From the book of Acts chapters 1 to 11, like in Acts 6, there were no Christians. They were just called "disciples".
In Acts 11:26, all disciples were finally called "Christians". So, a disciple is a Christian and a Christian is definitely one who is a disciple of Christ.
The Greek word for disciple is mathetis, meaning, a learner, a student, a pupil and a follower of one who teaches.
A disciple is a learner of the teacher's example. A disciple is a follower in the footsteps of their teacher. A disciple is a student of the teacher's words and lessons. A disciple of Christ NEVER stops learning because according to Psalms 119:96, there is a limit to all perfection but the word of God has no limits! A disciple HAS LEARNED when the teaching is applied obediently to his life.
So, Christian, if you are not a student of the Word, if you are not following in the footsteps of Jesus in words and in lifestyle, if the description of a kingdom person in the Sermon on the Mount is not true in your life, or if you have stopped learning the Word, let's face it, you may have "fallen away" or you may not be a Christian at all and you are still dead in your sins and condemned to a Christ-less eternity.
The New Testament is not really just about salvation. Otherwise, there is NOTHING NEW simply because the Old Testament also provides salvation. Otherwise, where is Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Joshua, Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel, etc, etc TODAY? They are obviously saved and they did not even have the complete Bible, much less the New Testament.
Most western Christians do not know this but it is quite obvious from the Bible. It is obvious to one who sincerely seeks the message of God without commentary, but not to those who simply want information or those who study to protect their theological bias.
The New Testament is about transformation of the believer into the image of Christ. The New Testament is about transformation of the natural into supernatural, the transformation of human nature into the divine nature, the transformation of the slave to sin into the slave of righteousness, the transformation from bondage to our sin nature (human nature) to freedom from it's "natural" inclinations. Hence, it is transformation from "natural" (I'm just human) inclinations to divine (I am a child of God) inclinations. Being truly born again is what makes us a new creature in Christ. Our human DNA is miraculously transformed into a divine DNA!
THAT, dear Christian, is the New Testament Gospel!!!
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