What does it mean to be a Christian?

Lots of people ask this question in one way or another. Sometimes Christians don’t always provide the best example of what they say they are and what they believe. So, it begs the question, what does it mean to be a Christian? One thing for sure is that Christians are not perfect, but they are forgiven!

What does it mean to be a Christian is found in the definition of the title—Christian. A Christian is someone who has believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, where He came from, what He did while He lived here on earth, and why that is so important. Simply stated, a Christian is someone whom God has united to Christ by faith so that they may believe what Christ teaches and thus, obeys what Christ commands. As such, a person becomes a Christian the moment they have “believed in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). Scripture teaches that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him [Jesus] from the dead” then you are “saved” (Rom. 10:9-13). Thus, true Christians are people who acknowledge and live under the authority of the Word of God in their belief in Jesus as the Christ, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). A Christian is someone who believes (has faith) in the person and ministry of Jesus as the Christ—the promised Savior of His people—the Messiah—the Holy One of God.