What or who is a Christian? What is the accepted definition of the word Christian? There is very little if any difference in the definitions given by the leading lexicographers, one of them being, "A disciple of Jesus Christ; one whose profession and life conform to the teaching and example of Christ." Millions of people throughout the world profess Christianity and call themselves Christians, although affiliating with different ecclesiastical denominations whose numbers and names are almost legion. Some, however, would say that there can be but one church whose adherents are truly Christians. If so, what church?
All must concede that the only guide and authority we have on the character of Christ Jesus, his teachings, his works, his mandates and instructions for the establishment of his church and the continuance of his teachings and works, is the Bible. We find that he taught in the synagogues and in the highways and byways, and gave to the world that most wonderful and beautiful teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus knew the temper of the people and that his words alone would not move them to believe in the power of God, and because of this knowledge he continually demonstrated this power by healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, restoring sight to the blind, casting out devils, and raising the dead. The four gospels abound in instances of such demonstrations of the power of God wrought through Christ Jesus, and literally thousands were healed of all manner of diseases.
Furthermore, Jesus gave his disciples instructions and directions for perpetuating his teachings and works. Those instructions, or commands rather, are stated in the tenth chapter of the gospel of St. Matthew as follows: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Did Jesus ever change, abrogate, or modify the commands thus given to his disciples? If not, then the commands thus given must naturally apply to all his true followers, commonly called Christians.
