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[Note: \u00a0<\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2<\/strong> \u00a0page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Love, faith, grace, pastor, <\/em>and baptism <\/em>are examples of Biblical words that are habitual-ly (and grossly) abused and misused. Christian<\/em> is another such word. In the New Testament it is always used as a noun, never as an adjective (e.g., Christian church, Christian school, Christian religion<\/em>). Men indiscriminately misapply this word to people and institutions.<\/p>\n While it is the most often used term to refer to the religion of Christ as depicted in the New Testament, it appears only three times therein. Let us consider these three usages.<\/p>\n How did those on Pentecost, Paul, those in Antioch, and those to whom Peter wrote become Christians? Acts 2:37\u201347 holds the answers: People heard the Gospel, causing them to believe in and confess Jesus as the Christ and to ask what they should do (v. 37). Peter told them to repent and be baptized in order to receive forgiveness of their sins (v. 38). The Lord saved from their past sins all those who did so and added them to His church (vv. 41, 47). They thereby became disciples\/Christians. The Gospel presents no other way to become Christians.<\/p>\n [Note: <\/strong>I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, September 28, 2012].<\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, proprietor, curator, and administrator.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 3[Note: \u00a0This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2 \u00a0page.] Love, faith, grace, pastor, and baptism are examples of Biblical words that are habitual-ly (and grossly) abused and misused. Christian is another such word. In the New Testament it is…<\/p>\n\n