What’s Your Name?

TEXTActs 4:12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHAT’S YOUR NAME? 

          1.       Why were you named that?  Meant something to your parents.

          2.       Were you named in honor of someone?

B.      BIBLE NAMES HAD SPECIAL MEANING.

          1.       Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude).

          2.       Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (He struggles with God).

          3.       Consider Jesus (God is my salvation) or Immanuel (God with us) (See Isa. 9:6).

C.      THE SAVED ARE CALLED BY NAMES THAT HAVE MEANING, TOO.

D.      WHAT ARE THEY CALLED?

I.      BELIEVERS (Acts 5:14).

A.      BELIEF IS AN ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION (Mark 16:16).

B.      MORE THAN ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACTS AS BEING TRUE(Heb. 11:6).

          1.       Illustrated in Abraham’s trust (Heb. 11:17-19).

          2.       And obedience (vs. 8Rom. 10:16).

C.      WHERE DOES ONE GET SUCH FAITH (Rom. 10:17;  15:4).

D.      GOD IS WORTHY OF SUCH TRUST (2 Tim. 2:11-13).

II.     DISCIPLES (Acts 9:26).

A.      mathetes, LIT., "A LEARNER."

          1.       Denotes "one who follows one's teaching," as the "disciples" of John, Matt 9:14;  of

                   the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the "disciples" of Jesus.

                   a.  in a wide sense, of Jews who became His adherents, John 6:66; Luke 6:17, …

                   b.  especially of the twelve apostles, Matt 10:1; Luke 22:11, e. g.;

                   c.  all who manifest that they are His "disciples" by abiding in His Word, John 8:31.

                   d.  in the Acts, of those who believed upon Him and confessed Him, 11:26. (Vine)

          2.       More than simply a teacher/student arrangement.  It also implies a relationship.

                   a.  Eph 4:20 speaks of "learning Christ." More than simply learning about Him,

                   b.  The goal of a disciple is to be like his teacher (Luke 6:40 NKJV).

"A disciple is not above his teacher; but everyone,

after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher."

B.      NOT ALL WHO LEARN ARE DISCIPLES (2 Tim. 3:7).

C.      DISCIPLES FOLLOW THE DISCIPLINE (John 8:31).

D.      THERE IS AN INITIATION (Matt. 28:19).

III.    SAINTS (1 Cor. 1:2).

A.      WHAT IS A SAINT?  THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED.

          1.       Too many wrong concepts – Catholic, “I’m no saint.”

          2.       Refers to those who are sanctified (1 Cor. 1:2).

                   a.  hagios  …fundamentally signifies "separated." (Vine).

                   b.  Separated from something (2 Cor. 7:1).  Defilement of flesh and spirit.

                   c.  Separated to something (1 Pet. 1:2).  Obedience and forgiveness.

B.      SANCTIFICATION IS ESSENTIAL TO HEAVEN (Heb. 12:141 Thess. 4:3).

          1.       It identifies us as God’s possession, being in keeping with God’s call (1 Pet. 2:9).

          2.       It must be learned from God (1 Thess. 4:4).

C.      HOW DO WE LEARN SANCTIFICATION?

          1.       The Holy Spirit is the Agent in sanctification, ( 2 Thess 2:13Rom. 8:13).

          2.       The Spirit works thru the Word (John 6:632 Tim. 3:16).

          3.       So … (John 15:317:17-19).

IV.   BRETHREN (Heb. 13:1Rom. 12:10).

A.      CHRISTIANS ARE A PART OF GOD’S FAMILY (Eph. 2:19Heb. 3:6).

B.      OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS IMPLICATIONS BEYOND FRIENDSHIP

          (John 13:34-351 John 3:16-18Phil. 2:1-4).

V.    CHRISTIANS (Acts 26:28).

A.      A NAME GIVEN TO DISCIPLES (Acts 11:26).

          1.       Not used as an adjective or given to anyone else.

          2.       What is a disciple? (John 8:31).

                   a.  One who continues …

                   b.  And has obeyed the gospel (Matt. 28:19).

B.      WE MUST NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THIS NAME (1 Pet. 4:15-16).

C.      AND WE MUST NEVER BRING SHAME TO IT (James 2:7Rom. 2:24).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?

B.      WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ONE?

C.      DO THESE WORDS DESCRIBE YOU – REALLY?