The answer to this question comes from the name itself – Christian. A Christian is a follower of the Christ. The word ‘Christ’ comes from a Greek word which means ‘anointed one’ and is the equivalent of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah.’
Following our estrangement from our Creator, God promised that one day a mighty Saviour would be born to rescue estranged humanity from the chains of sin with which the devil binds us. This mighty Saviour is known in the Bible as the Messiah or Christ because he would be anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to save us from our sins.
Christians believe Jesus of Nazareth is this mighty Saviour promised by God. The prophets in the Old Testament continually spoke about the coming Messiah and their prophecies are so perfectly fulfilled in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. At his baptism Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit as the Christ. In the power of the Spirit, Jesus performed many miracles to authenticate his claim to be the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And yet as the Old Testament prophets foretold, Jesus was despised and rejected. The Christ was put to death on the cross – but all in the plan of God to make a perfect atonement for our sins. Because death is the penalty of sin, Jesus in love paid that penalty for us. He suffered and died in our place. And on the third day after his crucifixion, God raised his Son from the dead. Jesus is now exalted at God’s right hand in heaven and soon he will come a second time to judge the world in righteousness and to establish his eternal kingdom.
What is a Christian? A Christian is a follower of the Christ. A Christian also receives the Holy Spirit and so shares in the anointing of Jesus - thus we bear the name of 'Christ.' Through the Spirit, we follow Jesus in faith, love and hope. Through the Spirit, our faith is in the atoning death of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins so we can be reconciled with our Creator. Through the Spirit, we love Jesus and seek to live our lives each day according to his teachings. And when we stray from those teachings, we pray to God our Father in heaven for forgiveness, just as Jesus taught us. Through the Spirit, our hope is in Jesus that soon he will return and make all things new.
What is a Christian? A Christian is a follower of the Christ. Many claim to be Christians but are clearly not following the Christ. They have no ongoing relationship with Jesus himself. They have the name of Christ but not the reality. And yet throughout the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – Jesus repeatedly called all people to follow him. And Jesus continues to call all people to follow him – to become Christians.
Ebenezer Baptist Church is simply a gathering of Christians – those who follow the Christ in faith and love and hope. Jesus has commanded such gatherings for his followers in which we praise him in song, seek him in prayer, listen to his words and remember his dying love in bread and wine. And in all these things we strengthen and comfort each other as Christian brothers and sisters.
You are very welcome to join us to learn more about Jesus Christ and what it means to follow him as a Christian. In today’s world it’s not always easy to be a real Christian but we believe Jesus is with us by his Spirit to help us and is leading us into his everlasting kingdom of perfect love and joy and peace.