What It Means to Be a Christian
Being a Christian goes beyond adopting a religious label or adhering to a set of values. It involves embracing the Bible’s teachings about God, humanity, and salvation through the New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. The following Biblical truths, grounded in Scripture define what it means to be a Christian.
God Is Sovereign Creator
The Bible teaches that humanity was created by a personal God, not through evolution. God designed us to love, serve, and enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. The Bible reveals that Jesus Christ created all things (John 1:3 : “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” ; Colossians 1:16 : “For by Him all things were created”). As Creator, He owns and rules over everything (Psalm 103:19 : “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all”). Therefore, we owe Him complete allegiance, obedience, and worship.
God Is Holy
God is perfectly holy and without sin (Isaiah 6:3 : “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts”). He cannot tolerate or condone evil (James 1:13 : “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone”). Because of His holiness, God calls us to be holy as well (1 Peter 1:16 : “Be holy, for I am holy”).
Mankind Is Sinful
Scripture declares that all people are sinful (1 Kings 8:46 : “There is no one who does not sin”). While humans can perform kind acts, we are incapable of fully understanding, loving, or pleasing God on our own (Romans 3:10-12 : “There is none righteous, no, not one… There is none who seeks after God”). Our sin separates us from God’s holiness.
Sin Demands a Penalty
God’s justice and holiness require that sin be punished by eternal death (Ezekiel 18:4, : “The soul who sins shall die”; Romans 6:23 : “For the wages of sin is death”). Behavioral changes alone cannot resolve our sin problem or remove its eternal consequences.
Jesus Is Lord and Savior
The New Covenant provides salvation through Jesus Christ. (Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”). God’s justice demands death for sin, but His love provided a Savior. Jesus died for sinners, satisfying God’s justice (1 Peter 3:1, : “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God”). His sinless life fulfilled God’s holy standards (2 Corinthians 5:21 : “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”). Through faith in Christ, believers receive forgiveness and salvation (Romans 3:26 : “That He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus”).
The Character of Saving Faith
True faith involves repentance, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers under the New Covenant. Repentance means agreeing with God about your sin, confessing it, and choosing to turn from it (Luke 13:3, 5, : “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish”). It includes pursuing Christ (John 17:3, : “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”) and obeying Him (1 John 2:3, : “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments”). Mere intellectual belief in Christ is insufficient, as even demons believe in God but do not obey Him (James 2:19, : “Even the demons believe—and tremble!”). Saving faith, enabled by the Holy Spirit, produces obedience and good works (Ephesians 2:10, : “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works”).