What is a Christian?

Did you know that there are only three places in the Bible where the word “Christian” is mentioned? But they help us to understand what a Christian really is. Here they are --

ACTS 11:26: “The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch”. Here we have an important clue: It was “the disciples” who were called “Christians”: Those who had turned to the Lord and were committed to following or obeying Him. ACTS 26:28: A king called Agrippa said to Paul after hearing Paul tell of how he became a Christian: “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” It is not enough just to hear or to know how to become a Christian, but to receive Christ personally.

1 PETER 4:16: “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that Name”. True joy and peace are part of the Christian life, but sometimes so too are suffering and persecution. These show the reality of saving faith in a person’s life.

There are many ideas at large as to what a Christian is. But first, let’s consider what a Christian is not –

 Someone who just lives “a good moral life”. Many people are good citizens, living respectable lives, but would not consider themselves Christians.  Someone who reads the Bible and/or prays. By reading the Bible we may learn how to become a Christian. It is the signpost pointing us to Christ.

But just remaining at the sign post won’t get you to your destination.  Someone who attends a place of worship. Again, you may learn how to become a Christian, but hearing is not enough: It involves your personal response.  Someone who gives to charitable causes. Christians should do so wisely, but this does not make you a Christian either.  It is sometimes said, “I’ve always been a Christian”. No one is ever born a

Christian; we are all born sinners needing a Saviour.

A Christian may or should do these things, but he/she does not do them in order to become a Christian, but because he/she is a Christian.

How can you be sure you are a Christian?

A Christian is someone who has –

REALISED he/she is a sinner needing to be saved. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). REPENTED of his/her sin. “God now commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31). RECEIVED Christ as Saviour and Lord. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Because of repentance and personal commitment to Christ a Christian is –

 Accepted by God in Christ (Ephesians 1:5-6) and adopted into His Family.  Justified by God (Romans 5:1) and has been declared “not guilty” by God (the Judge) because Christ has born the penalty (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and his/her body is now a temple of the Holy Spirit who gives the desire and the capacity to live for

God.

 A new person, having been born again. There is a new desire to live for

God and a new hatred of sin that did not exist before (2 Corinthians 5:17).  A member of the true Church, the Body of Christ which consists of all true born again believers (Colossians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 12:13).  Eternally secure. Jesus Himself says, “I give to them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my

Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29). Are you a real Christian? -- Editor

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

COVER PHOTO

Tūī are unique to Aotearoa and belong to the honeyeater family, which means they feed mainly on nectar from flowers of native plants. They are medium size birds, found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands. From a distance they look black, but in good light tui have a blue, green and bronze iridescent sheen, and distinctive white throat tufts (poi). They are usually very vocal, with a complicated mix of tuneful notes interspersed with coughs, grunts and wheezes. In flight, their bodies slant with the head higher than the tail, and their noisy whirring flight is interspersed with short glides.

THE BOMBARDIER BEETLE

A Problem for the Evolutionist

Bombardier beetles can be found on the continents of North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. They thrive in temperate woodlands and grasslands where there is ground cover for them to hide under, and feed mainly on small insects. Each has blue elytra (wing coverings) and a reddish head and limbs.

They are considered remarkable because of their ability to shoot a boiling, corrosive substance at predators. An amazing feature of these beetles is the presence of two chambers within their abdomen that keep the critical explosive reactants apart until they are ready to be discharged. When the beetle feels threatened, the contents of these two chambers are combined and fired through the abdominal tip. The abdominal tip through which their defensive chemical is sprayed can be rotated 270 degrees so they can more easily fire at predators.

We have to wonder how these beetles managed to “evolve”. How many of them blew themselves to bits before they got the mixture and timing right? Sounds more like intelligent design involving a Creator.

Miharo Te Anau Kerehoma

CONGRATULATIONS! At seven years of age, Miharo personally chose to do the Maori Postal Aotearoa Bible lessons to gain his 4th-Year Diploma. He achieved this four years later with excellent marks between 92% and 100%. A great record! In 2020 he began attending Te Aute College near Hastings and has been given an excellent report on his willingness and positive attitude.

Miharo’s first day at his new home. Pictured with his happy Great Nan, Te Uira Kerehoma.

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