What Is Christianity
What does it really mean to be a Christian?
What some think it is.
People are often labelled as Christians simply because they have English-sounding or Biblical names, or because they attend church regularly. Similarly, many identify as Christian based on their heritage—whether they come from a Western or predominantly Christian nation, or were raised within a Christian family.
From a biblical perspective, these factors alone do not make someone a Christian. Neither does performing good deeds, being christened as a baby, or simply admiring Jesus as a good man while rejecting His divinity as the Son of God.
Put simply, being a Christian means believing in Jesus, following His teachings, and striving to live as He lived.
The first step is faith: believing that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) and the only one who can save us from our sins. To be saved and ‘born again,’ one must believe this in their heart and confess it with their mouth.
“ that 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” Roman 10:9 NKJV
Placing our faith in Jesus Christ, as both Lord and Saviour, is the only way to receive salvation. Following this, we are called to follow and obey His teachings, striving to live as Jesus lived.
“He who says he abides in Him (Jesus), ought himself also to walk just as He walked” 1 John 2:6 NKJV (emphasis added)
When you confess with your mouth and invite Jesus into your heart as Lord and Saviour, His Spirit comes to dwell within you, transforming you into a new person. Your old nature is renewed, guiding you to do what is right from God’s perspective. His Spirit will help you every step of the way, empowering you to live in obedience just as He lived
“However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact, the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God].” Romans 8:9 AMP
In summary, a Christian is someone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah, God in the flesh, who came to save them from their sins. Consequently, they are born again by the Spirit of God and given a new nature: a heart that loves both God and their fellow human beings.
“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Acts 11: 25 – 26. NIV
The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch as stated in the above verse over 2000 years ago because they were identified as followers of Jesus and His teachings. Now the question is, do you want to be a Christian?
Order a bible for free
If you desire to order a physical bible, click on the below and enter your details, and one will be sent to you in the post.