"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." Acts 11:26, 1 Peter 4:16

A New Testament Christian is one like Christ because the Name of Christ is in the name of a Christian. I am Charles Burke. Let me reveal the characteristics of a New Testament Christian so that we can learn more about the Divine Blessings of New Testament Christianity.

"Repent ye therefore and be converted (changed), that your sins may be blotted out (forgiven), when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Acts 3:19

I. If we want to be converted in a spiritual way, we must hear the word of God because the word of God produces faith. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

II. If we desire to be converted in a spiritual way, we should believe in God because He is our Creator. "Without faith it is impossible to please him (God); for he that cometh to God must believe that he is (He exists), and that he (God) is a rewarder (a promise keeper) of them that diligently seek him" (God). Hebrews 11:6

III. If we wish to be converted in a spiritual way, we need repent of our past sins because we have sinned against God. "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:5

IV. If we want to be converted in a spiritual way, we ought to confess the Deity of Christ because He is our Redeemer. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 10:31-32

V. If we desire to be converted in a spiritual way, we must be baptized into Christ so that we can put on Christ. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:27

I. Baptism is a commandment of God. "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, can any man forbid water; that these (the Gentiles) should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we (the Jews)? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Acts 10:47-48

II. Baptism is for the salvation of our souls. "While the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 3:20-21

III. Baptism is the act that puts us into Christ. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Galatians 3:27

VI. Baptism is the act that destroys the body of sin. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ, was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:3-6

V. Baptism is act that saves us. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16

VI. Baptism is the act that washes away our sins. Ananias said unto Saul, "Why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16

VII. Baptism is the climax of the New Birth: the Spiritual Birth. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again (in a spiritual way), he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water (be immersed in water), and of the Spirit (the teachings of the Holy Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5

VIII. Baptism is Divinely Authorized by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. "Go make disciples out of all nations, baptizing them in the name (the authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:18-20

IX. Baptism is for the remission of our past sins. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name (the authority) of Jesus Christ for the remission (the forgiveness) of your sins." Acts 2:38

Now, baptism is a burial in water. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:12 Therefore, baptism is a resurrection from water. "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized (immersed) him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him not more; and he went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:38-39

"It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit (with the proper attitude) and in truth" (according to His revealed truth). Matthew 4:10, John 4:24

I. In being a New Testament Christian, we must worship the Lord our God by partaking of the Lord's Supper each Lord's Day. "Upon the first day of the week (Sunday is the Lord's day), when the disciples came together to break bread (to partaker of the Lord's supper), Paul preached unto them. For as often as ye eat this bread (the unleavened bread is his body), and drink this cup (the contents of the cup contains the fruit of the vine, and the fruit of the vine is his blood), ye do shew the Lord's death till he comes." Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:26 

II. In being a son of God by regeneration, we should worship the Lord our God by praying unto the Lord. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayers and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Let us therefore come bodily unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Acts 2:42, Philippians 4:6, Hebrews 4:16

III. In being a new creature in Christ, we ought to worship the Lord our God by singing with vocal music only (acappella music) unto the Lord. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing (not singing with some musical instrument, but simply singing) with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16

Now, instrumental music was not used in the worship service of the early Church because instrumental music is not Divinely Authorized for New Testament Worship. However, instrumental music was later introduced into the worship service of the church many years after the Church had been established. It was added to the church in about 670 A. D. Nevertheless, instrumental music caused a religious division in the church which already had apostatized from the truth of God concerning many different doctrines. Thus, we should not use instrumental music in our worship service unto the Lord our God because the Lord our God has not authorized instrumental music to be used in the worship service of the New Testament Church. Therefore, vocal music only is a worship service of the New Testament Church because we can express our praises unto the Lord our God for the Divine Blessings which we are receiving in being citizens of His kingdom.

