What Does the Word Christian Mean?

The words Christian and Christians appear only three times in the Bible. The term first appears in Acts 11:26: “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” 

The Greek word Christianos simply means a Christ-follower. This word is used only two more times in the Bible (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). However, the kind of person it describes is found throughout Scripture. 

The New Testament uses many words and phrases to identify followers of Christ, all of which function as synonyms for the term Christian. Each of the following terms helps deepen our understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian:

Believers emphasizes their faith and belief in God the Father and Jesus Christ. They are fully convinced that Jesus was who He claimed to be.

Disciples highlights that Christians are lifelong pupils of Jesus Christ—dedicated students and followers of His teachings and example.

Children of God reflects the truth that God is building a family and that Christians share a special Father-child relationship with God.

Brethren highlights the deep brotherly bond Christians share with other Christians in the Church of God.

Saints shows that Christians are to be holy and set apart from the world. They live godly lives amid a world of moral depravity. 

Followers of “the Way” (Acts 9:2) points to the distinct lifestyle Christians are called to live. Christianity is a way of life.

Fellow workers declares Christians are to be active servants, setting examples of service and being engaged in the mission Christ gave the Church.

The elect reveals that Christians are individually called by God and have a special purpose in His plan.

Together, these terms paint a fuller picture of what it means to be a Christian. 

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Words of Spirit & Life

God sends his Word to change your life and circumstances!

Jesus said:

"The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life."

John 6:63

This truth is powerful! God's Word expels darkness and frustration, and brings healing to sickness and pain. By trusting his Word, you open the way for God to enter your personal life, to change your life and circum-stances by the power of his Word!

Words of Spirit & Life is a collec-tion of Bible verses for you to apply to your life. In the first section, several verses have been changed into the "I" or "me"-form to help you personalise them. You can apply all verses to yourself in the same way. Memorise them and trust that God stands behind his promises; he will do exactly what he says!

When you need assurance that God loves you, start with the first one: What great love the Father has lavished on me, that I should be called a child of God! And that is what I am!

Say the Bible verses out loud and think about them. Let the words sink deep down into your heart.

Meditate on them when walking along the road or sitting in a bus; talk about them with your family.

Before long, these wonderful Bible verses will be yours, and you

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Jesus Revealed Himself as Messiah!

யோவான் 4:10 

இயேசு அவளுக்குப் பிரதியுத்தரமாக: நீ தேவனுடைய ஈவையும், தாகத்துக்குத்தா என்று உன்னிடத்தில் கேட்கிறவர் இன்னார் என்பதையும் அறிந்திருந்தாயானால், நீயே அவரிடத்தில் கேட்டிருப்பாய், அவர் உனக்கு ஜீவத்தண்ணீரைக் கொடுத்திருப்பார் என்றார்.

யோவான் 4:13, 14

13: இயேசு அவளுக்குப் பிரதியுத்தரமாக: இந்தத் தண்ணீரைக் குடிக்கிறவனுக்கு மறுபடியும் தாகமுண்டாகும்.

14:நான் கொடுக்கும் தண்ணீரைக் குடிக்கிறவனுக்கோ ஒருக்காலும் தாகமுண்டாகாது; நான் அவனுக்குக் கொடுக்கும் தண்ணீர் அவனுக்குள்ளே நித்திய ஜீவகாலமாய் ஊறுகிற நீரூற்றாயிருக்கும் என்றார்.

யோவான் 4:19 - 26

19: அப்பொழுது அந்த ஸ்திரீ அவரை நோக்கி: ஆண்டவரே, நீர் தீர்க்கதரிசி என்று காண்கிறேன்.

20:எங்கள் பிதாக்கள் இந்த மலையிலே தொழுதுகொண்டுவந்தார்கள்; நீங்கள் எருசலேமிலிருக்கிற ஸ்தலத்திலே தொழுதுகொள்ளவேண்டும் என்கிறீர்களே என்றாள்.

21: அதற்கு இயேசு: ஸ்திரீயே, நான் சொல்லுகிறதை நம்பு. நீங்கள் இந்த மலையிலும் எருசலேமிலும் மாத்திரமல்ல, எங்கும் பிதாவைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளுங்காலம் வருகிறது.

22: நீங்கள் அறியாததைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளுகிறீர்கள்; நாங்கள் அறிந்திருக்கிறதைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளுகிறோம்; ஏனென்றால் இரட்சிப்பு யூதர்கள் வழியாய் வருகிறது.

23: உண்மையாய்த் தொழுதுகொள்ளுகிறவர்கள் பிதாவை ஆவியோடும் உண்மையோடும் தொழுதுகொள்ளுங்காலம் வரும், அது இப்பொழுதே வந்திருக்கிறது; தம்மைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளுகிறவர்கள் இப்படிப்பட்டவர்களாயிருக்கும்படி பிதாவானவர் விரும்புகிறார்.

24: தேவன் ஆவியாயிருக்கிறார், அவரைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளுகிறவர்கள் ஆவியோடும் உண்மையோடும் அவரைத் தொழுதுகொள்ளவேண்டும் என்றார்.

25: அந்த ஸ்திரீ அவரை நோக்கி: கிறிஸ்து என்னப்படுகிற மேசியா வருகிறார் என்று அறிவேன், அவர் வரும்போது எல்லாவற்றையும் நமக்கு அறிவிப்பார் என்றாள்.

26: அதற்கு இயேசு: உன்னுடனே பேசுகிற நானே அவர் என்றார்.

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Call for Repenance and Salvation

எரேமியா 4:1 

இஸ்ரவேலே, நீ திரும்புகிறதற்கு மனதாயிருந்தால் என்னிடத்தில் திரும்பு என்று கர்த்தர் சொல்லுகிறார்; நீ உன் அருவருப்புகளை என் பார்வையினின்று அகற்றிவிட்டால், நீ இனி அலைந்து திரிவதில்லை.

எரேமியா 4:2 

நீ உண்மையோடும், நியாயத்தோடும், நீதியோடும், கர்த்தருடைய ஜீவனைக்கொண்டு ஆணையிடுவாய்; புறஜாதிகளும் அவருக்குள் ஆசீர்வதிக்கப்பட்டு, அவருக்குள் மேன்மைபாராட்டுவார்கள்.

எரேமியா 5:1 

நியாயஞ்செய்கிற மனுஷனைக் கண்டுபிடிப்பீர்களோ என்றும், சத்தியத்தைத் தேடுகிறவன் உண்டோ என்றும், எருசலேமின் தெருக்களிலே திரிந்துபார்த்து, விசாரித்து, அதின் வீதிகளிலே தேடுங்கள்; காண்பீர்களானால் அதற்கு மன்னிப்புத் தருவேன்.

Jeremiah 5:1 

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

எரேமியா 5:4 

அப்பொழுது நான்: இவர்கள் நீசராமே, இவர்கள் மதியற்றவர்கள்; கர்த்தருடைய வழியையும், தங்கள் தேவனுடைய நியாயத்தையும் அறியாதிருக்கிறார்கள் ...

லூக்கா 13:28

நீங்கள் ஆபிரகாமையும் ஈசாக்கையும் யாக்கோபையும் சகல தீர்க்கதரிசிகளையும் தேவனுடைய ராஜ்யத்திலிருக்கிறவர்களாகவும், உங்களையோ புறம்பே தள்ளப்பட்டவர்களாகவும் காணும் போது உங்களுக்கு அழுகையும் பற்கடிப்பும் அங்கே உண்டாயிருக்கும்.

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Jacob and His Descendants!

Chapter 8 - Jacob and His Descendants

(How to Lead a Life of Godliness?)

"Abraham begat Isaac; the sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel." (1 Chronicles 1:34).

Jacob and His Brother Esau

Abraham's son was Isaac, and Isaac's sons were Esau and Jacob. Of the two, Esau was the most ungodly. But Jacob alias Israel, was found godly in the sight of God.

Regarding Esau, the Bible says in Hebrews 12:16, 17: "Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears."

Even though Jacob had a name which means 'Deceiver', there was a great desire in him to receive God's blessing for himself and his descendants. He was concerned that his offspring should be brought as godly offspring. Therefore, he loved God and shun evil. Moreover, he started seeking God whole heartedly in prayer.

As a result, God blessed Jacob that he grew and multiplied to become a father of a great nation. The descendants of Jacob multiplied and became a nation called Israel. God blessed Jacob and made him Israel, which means "Prince of the Lord."

Keep the Commandments!

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

God gave a set of commandments to the house of Jacob, the Israelites, through their leader, Moses. Out of those commandments, ten commandments were spoken by God audibly to the children of Israel from the clouds of the sky (heaven). They were also written down by God himself in two stone tablets and handed over to them through Modes, God's servant.

The ten commandments are as follows:

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself any idol; You shall not worship or serve them.
3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain.
4. Remember to keep the Sabbath holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Do not commit adultery.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not bear false witness against others.
10. Do not covet anything that belongs to others. (Exodus 20:1-17)

Fear of God is one thing that God expects from the people living on earth since the time of Abraham until this day. We ought to fear God who made us in His own image and keep all His commandments.

That is why He has given us commandments and precepts to follow in His scriptures. When we keep the commandments given by God, we will be seen as those who do good in the sight of God. This is the advice given by King Solomon of Israel to each one of us.

Remember your Creator!

"Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." (Ecclesiastes 11:9,10)

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, ..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

What God expects of us in the age group of adolescence is to remember Him as the Creator. Everyone should know and acknowledge God, the Creator during his/her youth (age between 13 and 19) and adolescence (age between 20 and 39).

