Different people mean different things by this term. But here is the first time it was coined:
... The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
(Acts 11:26)
Here we see that the Bible defines the christian as a disciple.
After He rose from the dead, Jesus said
... All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ...
(Matthew 28:18-20)
In the following lesson we'll take a deeper look into these verses. But ...
God loves all people. But He is holy and He cannot tolerate sin.
There is no one as holy as the LORD ...
(1 Samuel 2:2)
... Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts! The whole earth is full of his glory!
(Isaiah 6:3)
For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil cannot live with you. The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity. You will destroy those who speak lies. The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
(Psalm 5:4-6)
But all people who are of understanding age have sinned.
For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God
(Romans 3:23)
But - I'm not a bad person? - By whose standards are we going by, though? According to God,
To him therefore who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.
(James 4:17)
So, is there something you needed to do but didn't? Or,
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
Have you ever told a lie? ...
The unfortunate fact is: all people of reasoning age have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.
So this puts God in a dilemma! On one hand, He loves us. On the other hand, our sin makes us unacceptable to Him.
In this state, punishment awaits. But God does not desire this for us. In His love, He made a way to save us - through His Son, who paid for our sins on the cross.
Note this, though. Praying will not save us - because
But your iniquities [sins] have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
(Isaian 59:2)
It is important to understand that while Jesus died for all men, not all men are saved.
However, God has provided the way to be saved, and to enter into His love and joy.
- We look at this in the next lesson.