14:23.  If one cannot do something with a good conscience, it is not right for he cannot do it by faith.
4. Could it be a stumbling block?Rom 14:13; I Cor 10:32.  If what offends one personally everyone has to quit, then that one person is the rule upon which all things must be judged.  But, if such a thing or practice would cause one to stumble, then “judge ye rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion of falling.” Rom 14:13.  Would it cause a weak one to fall?  If it would, I cannot do it as a Christian if I love all.
5. Does it bring me into an entangling alliance, or, into the wrong kind of association?I Cor 15:33
6. Does it create an inordinate fleshly appetite?  I Cor 6:12.  Paul would not be brought under the power of an expedient (something not harmful in itself) If something right within itself can get hold of you and be your master if practiced, it is wrong.  a) any inherent desire God has put in man is right and God has provided for it to be satisfied in a legal way.  b)  When some brood on trash to increase appetites and fulfill them illegally, this is sin.
7. Does it conflict with my duty as a Christian?  Matt. 6:33   a) Some get so absorbed with a hobby that they don’t have time for duties as a Christian.  b)  Mt. 6:33 – Anything is wrong if it is too time consuming.
8. Would Jesus do it?  I Pet. 2:21 – We are to follow in his steps.

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES TO TRY BY THESE RULES

1. Drinking…..is drinking sinful?  Drunkenness surely is Gal. 5:21.  Just what is drunkenness?  Someone has said when a person takes his first drink, he is one drink drunk.  One drinker in eight becomes a problem drinker.  Would you?  Doubtful?  If not, why ask?  Harmful to my body?  Some 60% of all traffic deaths are due to drinking.  After even one drink your reactions are duller.  Do you need all your faculties when driving in traffic today?  Stumbling block?  If you don’t fall (?) by drinking, are those whom drink any, one becomes a problem drinker.  Risky, isn’t it? Entangling alliances?  Wrong associations?  If you drink, you are sure to have evil associates.  Inordinate fleshly appetite?  Many who drink would give all they own to be able to quit.   Conflict with my duty?  Many are paupers because of it.  Some 75% of all divorces are due to drinking.  Would Jesus drink today?  You answer the question honestly.
2. Dancing –  Is it sinful?  Gal. 5:19-21 condemns: a lasciviousness which is “unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.  Wanton acts or manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females, etc.  Thayer.  Webster says it is that which “tends to produce lewd emotions.”  b.  revelling which are: (generally defined as “night club atmosphere with all the trimmings).  c. other things of Gal 5:18-21 many times are generally thought to be brought on by dancing.  Is it harmful to my body?  Some things that go on around such an atmosphere sure may be. (fights, drinking etc)  Is it doubtful?  The church as preached against it for years. stumbling-block? If you don’t fall thru it, you cannot regulate the minds of all men.  In what other situation can so many men embrace so many women?  Entangling alliances?  If you were hunting evil associates, what better place could you look than the dance halls? Inordinate fleshly appetite?  All physicians say yes.  A large number of those “fallen ones” admit the dance is what did it.  Conflict with my duty?  The Christian should abstain from the very appearance of evil I Thess 5:22Would Jesus do it?  Can you imagine Him at a dance?  I can’t!
3. Gambling– Is it sinful?  Stealing is condemned (Eph 4:28)  and a professional may take ones money as easily as a thief at night.  There seem to be three laws of transferring money (legitimate).  a)  The law of Exchange–in which commodity is exchanged for its value in money. b)  The law of labor – (physical or mental), where one actually earns, by time and energy expended, the money he receives.  c)  The law of love-  in which something is given without any desire or expectation of receiving any return.  Gambling surely comes under none of these.  It is even condemned by state law in many states (Rom. 13).  Is it harmful to my body?  How many starve because of it?  Is it doubtful?  The whole world doubts it.  Could it become a stumbling block?  Many get the gambling craze from others.  It takes two (ordinarily).  Does it bring me into entangling alliances?  Yes, ordinarily.  Does it create inordinate appetite?  Some get this craze just like the alcoholic gets his craze for liquor.  Some “can’t” stop.  Does it conflict with my duty?  Some lose their time and money doing it.  Would Jesus do it?  Can you imagine Jesus trying to take someone’s money away from him?  Answer it honestly and you’ll have the answer.

Try Smoking? Try any thing you wonder about.  These principles will surely hold up.  They are Bible principles.
Reference: The Church- The Greatest Work of God”, David Bonner, 1971, pages 72-74

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