Why I Avoid Using the Word "Christian"

Why I Avoid Using the Word "Christian"

We jumped in Paul's word to the faithful saints in Ephesus.

The words most often used to describe the new creatures in Christ Jesus.

"Saints" 67 around times
"Disciples" around 261 times
"Christian" around 3 times
"In Christ" around 160 times
"Believer/Believers" around 103 times

Paul's Favorite Way to Describe the Believers

Paul coined, as he was led by the Spirit, a new way to describe the believers who are now positioned in the redeeming righteousness that is only found "in Christ"… an unheard of way to uniquely identify the body of Christ.

Just as we are…

We often give the wrong impression and idea of grace when we tell people that God accepts us — as though He approves of us — as we are. It would be best when we explain it, to explain it correctly. How then? God accepts and welcomes us — despite the way we are — because He receives us — when He saves us — because of His redeeming grace through Christ. We are adopted, accepted and approved only in Christ — on the merit of Christ's righteous life and love and not our own. He accepts Christ and because we trust Jesus, God credits His righteous life and love for ours. So what we are, what we've done and will ever do was adequately judged and condemned through the substitutionary life and death of Jesus. And this He does (accept us) with the eternal intent to transform us into the likeness of Jesus. He has gone as far as predesting it to be — our salvation, sanctification, separation, sealing and security for all eternity are all according to His will and praise. His word, work and wondrous work in our lives are to echo His praise.

God satisfying God… God propitiates God.