What is a Christian

Words of Jesus Christ in "Red"

     You may think this to be a rather impertinent document, but it is becoming "increasingly obvious" that most people don't have the slightest idea what Christianity is, or what it means to be a Christian.
     On a recent poll over 90% of Americans defined themselves as "Christians". If this was true, the Churches would be packed out every day of the week. If this was true "abortion" and the alleged "alternate lifestyle" would not be tolerated, and the smut you see on television wouldn't be on - there would be no market for it.
     If this was true then the Internet wouldn't have "over 80,000 sites" devoted to pornography, many of which are advocating pedophilia. "No", there are not that many Christians in America, though we pray to God that there one day will be.
     This article deals with what "Christianity is", and what the marks of a "bona fide Christian" are. Before anyone joins the church that I belong to we have made it a practice for them to take a class with our pastor, and make sure they understand the basics of Christianity and that they have salvation prior to excepting them into membership. A lot of people are "joining the Church" and equating this to Christianity. "No", that's not Christianity.
     The word "Christian" was actually attached to the believers in Christ by nonbeliever as a ridicule years ago, a way to make fun of them. The word actually means "little Christ".
     Rather than taking this offensively, we embraced the term from the start. You see, "Christianity" is a both a system of spiritual growth and a state of being developed by our Creator God for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.
     If you are a Christian then you exist within this Divine System. This study will give you numerous points and Biblical references to define what a Christian is so will will need to look up some of the scripture references yourself. This is basically meant to be a study guide. Once you look up all of these references, meditate on them, study them, you will understand what "Christian" means and know the difference between the Churches building and the Church of Christ. If you have merely "joined a Church" or are "doing good works", yet have never accepted Christ as Savior, you are still lost in Satan's system called "worldliness".

The Christian IS

A person who has repented of following Satan's policies of evil and has freely chosen to accept Jesus Christ as Savior in his heart.
     Christianity is more than just a "simple profession" of faith as so many think today. It actually entails two things:

A "profession of Faith" (accepting Jesus Christ as a personal Lord and Savior) and,
"Repenting" from your former way of being. (changing the old life style)

The Bible defines the "heart" of man as the thinking part of his soul:

Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee."
Proverbs 2:2 "So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding."

     This is your very innermost being. The unbeliever (a person who has not accepted Christ and repented), that person who is still lost in his sins, rejects Jesus Christ in his heart:

Zechariah 7:12 "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in this spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts."

     Let's put it this way: what are you "devoted to?" Did you come to a point in your life where you realized you needed Jesus Christ, and realize that you couldn't live your life without Him? While you were in this state, did you cry out to God "Father, forgive me. I know that I cannot make it on my own. I ask that you save my soul in the name of Jesus". Did you fixate on Christ, clinging to Him as a drowning man would cling to a life preserver?
     You see, God looks at the "heart" (inner most being) of each one of us to determine whether we're saved or not (1 Samuel 16:7). You may have walked the aisle and joined with a Church on the good faith of its members, but unless you "devoted your heart", accepted Jesus Christ as Savior in your heart at this one crucial point in your life, and "repented of your old style of life", you are not saved (Psalms 28:7; Romans 10:9-10). Remember, you may fool the preacher and your friends, but you cannot fool God!
Once you are in the state of salvation, you are no longer a non-entity, but you are a "Key Player" in the Plan of God:

Romans 8:29-30 "[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and who he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
Ephesians 1:11 "In who also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"
Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

