And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26 ESV)
Jesus’ Life and Christianity
The name, “Christian” means “one who is like Christ.” A little Christ, perhaps… a follower of Christ perhaps… those who desire and strive to be Christ-like.
And while those things might seem at first to be a philosophy, some ideals, or principles, more than that they refer to the actual Life of Christ.
A Christian studies what Jesus did, and does likewise.
A Christian imitates Christ’s life, and does things in the way He might have.
Christ lived… and therefore we know how to live.
Christ lived righteously… and therefore our lives become righteous in God’s eyes. Because of the great exchange!
If Christ had not lived humanly on earth, Christianity would be a meaningless philosophy, just like any other that would fade over time.
But He lived. And so Christianity IS.