If being born again defined being "Christian", why weren't the Apostles and disciples of Israel called such for 40 years?
Agreed, the bible says none of these things.
Correct that's what "scripture" says. What's missing here? Uh, the word CHRISTIAN.
This "test" is your OPINION, but not scriptural.
I disagree. If you are IN CHRIST does not mean CHRIST is FORMED IN YOU, at the NEW BIRTH of your 'old man' spirit.
GAL 4:19 My LITTLE CHILDREN (babes in Christ), of whom I travail in birth again UNTIL Christ be formed IN YOU,
You asked why, if being born again defines a Christian, the apostles were not called “Christians” for years. Scripture is clear that new birth, not a label, is what makes someone belong to God. Jesus said, “
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Those who receive Christ are made children of God,
“which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12–13). The name “Christian” appears when God chose to reveal it at Antioch,
“the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The reality came from God’s work of regeneration, the label came later. Scripture uses both ideas without conflict. The word Christianos appears three times, Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16. The Bible also calls believers saints, brethren, disciples, those who are in Christ.
You said Romans 10:9 does not use the word Christian. It does something stronger. It defines salvation itself.
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The saved person is the same person Scripture describes as
“born of God” and
“in Christ.” “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” (1 John 5:1).
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). That is not opinion, it is the Bible’s own definition.
You said the test I gave is just my view. Scripture gives the test. We are commanded, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). John writes the marks of new birth, “Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar” (1 John 2:3–4). True believers do not live in unbroken sin, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin” meaning does not practice it as a life, “for his seed remaineth in him” (1 John 3:9). Those who depart from Christ reveal they were never truly His, “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19). None of this makes works the cause of salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, and yet we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works (Ephesians 2:8–10). Works are fruit, not the root.
You argued that being in Christ is not the same as Christ being formed in you, citing Galatians 4:19. Read Galatians in context. Paul already calls them “brethren” and says they received the Spirit by faith, not by the works of the law, “Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:2–3). He also says, “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Galatians 4:6). They were already sons, already indwelt. “Christ be formed in you” speaks to growth and maturity, not to the absence of the new birth. God’s purpose is that the born again believer be conformed to the image of His Son over time (Romans 8: 29), being changed into His likeness by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). Union with Christ begins at conversion, “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:30). We are placed into Christ’s body by the Spirit, “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12: 13), and then we grow up into Him in all things (Ephesians 4:15).
You said you did not find Jesus, that He found you. On that we agree. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). That saving work happens when the sinner repents and believes the gospel. “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36). Call that person a believer, a saint, one who is in Christ, or a Christian as Scripture itself does. The name is not the power. The new birth by the Word and the Spirit is the power, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
So hang in there a bit....or.
