I Am A Christian
I am exactly what the early disciples were first called at Antioch, a Christian. (Acts 11:26) I am altogether that which King Agrippa was once almost persuaded to become. (Acts 26:28) I rejoice that I am able to suffer and glorify God in this behalf. (1 Pet. 4:16)
The name I wear is scriptural. I wear it not in a sense of mockery, a nick-name, or as a denominational title. The name I wear was planned for me to be worn by my Heavenly Father. "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18) The name I wear is the result of a promise given to Israel to "call his servants by another name." (Isa. 65:5) Being formerly a Gentile, and having seen his righteousness, I am now called "by a new name which the mouth of the Lord" has named. (Isa. 62:2) The Tabernacle of David has been raised up, in which also I am, and am therefore called by His name. (Amos 9:11, 12)
I am a Christian. Whenever I wear that name I honor Christ, "of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." (Eph. 3:15) I wear his name because he was crucified for me, and I was baptized into his name. (1 Cor. 1:13) His name is "above every name." (Phil. 2:9-11) I wear his name because whatever I do in word or deed, I wish to do it in His name. (Col. 3:17) Inasmuch as I was espoused unto Christ (2 Cor. 11:2), I honor my head by wearing his name. (Rom. 7:4)
One may wonder what kind, or which brand, of Christian I am. There is but one in kind. I am simply a Christian nothing more or less. I am only a Christian.
I am not a Jew. To become circumcised after the flesh religiously would cause me to fall from grace. (Gal. 5:4)
Christ would then profit me nothing. (Gal. 5:2) Though I be called not a Jew, yet I am of Israel after the Spirit. (Gal. 5:15, 16) There is no fleshly distinction in Jesus Christ. (Gal. 3:26-30)
I am not a Catholic. I am a Christian, as was Peter, and bow to the dictates of no pope, inasmuch as there was declared to be no so-called pope before 606 A. D. The word Catholic means "universal." I do believe in and am a member of the universal church Jesus said he would build. (Matt. 16:18) I am catholic, but not a Catholic. I am a Christian.
I am not Protestant. So-called Protestantism began with Martin Luther and has now become a name designating denominational bodies which broke away from and actively protested the papacy. I equally protest against the errors of Catholicism and Protestantism. I am protestant, but not a Protestant. I am a Christian.
I believe every truth in the Bible and may go to heaven when I die without membership in either the Catholic or any Protestant Church. I can obey every command of God in the Bible and go to heaven without joining myself to the Catholic Church, or any Protestant Church. Therefore, to become a Jew, Catholic, or Protestant, I would have to believe something in addition to the truth of God, which would be falsehoods, and obey something other than the commands of God, which would be the workings of Satan. I am a Christian.
Every truth in the Bible I both believe and teach. Every religious error contrary to this teaching I oppose. I am of spiritual Israel, am catholic, and am protestant. I am neither a Jew, a Catholic, nor a Protestant. I am a Christian.