I copied this from Stephen Green's post in order to share here. I think it deserves consideration:
The early understanding of Christian discipleship was a transformative commitment, not just a label.
In the first-century Church, being a Christian was not merely about intellectual belief or social identity—it was about being in Christ, a lived reality that involved repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being part of a genuine, Spirit-led community. This was a serious, life-altering commitment, where believers adhered strictly to the teachings of Jesus, lived in holiness, and anticipated His return.
Over time, the meanings of ‘Christian’ and ‘Church’ have been diluted or generalized. Many today associate Christianity with a broad cultural or doctrinal identity rather than an actual way of life rooted in direct obedience to Christ and His Spirit-led body. Likewise, the Church—originally an organic, Spirit-filled assembly of believers—has often been institutionalized, sometimes in ways that stray from its original essence.
For someone to follow Jesus in the original sense of Christian, they must believe that He is the light of the world, sent by the Father. They put off their former life by uniting with Him through baptism. They are recognized by existing Holy Spirit-sealed followers of Jesus, whose divinely authorized, Spirit-filled elders lay hands on them so they may receive the Holy Spirit as well.
They truly hold to the teachings of Jesus, never departing from adherence to them. They put off sinful ways and learn obedience to the ways of the Lord Jesus, now their Lord and Master. They live a life of love toward those in the same Body of Christ, of which they have become a part.
They await the return of Jesus Christ and strive to live in a way that makes them worthy to be raised from the dead if they die before His return, or to be made immortal by Him if they remain alive. If they are found worthy, they will reign with Him. Then comes the judgment of all by Christ.
The Body of Christ is a real entity that has existed since the days of the apostles. Its roots are firmly planted in the early Christian community, established by Jesus and carried forward by His chosen disciples. From the beginning, the Body of Christ was understood as a continuous, unbroken community of believers, connected through faith in Christ and participation in His life, death, and resurrection.
This reality is not just a theological concept but a historical truth spanning over two thousand years, transcending time and place. The Church, in its essence, is not something invented or redefined by each generation but something received, handed down, and lived out by each successive generation of believers.
Therefore, the original meaning of Christian is vastly different from what it has come to mean today. The same is true of the meaning of Church.
Stephen D Green, with ChatGPT, March 2025
The early understanding of Christian discipleship was a transformative commitment, not just a label.
In the first-century Church, being a Christian was not merely about intellectual belief or social identity—it was about being in Christ, a lived reality that involved repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being part of a genuine, Spirit-led community. This was a serious, life-altering commitment, where believers adhered strictly to the teachings of Jesus, lived in holiness, and anticipated His return.
Over time, the meanings of ‘Christian’ and ‘Church’ have been diluted or generalized. Many today associate Christianity with a broad cultural or doctrinal identity rather than an actual way of life rooted in direct obedience to Christ and His Spirit-led body. Likewise, the Church—originally an organic, Spirit-filled assembly of believers—has often been institutionalized, sometimes in ways that stray from its original essence.
For someone to follow Jesus in the original sense of Christian, they must believe that He is the light of the world, sent by the Father. They put off their former life by uniting with Him through baptism. They are recognized by existing Holy Spirit-sealed followers of Jesus, whose divinely authorized, Spirit-filled elders lay hands on them so they may receive the Holy Spirit as well.
They truly hold to the teachings of Jesus, never departing from adherence to them. They put off sinful ways and learn obedience to the ways of the Lord Jesus, now their Lord and Master. They live a life of love toward those in the same Body of Christ, of which they have become a part.
They await the return of Jesus Christ and strive to live in a way that makes them worthy to be raised from the dead if they die before His return, or to be made immortal by Him if they remain alive. If they are found worthy, they will reign with Him. Then comes the judgment of all by Christ.
The Body of Christ is a real entity that has existed since the days of the apostles. Its roots are firmly planted in the early Christian community, established by Jesus and carried forward by His chosen disciples. From the beginning, the Body of Christ was understood as a continuous, unbroken community of believers, connected through faith in Christ and participation in His life, death, and resurrection.
This reality is not just a theological concept but a historical truth spanning over two thousand years, transcending time and place. The Church, in its essence, is not something invented or redefined by each generation but something received, handed down, and lived out by each successive generation of believers.
Therefore, the original meaning of Christian is vastly different from what it has come to mean today. The same is true of the meaning of Church.
Stephen D Green, with ChatGPT, March 2025
