What is mean to be a CHRISTIAN

Talk 3
 Biblical History of Christianity:

6At nang siya'y kaniyang masumpungan ay kaniyang dinala siya sa

Antioquia. At nangyari, na sa buong isang taon sila'y nakisama sa
iglesia, at nagsipagturo sa maraming tao; at ang mga alagad ay
pinasimulang tawaging mga Cristiano, sa Antioquia.
Gawa 11:26
 Acts 7:54-60

54Nang marinig nga nila ang mga bagay na ito, ay nangasugatan

sila sa puso, at siya'y pinagngalitan nila ng kanilang mga ngipin.
55Datapuwa't siya, palibhasa'y puspos ng Espiritu Santo ay
tumitig na maigi sa langit, at nakita niya ang kaluwalhatian ng
Dios, at si Jesus na nakatindig sa kanan ng Dios,
56At nagsabi, Narito, nakikita kong bukas ang mga langit, at ang
Anak ng tao na nakatindig sa kanan ng Dios.
57Datapuwa't sila'y nagsigawan ng malakas na tinig, at
nangagtakip ng kanilang mga tainga, at nangagkaisang siya'y
dinaluhong;
58At siya'y kanilang itinapon sa labas ng bayan, at binato: at
inilagay ng mga saksi ang kanilang mga damit sa mga paanan ng
isang binata na nagngangalang Saulo.
59At kanilang pinagbatuhanan si Esteban, na tumatawag sa
Panginoon at nagsasabi, Panginoong Jesus, tanggapin mo ang
aking espiritu.
60At siya'y nanikluhod, at sumigaw ng malakas na tinig,
Panginoon, huwag mong iparatang sa kanila ang kasalanang ito.
At pagkasabi niya nito, ay nakatulog siya.
 Christianity
is a mere religious system.

a. A set of doctrines to believe in, like the Apostles

Creed. Faith remains on an intellectual level.
b. A set of religious practices.
c. Knowing or reading a lot
about God.
b. Doing a lot about God.
Religious practices ought to be experiences of FAITH and not
mere RITUALS we do as a matter of habit.
Christianity
is a mere moral system.

a. A set of do’s and don’ts, a set

of rules regarding right and
wrong.

b. Avoiding those things that can make

you go to hell.
with GOD and brethren
Christianity
is a social, humanitarian system.
Christianity
is an escape from the realities of life.

Equating Christianity with convent life, an

escape from the ordeals of a secular life.

This is a wrong notion because Christians

are not taught to escape problems but to
face them.
Truths about Christianity

The essence of Christianity is

union with God that is made
possible through the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What makes us Christians is our
loving, personal relationship
with Christ.
3 important truths about Christianity
1. Relationship initiated by God out of his mercy and love for us.
- Our Christian faith is a gift from God. (Eph 2:8)
- God initiated our relationship with Christ our relationship with Christ.
We did initiate it. ( 1 Jn 4:10)

2. As Christians, we become a new creation and participate in the

very life of Christ.
- When we are baptized as Christians, we become new creation
(2 Cor 5:17)
- Christianity is a life of constant renewal (Gal 2:20)

3. As Christians we become children of God and take his own nature

which is holiness.
- if we are his children, then God is our father (Gal 3:26)
- as children of the heavenly Father, we access to him.
- if we all have but one Father in heaven, then we are all
sons and daughters of God.
- As children of, we take the nature of God which is holiness.
(1Pt. 1:15-16)
- As children of God, this earth is not really our home, our real
home is with our Father in heaven.
Implications of Being a Christian
To be a Christian means:
- having a personal relationship with Christ
- becoming a disciple of Christ
- being a disciple of Christ means living in faith, hope and charity
of which are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make
the capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church 1813)

1. A Christian is a person of faith (Heb 11:1)

2. A Christian is a person of hope (Rom 8:24-25)
3. A Christian is a person of love (Jn13:35)
Conclusion:

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the

model Christian, the perfect
disciple of Christ. She has the
closest and most personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.