Titles for Christians
This post will focus on different titles for Christians as mentioned in the New Testament. The main ideas here are taken from the book ‘Reflections of a Discerning Christian’ by Nelson Thomas. I have also added a few of my own points after meditating on the same verses.
Believers
Acts 5:14 - And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
They exercised their faith in Him and put their trust in Christ as their Savior and Lord. The church was growing and new believers were being added to God.
Disciples
Acts 1:15 - And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,
Acts 20:7 - Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
They followed Jesus, forsaking all others, to learn from Him, and be like their teacher. They lived under Christ’s Lordship moment by moment.
Saints
1 Corinthians 1:2 - To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
We are saints in Christ, because we are sanctified by Him. It means that we are set apart for God. When we accept Christ, He forgives, cleanses, and saves us. He separates us as His own. God imputes Christ’s righteousness on us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Brethren
1 Thessalonians 1:4 - knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
Hebrews 3:1 - Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
A true child of God is part of a heavenly family, and thus God is our Father and we are brethren. Christ is not ashamed to call us His family, His brethren.
Christians
Acts 11:26 - And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
They were called Christians because they were following the path of Christ
