WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
A dictionary definition of a Christian would be something like this:
"a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus.”
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While this is a good starting point, like many dictionary definitions, it falls somewhat short of really
communicating the Biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian.
The word “Christian” is used three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; and 1 Peter 4:16).
Followers of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because their behaviour, activity, and speech were like that of Jesus.
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The word “Christian” literally means, “belonging to the party of Christ” or a “follower of Christ.”
Unfortunately over time, the word “Christian” has lost a great deal of its significance and is often used by someone who is religious or has high moral values, but who may or may not be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Many people who do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a “Christian” country. But going to church, serving those less fortunate than yourself, or being a good person does not make you a Christian.
Being a member of a church, attending services regularly, and giving to the work of the church are all good practices, but they do not make you a Christian either.
The Bible teaches that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God.
Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
So, a Christian is someone who has been born again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is “by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day
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John 1:12 tells us, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4, 10).
A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ.