NOTES for Act 13:13-25
What is Christianity? Where are its boundaries? For many people today Christianity is associated with followers of Christ who identify themselves as such, and with the church, or more precisely with the many churches that exist in the modern world. Someone will remember the Church with a capital letter, that body of Christ of which the apostle Paul spoke. Yet Jesus Himself never said that He would limit His communion only to His followers. Only to Christians. Strictly speaking, He did not leave any Christians in the world; He left a small community of His disciples, which later grew.
Then, after some time, a small group of these same disciples called themselves "Christians," or in modern language, "messianists." Later all the disciples of Christ adopted this self-designation. But He Himself did not speak about any "Christians." He spoke about His followers, about those who have some kind of relationship with Him. Precisely some kind, even if minimal. Mediated. Even if only through those whose relationship with Him is more conscious and responsible.
Here, of course, the measure of fullness can vary. There are disciples and followers who are closer; there is the closest circle of disciples, the apostles; and even among the apostles there are people especially close to Him. There are those who know Him personally, more or less, better or worse. There are also those who are not personally acquainted with Him, but whom He knows.
He knows them at least, for example, because some of these people are connected with someone among His direct disciples. Connected by friendship, cooperation, a service once rendered, or help given. The Kingdom, after all, the one He brought into the world, is first of all relationships. Ideally, personal relationships with Him Himself as the King of this Kingdom, but at the beginning, at least with one of His disciples. A chain of relationships can indirectly connect a person with the Kingdom and with its King.
Such relationships are not yet everything, but they can become the beginning of a path. If a person is consistent, sooner or later a moment will come in his life when he will need not simply to touch the Kingdom and its life, but also to become acquainted with the King who rules this Kingdom.
Everything, however, has its time. One thing is important: no contact with the Kingdom, direct or indirect, passes without a trace. Each one is a chance that, if used rightly, can become a chance for salvation.