IV. In being a New Testament Saint, we must worship the Lord our God by giving liberally of his money so that he can support the work of the Church. "Now concerning the collection (the giving of your money) for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week (Sunday which is the Lord's day) let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

V. In being a disciple of Christ, we should worship the Lord our God by listing to faithful gospel preaching. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and about, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:5-11

I. Diligence is the greatest activity of life. If we will learn to make Spiritual Things to be the first priority of our life, we will have the greatest diligence which we can develop in this life. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

II. Virtue is the greatest purity of life. If we will develop purity in our life, we will have the greatest virtue which we can achieve in this life. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

III. Knowledge is the greatest perception of life. If we will develop the proper knowledge concerning the Divine Blessing of New Testament Christianity, we will have the greatest knowledge which we could attained in this life. "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws into their mind, and I will write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach ever man his neighbour, and every man his brother saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 8:10-12

IV. Temperance is the greatest completion of life. If we will are able to control our body with temperance, we will achieved the greatest completion that we can have in this life. "I (Paul) keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (under control with temperance): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9:27

V. Patience is the greatest development of life. If we can learn to be patient in all things, we will develop a great attribute in this life. "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." James 5:10-11

VI. Godliness is the greatest gain of life. If we can learn to be content with godliness concerning the necessities of life, we would have achieved he greatest gain of life. "But godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8

VII. Brotherly kindness is the greatest demonstration of life. If we are able to give a soft answer to each other, we will would be demonstrating the acts of kindness which we need in this life. "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 5:32 

VIII. Love is the greatest achievement of life. If we are able to love one another in the proper way, we will have achieved the greatest accomplishment of this life. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:2-3

I. We can become a New Testament Christian by obeying the gospel of Christ and living a godly life upon this earth.

II. We should learn more about the Divine Blessing of New Testament Christianity so that we can walk in the pathway of righteousness.

I. Do we become a New Testament Christian by hearing the word of God? True or False________

II. Do we become a disciple of Christ by believing the word of God? True or False________

III. Do we become a New Testament Saint by repenting of our past sins? True or False________

IV. Do we become a New Testament Christian by confessing the Deity of Christ? True or False________

V. Do we become a new creature in Christ by being baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins? True or False________

A. Is baptism a commandment of God? True or False________

B. Does baptism save the soul from its past sin? True or False________

C. Is baptism is the act that puts us into Christ? True or False________

D. Is baptism is the act that destroys the body of sin? True or False_______

E. Is baptism is act that save us? True or False______

F. Is baptism the act that washes away our sin? True or False________

G. Is baptism the climax of the Spiritual Birth (the New Birth) so that we can enter into the Kingdom of God? True or False________

H. Is baptism Divinely Authorized by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? True or False________

I. Is baptism for the remission (the forgiveness) of our past sins? True or False________

1). Is baptism a burial in water so that we can duplicate our Lord's death, burial and resurrection from the grave? True or False________

2). Is baptism a resurrection from the water so that we can live a dedicated life unto the Lord our God? True or False_______

I. Must a New Testament Christian worship the Lord his God each Lord's Day by partaking of the Lord's Supper? True or False________

II. Must a disciple of Christ worship the Lord his God each Lord's Day by praying unto Him? True or False________

III. Must a New Testament Saint worship the Lord his God each Lord's Day by singing with vocal music only (acappella music) unto Him? True or False________

IV. Must a new creature in Christ worship the Lord his God each Lord's Day by giving liberally of his money to support the work of the Church? True or False________

V. Must a son of God by redemption worship the Lord his God each Lord's Day by hearing the gospel of Christ being faithfully preached? True or False________

I. Must a New Testament Christian add virtue to his faith? True or False________

II. Must a New Testament Saint add knowledge to his faith? True or False________

III. Must a new creature in Christ add temperance to his faith? True or False________

IV. Must a disciple of Christ add patience to his faith? True or False________

V. Must a son of God by redemption add godliness to his faith? True or False________

VI. Must a New Testament Christian add brotherly kindness to his faith? True or False________

VII. Must a New Testament Saint add love to his faith? True or False________

I. We can become a New Testament Christian by obeying the gospel of Christ.

II. We should become a New Testament Christian and live a Christ-like life upon the earth.

PLEASE E MAIL ME YOUR ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS.

May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones.

Charles Burke