Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26
When my darling wife and I got married, one of the things that really made our new union real in our minds was when she received her new name from the clerk’s office. We both were (still are by the way) so excited to share our name with one another because of the reality such a change highlights, in our new relationship we two are now one flesh (Genesis 2:24). When we consider the frequent usage of the metaphor of marriage to describe Christ’s relationship with the church (Romans 7:1-4; Ephesians 5:22-33), we should be struck by an even greater excitement because we get to wear the name of our heavenly groom.
In Isaiah 62:1-12, we read of the restoration of God’s people in the age of the Messiah with images of the reversal of their fortunes and the undoing of their captivity with its terrible pain. In verse 2, Isaiah revealed to them that they would be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord would name. In Acts 11:26, cited above, we find the disciples first being called Christians at Antioch. It is worth noting that Paul repeatedly spoke of the true nature of Israel as something other than mere biological descent (Romans 2:28-29; 9:6-8; Galatians 6:16). Though some debate if Acts 11:26 is the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:2, there is no doubt of the new name all who become one with Christ take on (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). What an honor to bear His name!
Such deserves a closer look at what is in this name. Sadly, many misunderstand the true essence of this new name, prompting them to unfortunately sully the good name of our groom. What does the name Christian really mean? If we were to look up the meaning of the little suffix -ian at the end of that word, we would be compelled to a new appreciation of the privileges and responsibilities inherent to wearing His name. this little prefix means that we are of, from, belonging to, like unto, etc. the root of the word, Christ. If we ponder the name Christian in light of this definition, we see that wearing this name changes every aspect of our lives.
It reminds us that we owe our new state of existence to Him as He is the originator of it (Romans 5:1ff; 8:1ff; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:11-23; Hebrews 5:9 1 John 3:1ff). It assures us that what we were before, no matter how ugly it may have been, we are completely made new (Romans 6:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15). Which compels us to press on in pursuit of the new way of life accompanying the new life we were granted (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; 7:1; 1 Peter 1:13-19; 1 John 3:3).
With such tremendous blessings and responsibilities associated with our new name, we must live in such a way as to never sully that glorious name God blessed us to wear. It is the greatest honor any of us could ever hope to obtain. May we strive every day to glorify and magnify the glorious name of Christ as we bask in the glory of having a share in His name!