Gospel Reflections #466: Indeed, I am a Christian!

Proverbs 22:1 “A decree is better than great riches, and a favor is better than silver or gold."

In the Bible, a person who has accepted, believed in, and been baptized by Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior is called a "Christian."

This name was first used in Antioch of Syria to describe a disciple of Jesus-Christ, and at the time it carried a connotation of disdain.

Even though it was used in a derogatory sense, if we were something that distinguished us from the world, it might make sense and lead us to be the light of the world.

We are distinguished from the world as believers and followers of God, but this is not a distinction of superiority, but rather a distinction based on humility, on the realization that we are sinners and cannot live without God.

And in this, we are filled with God's love and experience the joy of living with Him.

We can never be proud of ourselves because it is impossible for us to live in this world on our own and we have received new life as God's children through faith in Jesus' cross and resurrection.

Therefore, it is Christians who fully express the blessings, joy, gratitude, and hope that God gives us.

And it is Christians who express the character of Jesus through our words and actions.

Also, it is a Christian who lives by God's power, not by our own strength.

In this light, "Christian" seems to be both a family name for us as God's family and a proper noun for us as individuals.

God knows each one of us. He created us and perfects us as Christians.

I am looking forward to seeing how God will complete us. Psalm 130:1,2 “From the depths of the abyss, I call to you, O Lord. Hear my voice, O Lord. Listen to my voice as I mourn and pray."

UTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.