Everyone should know God not only as the creator but also as a Judge. Because God will bring the thoughts, actions and words of every individual to judgement one day - the day of Judgement.

We should never forget that this world has already been judged and destroyed by water. Once again it is going to be judged on the day of His wrath. This time, God will destroy the world not by water, but by fire. Therefore, let us act with godliness; and keep all the commandments of God. This is what God expects from each one of us; this is the bottom line of the matter.

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Cain and His Descendants!

Chapter 4 - Cain and His Descendants

(How to Lead a Life of Godliness?)

Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. (I John 3:12)

Cain, the Brother of Abel

Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 11)

Scripture says of Cain like this:

1. He belonged to the evil one (Satan). Though Cain was given by God as the eldest son of Adam and Eve, he gave place to the evil one - Satan and became his child.

2. He was found guilty of walking in a wicked way. When he saw that God did not approve him and his offering, he got irritated and his countenance fell.

3. His deeds were evil. He chose to do evil (harm) rather than good to his brother Abel. So he killed his brother Abel.

The first generation of Adam saw the grave sin of "murder." Man began to commit sin upon sin. As a result, man completely lost his unity (relationship) with God. After murding Abel, Cain went out of the presence (fellowship) of God and became the father of an ungodly generation. The godly man - Abel was no more to have a godly generation in this world.

Lamech - a Descendant of Cain!

Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.

To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.

Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:17-19)

Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me." (Genesis 4:23)

Lamech was the fifth generation descendant of Cain, who killed Abel. This Lamech walked in the footsteps of his ancestor Cain and killed a young man who had wounded him. He also made it known to his wives.

Lamech not only walked in the ways of Cain by killing a man, but also married two wives - Adah and Zillah. Lamech was the first man to have two wives in leading a family life on earth. As the days passed by, it became a culture to live with more than one wife. Till this day, there are many among us who walk in the ways of Cain and Lamech.

Murder¸ adultery and fornication are considered as the works of the flesh. Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 21 list out the sins that are committed as the works of the flesh:

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

If any one of us is found guilty of having such sins listed above, he/she cannot enter heaven, which is also called the Kingdom of God. We must repent from our sinful ways and become new creatures to inherit the Kingdom of God.

Descendants of Cain Destroyed!

Cain did not repent of his sin of killing his brother Abel. Instead he wanted to build a city for himself and his descendants and to live in it safely. Scripture therefore does not mention how many years he lived on the face of the earth.

Perhaps Cain's soul was the first soul to go to hell, the place of death and torment. Cain's descendants were wiped out centuries later by the great Flood on earth. So let us not live like Cain and Lamech, but let us fear the Lord and walk in his commandments.

The period in which Cain and his descendants lived is called the age of conscience. That means, ancient men and women lived and lead a life based on the knowledge of good and evil they had in their conscience. Most often God spoke to them through their conscience and sometimes He spoke to them directly.

The ungodly men and women who lived in ancient days did not obey God and His instructions. Instead they walked in their evil ways and did what their minds and flesh wanted. They greatly sinned against God and hence they were judged by God and perished.

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Knowledge of Good and Evil!

Chapter 3 - Knowledge of Good and Evil

(How to Lead a Life of Godliness?)

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” (Genesis 3:22)

Adam and Even Coming out of Garden of Eden

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23, 24)

God put two things before man: one is life and the other one is death. He placed both of them before him in two different trees as fruits. He also gave Adam the power to think and act on his own. But through his disobedience man chose not life but death.

Adam could not have tasted death and lived forever if he had plucked and ate the fruit of the tree of Life. Instead, Adam and Eve ate the fruit of tree of Knowledge of good and evil and accepted death.

Spirit, Soul and Body:

When Adam was created by God, three realms were found within him: the spirit, soul and the body. Both the spirit and the soul are hidden within the body and hence we call them (both soul and spirit) the inner man. The outer body is made up of flesh and blood.

The bodily outer man looks like a tent containing spirit and soul. As soon as the first man (Adam) accepted death through disobedience, immediate death occurred in the inner man. Days passed before the physical death occurred. This can be seen in Genesis 5: 4-5:

After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.

Knowledge of Good and Evil:

Man, who was made to know only good, knew what evil was because he plucked and ate the fruit of the tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Having inherited the knowledge of both good and evil, Adam and his generation were liable to cling to evil rather than good.

This is what God expected of Adam and his descendants after Adam sinned: as a sinful man, who knows good and evil, one should hate evil and embrace good. But man began to do evil more than good. We see this in the life of Cain, the son of Adam. In Genesis 4: 6-8 we read:

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

After killing Abel, Cain answered God to His question, "Where is Abel?": "I did not know where he was; Am I guarding him?" (Genesis 4: 9). Cain, who was supposed to protect his brother and do good to him, rose up against him and did evil to him. So he received a curse from God.

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