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What Is A Christian?

There are many ideas about what makes a Christian. Some identify Christians by the clothes they wear, the places they go, and what they do or do not do. Sometimes, it is the attitude they have or are perceived to have.  To complicate things, many people call themselves Christians and think of themselves as Christians, yet are not.  According to a Barna survey, only about 4% of people in the United States hold a basic biblical worldview, while 60% identify as Christians.  Jesus Himself said:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’  Matt. 7:21-23, NIV

That is scary. It means some people consider themselves Christians, and may even do great works, but will be rejected by Jesus at the Final Judgment. These self-deceived people will be eternally shut out from the presence of God. Understanding the Truth about what makes a Christian is essential to a successful life, both now and in the afterlife.

In answering our question of what a Christian is, it is best to start with what a Christian is not. In the list below, I do not intend to imply that Christians never engage in some of these activities. The point is that they are not what defines a true Christian. They are not the essence of their identity.

First, a Christian is not someone who attends church. While every Christian should attend church, many do attend church under the false impression that they are Christians. Church attendance is not the definition of a Christian. There are probably thousands of people who attend church every week, who know the songs, who know the Bible, who may even be in some position of leadership, but are not genuine Christians. They have a false comfort. They have chosen a lifestyle, but they have not chosen true Christianity.

Second, reading and studying the Bible, while essential, does not make a person a Christian. The Bible is the Word of God. The Pharisees of Jesus' day were highly knowledgeable about the Old Testament, but Jesus did not have good things to say about them.

Your father is the devil, and what you are wanting to do is what your father longs to do. He always was a murderer, and has never dealt with the truth, since the truth will have nothing to do with him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks in character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Matt. 8:44-45, Phillips

Third, a Christian is not defined by his activities. A person is not a Christian because they don't smoke, drink, swear, commit adultery, etc. Many people do not do those things who are just as much on the way to Hell as those who do. An unfortunate fact is that sometimes you can find genuine Christians who are entangled in some of these issues. Christians are far from perfect, but they are on a journey toward perfection—a journey that can never be fully completed in this life.

Fourth, a Christian is not someone who believes the right things or holds to a specific statement of faith. Some possess intellectual knowledge of God and His ways, but remain ungodly at heart. They may be trusting in their knowledge, but knowledge, no matter how accurate, does not make a person a Christian.

Fifth, confessing sin does not make a person a Christian. Many people regret their mistakes. They do their best to make it right. Even Judas confessed his sin of betraying an innocent Person to His death. His confession was even to priests, but it did him no good.

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility."

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. Matt. 27:3-5, NIV

Sixth, doing miracles or great works does not make a person a Christian. Sometimes we judge a person's spirituality by their works. If they can heal the sick, cast out demons, and do other spectacular things, we assume they must be in good standing with God. Jesus Himself exposed this error.

I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.' Matt. 7:22-23, The Message

Seventh, being self-sacrificing does not make a person a true believer in Christ. Again, many give generously of their time, finances and abilities to help others. True, Christians have been at the forefront of these activities, establishing far more hospitals, orphanages, charities, schools, and other institutions than any other group of people. However, that is not what makes them Christians. It is because they are Christians that they do such things, not the other way around.

So What Is A Christian?

With all the things that do not define a Christian, what is a Christian?

Interestingly, the term "Christian" was not developed by Christians themselves. It was a term put on believers in Christ by those who observed them. It may have been first used in mockery, but it was soon embraced as truly descriptive of believers in Christ.

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 11:26

The community in which these people lived looked at them and labelled them as "Christ Ones" or followers of Christ. In that observation, they really defined what a Christian is.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom. 8:29

So, what is a Christian? A Christian is someone who is in the process of being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the perfect example of what a human being was created to be. Christians are growing to be like Jesus.

This process begins, from a human perspective, when a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour. From that time on, God the Holy Spirit is at work in the person's life, working the image of Christ in them. This process can never be completed in this life, but it should be moving steadily toward this ultimate goal. The process can be hindered or stunted if the person is unwilling to follow the leading of God, the Holy Spirit, in their life.

What is a Christian? Basically, a Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to make converts or promote a new way of life. He came to restore people to a relationship with God, part of which means learning to do things God's way. Anything less is not genuine Christianity.

This made them ask him, “What must we do to carry out the work of God?”
“The work of God for you,” replied Jesus, “is to believe in the one whom he has sent to you.” John 6:28-29, Phillips

A disciple is not merely one who follows the teachings of a master, but one who is totally committed to the master. A true Christian is committed to the Master, Jesus Christ. He desires to follow the Master's footsteps as closely as possible. He studies and applies the Master's words to his life. He does not question the Master's ability or wisdom. He chooses to believe what the Master believes. If the Master believes that marriage is between one man and one woman for life, then he believes it and acts accordingly. If the Master believes Adam and Eve were real people and the earth was created about 6,000 years ago, the disciple also believes it. If the Master states He is the only true way to God, the true disciple does not doubt it.

The bottom line of what a Christian is is that a Christian is a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. Their goal is to become an earthly reflection of the beauty of Christ. Although the Christian is painfully aware of the many times they fall short of the goal, they, nevertheless, realize that they stand forgiven before God and continue to work toward that ultimate objective.

Beware of people who take the name "Christian" but have no desire for discipleship.

What Is A Christian?
Frequently Asked Questions

For more information about Glenn Davis, see our About Glenn page or visit Glenn Davis Books.

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