CHRISTIANS
The word "Christian" appears only three times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is actually a transliteration of the Greek Χριστιανός (Christianos), which is defined as "a believer or follower of Jesus Christ." It appears in these verses:
Acts 11:25-26 - "Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
1 Peter 4:12-16 - "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, 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."
DISCIPLES
Notice that Acts 11:26 states that disciples of Christ, were called Christians. It is clear from that verse, that true Christians are Christ's disciples! "Disciple" is from the Greek μαθητής (mathētēs), which is defined in Easton's Bible Dictionary as "A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called His disciples; and hence all Christians are called His disciples, as they profess to learn and receive His doctrines and precepts. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes His doctrine, (2) rests on His sacrifice, (3) imbibes His spirit, and (4) imitates His example (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69)." In other words, a disciple is a believer in Christ, whose desire is to do His will out of gratitude for His sacrifice for his sins (1 Cor. 15:3-4)!
CHURCH
The word "church" is from the Greek ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia), which is defined in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible as being, in a Christian sense, an assembly of professing Christians who are gathered for worship in a religious meeting. Notice I said "professing Christians." That is because, as even unbelievers know, many of the members of churches do not act like disciples; many appear to see their church as a "social club," rather than a place of worship and study of God's Word. Jesus spoke of this in the His parables found in Matthew Thirteen. Here are a few examples:
From "The Four Soils" (Mt. 13:3-8, 18-23) - Three of the four "soils" show signs of life, but one is fruitless due to persecution; one is fruitless due to a focus on the things of the world, and only one shows evidence of commitment to the Lord by producing fruit!
From "The Wheat and the Tares" (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43) - Jesus sows the Word of God and those who believe Him, are the children of God; Satan sows his evil ways and those who believe him are his children. Both are so intermingled that it is impossible for the Children of God to remove the children of the wicked one without harming some of their own. Some say that wheat and tares look alike and it is difficult to tell them apart (the world apparently cannot tell the two apart, so it labels all Christians as hypocrites)!
From the "Mustard Seed's massive growth" (Mt. 13:31-32) we see the church as a huge organization, so big that the children of the wicked one (the birds) are able to be at home in it!
From the "Leavened Loaf" (Mt. 13:33) we see the size of the Church appear huge because it is filled with pockets of unbelievers!
From the "Dragnet" (Mt. 13:47-50) Jesus tells us that when the time comes to draw in His "net," it will be filled with both good and wicked!
UNBELIEVERS MAY BE ABLE TO FOOL GOD'S CHILDREN,
BUT IN THE END, THEY WILL BE EXPOSED AS CHILDREN OF SATAN!
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