     Whereas before you had no access to God because of the sin that separates, you are now in a relationship with Him. You are able to talk to and be understood by the full Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:10; Ephesians 2:14-17). Before salvation you were like a radio in a tunnel, and that tunnel (sin) cut you off from communicating with God. You could communicate with all others in the tunnel, all others who were under the sin barrier with you - but God would not hear your prayers (save for the prayer of salvation). After salvation you came out from under that barrier, and now have the freedom, the spiritual ability, to communicate with God and all those who are saved in Christ with you.
After salvation, though your ability to sin has not been removed, your ability "not" to sin has been increased.
     The comedian Flip Wilson used to do something then say, "The Devil made me do it". Before salvation not the devil, but the Old Sin Nature in you ruled your life. After salvation in Christ you are a new Creation, no longer a slave to that sin nature, but have been given the ever increasing ability to control that nature to the glory of God (Romans 3:24; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18). Look, if you're "exactly" the same after your profession and conversion to Christ "you're just not saved, period!"
If you are saved, you may slip into sin on occasion.
     This is part of the fact that you are not in a glorified body, and are still human. However, the Christian will never be destined for the eternal punishment of Hellfire. The fact that you cried out to God and devoted your life to Christ satisfied God, and He begins to work in your life while you walk this earth. The penalty of your sins are removed from eternity's records (John 3:18; 5:24; Romans 8:1; 3:24-26; 1 John 2:2). When you do slip, God expects you, as His adopted child, to quickly repent of that sin and confess it to Him. These personal sins, once confessed, quickly returns you to a right relationship with your Heavenly Father (1 John 1:8-9; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24).
Once you have accepted Christ as Savior God Himself identifies you with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
     You are freed from the Mosaic Law, and brought under the spiritual guidance of God's Holy Spirit (Romans 6:4, 6, 8, 14; 7:4, 6; Galatians 2:20-21; 3:25; Colossians 2:12; 3:1, 3; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 3:11). You are a new Creation in and by God Himself, and now possess a body, soul, and spirit whereas the worldly unsaved only possess a body and a soul. (John 1:12; 3:7; 13:10; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23; Galatians 3:26; 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 6:18; 1 John 3:2; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). You are an "adopted son of God" (Romans 8:15,23; Ephesians 1:5) and are in a family relationship with God the Father.
The Christian is righteous in the eyes of God the Father
     The reason you are now righteous in the eyes of God the Father is because, at salvation, your declaration or devotion to Christ caused the Spirit of God to place you in union with Christ (Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:25; Romans 3:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 10:14; Colossians 1:12). This "imputed" or God given righteousness, allows God to declared you righteous in His Courtroom in the Heavens (Romans 3:24; 5:1, 9; 8:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:7). You now have a citizenship in Heaven, having been delivered from the kingdom of Satan. You are no longer regarded as a citizen of this world, but an ambassador for Christ, representing Him on the earth (Luke 10:20; Ephesians 2:13,19; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:13; 2:15). Because you are a work of God, you are secure in your salvation, so secure that you can never lose that salvation (1 Corinthians 3:11; 10:4; Ephesians 2:20). You are a Royal Priest in the service of God forever (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6).
The Christian is one who has access to God anytime he or she desires.
     (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 4:14, 16). If you are a Christian you are under the superior care of God (Ephesians 2:4, 8-9; 4:7; 5:2; Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 1:5; John 17:18; Titus 2:12). You are guaranteed eternal life with God in Heaven (John 3:15; 10:28; 20:31; 1 John 5:11-12).
Christians must understand that they are in a new position.
We are no longer of the world, but are:

"Partners with Christ": (Colossians 3:4; 1 Corinthians 1:9),
"Workers together with God": (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1),
"Ministers of the New Testament": (2 Corinthians 3:6),
"Ambassadors for Christ": (2 Corinthians 5:20),
"Living epistles": (2 Corinthians 3:3),
"Ministers of God": (2 Corinthians 6:4).
"We are united to the Triune God":

"To the Father": (1 Thessalonians 1:1; Ephesians 4:6),
"To the Son": (1 Corinthians 12:13; John 10:27-29; 15:5; Ephesians 2:21-22; 5:25-27; 1 Peter 5, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:17),
"To God the Holy Spirit": (Romans 8:9, 16).

The Christian has been the recipient of all the ministries of God's Holy Spirit.
     He is indwelt by the Spirit (John 7:39; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24). He is sealed by the Spirit, marked by God as a Son of God (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30). The Christian is the recipient of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:11; 12:27-31; 13:1-2), gifts that should be used in the gathering of the Church to build up other fellow believers (see "Spiritual Gifts"). The Christian has at least one, but possibly more than one spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:11, 27-31; 13:1-2). The Christian is Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13), and Regenerated or made alive (John 3:6).
As a Christian you are the possessor of every spiritual blessing.
      (Ephesians 1:3). We are given greater blessing as Children of God, but we are also under greater discipline if we walk away from our familial relationship in God (Hebrews 12:5-11).

And one important point to remember.....

     If you have not already done so, please consider trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For more information on Salvation Click Here to view "How can I get to Heaven?"

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Last modified: 4/7/2007