A Christian Guidebook: Who Is a Christian? (5)

“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” Acts 17.6, 7

Who are these people?
It was obvious to the people of Thessalonica that there was something different about those folks whom Paul had “persuaded” (v. 4) to become disciples of Jesus Christ—Christians.

The Christians in Thessalonica were changed. They began at once to engage in works of faith and labors of love (1 Thess. 1.3). The Christians in Thessalonica were outspoken about Jesus and their commitment to Him (1 Thess. 1.8). They put aside every false idol they had previously sought to gain or appease (1 Thess. 1.9), committed themselves to the Word of God (1 Thess. 2.13), assembled as a church (1 Thess. 2.14), walked the path that Jesus and the apostles walked (1 Thess. 4.1, 2), embraced the work of sanctification (1 Thess. 4.3ff), and abounded toward one another in brotherly love (1 Thess. 4.9, 10).

And for all this, the Christians in Thessalonica were noticed, and they were persecuted (Acts 17.1-9; 1 Thess. 1.6).

We can imagine how this came to pass. Neighbors noticed them going regularly to some meeting or other. When they asked about what they were doing, they answered they were going to learn Jesus and worship Him. When they no longer showed up at the local temple or idol kiosk, their explanation, when asked, was that they were walking with Jesus now. They talked about Jesus. They refused to accept or submit to whatever “dogmas” of emperor loyalty their neighbors gave lip-service to, because they had “another King, Whose Name, they said, is Jesus.”

But the most telling charge, the real deal-sealer to all this, is what their accuser said about them: “πράσσουσι βασιλέα ἕτερον λέγοντες εἶναι Ἰησοῦν” (prassousi basilea heteron, legontes einai Inson—they practice another King, saying Him to be Jesus).

Who were these people? They were Christians, citizens, ambassadors, and practitioners of a Kingdom not of this world.

The Kingship of Jesus
A Christian is one who acknowledges, embraces, and submits to the Kingship of Jesus Christ. A Christian believes in Jesus not just for forgiveness and eternal life, but for life now, Kingdom life now, life in the Spirit and Word of God by which we are daily transformed into the very image of our King (2 Cor. 3.12-18).

A Christian has been transferred or conveyed by Jesus the King out of the grip of the powers of darkness and wrong belief into the realm where Jesus’ love is the defining motif and overarching aim (Col. 1.13). Christians have been called to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12). Whatever else we do, whatever callings or vocations we take up, whatever task or role or duty or relationship or responsibility falls within our remit, we are Kingdom-seekers—Kingdom practitioners—first and above all and in and through and by all.

Christians have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.16) and foremost in the mind of Christ—as is evident in nearly every one of His public statements or messages—is realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He rules the vast cosmos simply by speaking to it (Heb. 1.3). All the kingdoms of this world have become the domain of King Jesus. He dispatches angels by the myriad to carry out His all-comprehending will. He is gathering His chosen ones from out of every nation, tribe, and tongue through the faithful work of Kingdom citizens like those in Thessalonica. He is building His Church in unity and maturity to be His very own Body in communities all over the world. He is advancing the reach of His Kingdom and the promulgation of His Law through Christians in every walk of life and every culture and society.

And He is preparing a place for us to dwell with Him forever in the fullness of joy, glorifying God and rejoicing in Him forever.

The Kingdom of God
Christians are citizens of the Kingdom of God. Jesus our King encourages us to make progress in Kingdom greatness, that is, in realizing and contributing to more of the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit in everything we do (Rom. 14.17, 19). And there are two keys to realizing increasing Kingdom greatness: be a servant to everyone; and learn, keep, and teach the Law of God (cf. Mk. 10.43-45; Matt. 5.17-19).

Who is a Christian? In ancient Thessalonica, the Christians stood out as those who loved and served one another, loved and cared for their neighbors, rejoiced in worshiping Jesus, spoke about Him to others, and refused to conform to any of the powers of darkness or idols of wrong belief, no matter what it cost. Where are these people today?

Christians wake up every day to the sense that the Kingdom of God is calling them; and they are determined to seek it and the righteousness that accompanies it in everything they do. Which is just another way of saying that Christians practice the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God defines and shapes and lends power to all our daily practices, no matter what they may be.

Christians have the Kingdom mindset of Jesus working in them always and increasingly. And that comes out in all we are and do.

Search the Scriptures
1. Read Colossians 1.13. How does this happen? What does this mean? How can we know whether we have been ”conveyed” into the Kingdom of God?

2. Read 1 Corinthians 4.20 and Romans 14.17, 18. What should we expect to see where the Kingdom of God is advancing?

3. According to Jesus in Matthew 5.17-19, what role does the Law of God have in His Kingdom?

Next steps—Transformation: In how many ways do you experience the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God? In which of these do you want to improve?

T. M. Moore

Additional Resources
If you have found this study helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Three resources can help you in realizing more of the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God. Our books The Kingship of Jesus (click here) and What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? (click here for the book or here for the free PDF) explain the rule of King Jesus in our lives and world. The Kingdom Turn (order the book here or the free PDF here) goes into greater detail about what it means to practice the Kingship of Jesus.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.