A Christian is someone who believes in and follows Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This means that they have placed their trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as the only way to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life. As Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
To become a Christian, a person must first recognize their need for a Savior. We are all sinners, separated from God by our rebellion against His commands. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But God, in His great love for us, provided a way for us to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Once a person has placed their faith in Jesus, they are called to follow Him and obey His commands. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." This means that we must surrender our own desires and submit to God’s will for our lives. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we will become more like Him and produce good works that reflect His character. James 2:17 says, "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Being a Christian also means being part of a community of believers. Hebrews 10:25 encourages us to "not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." We are called to love and support one another, using our spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Finally, being a Christian means having the hope of eternal life with God. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." This promise gives us peace and joy in this life, and the assurance of spending eternity with our Creator.
In summary, a Christian is someone who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, follows Him as Lord, produces good works, lives in community with other believers, and has the hope of eternal life with God. These beliefs are not just based on human reasoning or tradition, but on the authority of Scripture, which is God’s Word to us.
