{"id":62271,"date":"2021-11-04T20:30:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T17:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=62271"},"modified":"2025-11-21T19:27:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T16:27:17","slug":"what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-a-christian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/11\/04\/what-does-it-really-mean-to-be-a-christian\/","title":{"rendered":"WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many people call themselves Christians today, but do we truly understand what Jesus Himself<\/em> said about being His follower? Surprisingly, Jesus never commanded us to \u201cgo and make Christians.\u201d Instead, He commanded us to make disciples<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

1. Jesus Commanded Us to Make Disciples<\/em>, Not Merely Christians<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Matthew 28:19\u201320 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cGo therefore and make disciples<\/strong> of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you\u2026\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Great Commission is not about creating church members, denominational followers, or people who simply profess faith verbally. It is about raising up disciples<\/strong>\u2014people who follow, obey, imitate, and surrender to Jesus.<\/p>\n

2. The Word \u201cChristian\u201d Was First Used in Antioch\u2014Not by Jesus<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many people are surprised to learn that Jesus never used the word \u201cChristian.\u201d The term arose later:<\/p>\n

Acts 11:26 (NKJV)<\/strong>
\n\u201c\u2026And the disciples<\/strong> were first called Christians<\/strong> in Antioch.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word \u201cChristian\u201d literally means \u201cone belonging to Christ\u201d<\/strong> or \u201ca little Christ.\u201d<\/strong>
\nBut importantly: they were called Christians because they were first disciples.<\/em><\/p>\n

In other words:<\/p>\n

A Christian = a disciple.
\nNot everyone who claims Christ is automatically a disciple.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This distinction is vital.<\/p>\n

\n

3. What Is a Disciple? Jesus Gives the Requirements<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Jesus gave very specific, uncompromising requirements for anyone who desires to follow Him.<\/p>\n

(a) A Disciple Must Deny Himself<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Luke 9:23 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself<\/strong> and take up his cross daily and follow Me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Self-denial is not optional; it is foundational.<\/p>\n

(b) A Disciple Must Carry His Cross<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Luke 14:27 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhoever does not carry their cross<\/strong> and follow Me cannot be My disciple.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If disciples = Christians, then logically:<\/p>\n

Whoever does not carry his cross cannot be a Christian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The cross symbolizes suffering, sacrifice, obedience, rejection by the world, and death to the sinful nature.<\/p>\n

(c) A Disciple Must Love Jesus Above All Relationships<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Luke 14:26 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cIf anyone comes to Me and does not hate<\/strong> his own father and mother\u2026 and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cHate\u201d here is a Hebrew expression meaning to love less<\/strong> or to reject anything that competes with loyalty to God<\/strong> (cf. Matthew 10:37).<\/p>\n

(d) A Disciple Must Forsake Everything<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Luke 14:33 (ESV)<\/strong>
\n\u201cSo therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has<\/strong> cannot be My disciple.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Renouncing \u201call\u201d does not always mean selling everything; it means surrendering every part of life\u2014possessions, ambitions, desires, relationships\u2014under the Lordship of Christ.<\/p>\n

Thus we can say:<\/p>\n

A Christian who has not surrendered everything is not yet a disciple, and therefore not yet a Christian in the biblical sense.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

4. The Early Christians Understood This Standard<\/strong><\/h1>\n

In the book of Acts, Christians were known for:<\/p>\n