Edition 3 of the First Principals

Monday, October 24th

Edition 3 of the First Principals

Acts 11:25-26
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Disciple (noun):

1. One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.


2. An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy.


3. 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.

Christian (noun):

1. A religious person who believes Jesus is the Christ and who is a member of a Christian denomination.


2. The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16).

Disciple is the name God gave. Christian is the name man gave. I would much rather be a disciple than a Christian.

Mark 1:14-20
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

“Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” If I follow God, I will become a fisher of men.

Follow (verb):

1. To take as a model or precedent; imitate.


2. To adhere to; practice.


3. To occur or be evident as a consequence of.

What do I adhere to? What do I practice? Does my life show as evident that I am a follower of Christ? And does it show that I do it without delay? Do I have a “at once” attitude?

At once:

1. All at one time; simultaneously.


2. Immediately; instantly.

Luke 9:23-26
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Cross (noun):

1. An upright post with a transverse piece near the top, on which condemned persons were executed in ancient times.


2. Any affliction that causes great suffering.

Deny (verb):

1. To declare untrue; contradict.


2. To refuse to believe; reject.


3. To refuse to recognize or acknowledge; disavow.

Daily (adj.):

1. Happening or done every day.


2. Everyday.

Everyday, I have to reject myself and what I want to do and pick up what causes me great suffering and imitate my God. Now doesn’t that sound like fun? And still many believe that there is a once saved, always saved mentality. If I do this only once, am I in? If I did it five years ago and I haven’t done it since, am I in? I hear that you can “pray Jesus into your heart” and ka-zaam, I’m saved. You don’t even need to be baptized for that one. Is that following God? Is sinning now, knowing you are going to a confessional later following God? Is that taking up your cross daily?