Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair

Great question, Vijaya!

A Christian is a person who is saved ("Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace" -- God's purpose and God's grace --which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." This verse I memorized as part of a Scripture memory program. And I loved it right away, and I still use this verse when I’m sharing Christ.

-- 2 Timothy 1:9

You see, God loves us, called us, and sent Christ to die for us. We can have eternal life through faith in Him, who broke the power of death by His resurrection (see 2 Timothy 1:10). And it is "not according to our works." I.e. we don't deserve to be saved, but God offers us salvation anyway. What we have to do is believe in Him and accept His offer.

And then a Christian is one who will see the Lord (1 John 3:2), and at that time we shall be “like Him” (1 John 3:2). Our privilege has been to be brought out of darkness into Light (Col. 1:13; Jn 8:12). And then we have become ‘children of God’ (1 John 3:1). Our practice should be “pure” (1 John 3:3), pure in thought (Phil. 4:8), pure in word (Eph. 4:29), and pure in deed (1 Tim. 5:22).

March 07 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that Christians are people who:

1) acknowledge their own sinful imperfection, as well as the estrangement between themselves and a holy God that their sin has caused;

2) recognize Jesus as God incarnate and as the only means that God has provided to address the estrangement of humanity from Him caused by sin; and 

3) who depend completely upon faith in Jesus' atoning death and resurrection (rather than in anything that they have done or can ever do) to obtain forgiveness of their sin by God and to be granted eternal life in God's presence.

(Christians' assurance of that salvation gained through faith should also then motivate them to perform good works out of gratitude to God for it (as well as in imitation of Christ), but it is not those works that save them.)

March 07 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Brad Jensen Supporter

A Christian is the word for a person who acts like Christ would - as an actor studies the role and then performs that part. Like an actor pretends, and it is understood the Christian is not the real Christ. The credits are the "book of Life". 

When speaking of all the Christians, they are called Christ's Bride. With intercourse being some kind of metaphor for worship. Sometimes another metaphor is used, with Christ being a vine and the actors are the branches.

March 08 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Ray D Supporter

I like to use Acts 2:37-42 when thinking about this. At this point, new converts came to Peter and the apostles and asked, 

“Brethren, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

So I would say a Christian is someone who is baptized into Christ; rejects the crookedness of secular things; and devotes himself or herself to the teaching passed down from the Apostles, to the breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper), and praying.

March 15 2021 • 14 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What is a Christian?

A Christian is a person who has placed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, has received forgiveness of sins through Him, and seeks to follow Him in daily life. Culture, family background, religious attendance, and good works do not define a Christian. Scripture presents a Christian as someone whose relationship with God has been restored through faith in Christ.

The name "Christian" first appeared in Antioch.

"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)

The term identified people whose lives were associated with Jesus Christ and His teaching.

According to Scripture, sin separates every person from God.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Because sin prevents fellowship with a holy God, humanity needs salvation. God provided that salvation through Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

A Christian is therefore a person who trusts in Christ's death and resurrection for salvation rather than relying on personal effort or religious achievement.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When a person believes in Christ, God grants new spiritual life.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This new life produces change. The Christian begins to develop a desire to know God, obey His Word, and reflect His character.

Jesus taught that His followers would be recognised by their love.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35)

Love, humility, compassion, honesty, and faithfulness mark a growing Christian life. These qualities do not earn salvation; they show God's work within a believer.

A Christian also receives the Holy Spirit, who provides guidance, conviction, and strength for living according to God's will.

"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:9)

The Christian life involves continual growth. Believers learn from Scripture, pray, worship, and serve others as they mature in faith.

Jesus summed up discipleship with a simple invitation:

"Follow me." (Matthew 4:19)

In essence, a Christian is a person who has trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, belongs to Him, and seeks to follow His teaching. Christianity is not merely adherence to a religion. It is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ, marked by faith, transformation, and obedience.

A person becomes a Christian when God opens their heart to the truth of the gospel, and they respond by turning to Christ in faith. Christianity begins with a personal response to God's invitation, not with religious ceremony or family heritage.

Jesus declared:

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

This new birth is God's spiritual work that brings a person into a new relationship with Him.

The gospel calls people to repent and turn toward God.

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19)

Repentance involves a change of heart that leads a person away from sin and toward God's will.

A Christian also openly acknowledges Christ and trusts Him.

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

Through faith, God accepts a person and grants eternal life.

"He that hath the Son hath life." (1 John 5:12)

Becoming a Christian is therefore the result of God's grace received through faith, accompanied by repentance, trust in Christ, and a willingness to follow Him. It marks the beginning of a new life under His lordship and care.

2 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report