It is interesting to note that the word "disciple" (mathētēs) is used 262 times in the New Testament and always within the Gospels and Acts. Elsewhere the words used to describe Christians are extremely varied. For example, Paul uses: "believers", "brothers", those who are "called to the obedience that comes by faith" to "belong to Jesus Christ" to be "saints", and who are "members of Christ's body", "children of light", "Christ's ambassadors", "Christ's slaves", etc. Peter uses: "God's elect", "a chosen people", "a royal priesthood", "a holy nation [ethnic group]", "a people belonging to God", "friends", etc. John uses: "dear children", "dear friends", "children of God", those "born of God", etc. Collectively they all describe those who are genuine disciples of Jesus.

John Stott writes that the believers were probably first nicknamed "Christians" by the unbelieving public of Antioch (Ac 11:26) because the word "Christ" was constantly on their lips as they taught, preached and witnessed about him; about his life, miracles, teaching, and the significance of his death, resurrection, ascension, present reign and future coming. This is a real challenge to us all isn't it? Do we warrant such a nickname?

But what should most distinguish us from the world around us is our Christ-likeness. He is the light of world, but so are we, and we should let our light shine brightly (Mt 5:14). We are also the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13) so must maintain our distinctiveness. He is full of grace and loving-kindness; non-judgmental, gentle and lowly. We are his body, his ambassadors and his representatives in this world and we are to be to be like him; "imitators of God" as his "dearly loved children" (Ep 5:1).

It is the Father who has placed us individually in Christ (2Co 1:21-22). Our identity is in Him. All the words above that are used to describe genuine believers, define our true identity. We have died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Cl 3:3). We now participate in God's divine nature (2Pt 1:4), having once been by nature objects of God's wrath (Ep 2:3). Amazing! "How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God" (1Jn 3:1). Let's always be reminding ourselves who we are!