What is a Christian?

What is a Christian?

A Christian is defined as “one who professes belief in and adheres to the teachings of Christ.”

Belief is defined as “trust, faith, or confindence in someone or something; an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.”

If you live in America, you are called and American. As Americans, we are under the law of the United States. When the law says that the speed limit is 60 mph, the fastest we are supposed to go is 60 mph. We are under that law. 

When the law says, do not steal, we need to abide by that law. The same applies to Christianity. If we are to call ourselves Christians, we need to believe the teachings that Jesus gave us. If we are truly Christians, then we will obey His teachings.

As Christians, we need to be His representatives here on earth. We need the world to see Christ working in our lives. Too frequently, there are those who claim to be Christians, but don’t adhere to the word of God. When the world sees these so called Christians doing something that is wrong, they say, “If that’s Christianity, then I don’t want to have any part of that.” We need to make sure that we are living the way that Jesus would.

John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

We need to be disciples of Christ. A disciple is “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” John 8:31 says “…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” 

Jesus is filled with love, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, humility, and patience. As Christians we also need to be filled with these qualities towards others. If someone does evil to you, do not return that evil back. Jesus, in 1 Peter 2:23, “…when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but commited himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

Jesus taught love. We need to show others love. Jesus forgave us, so we need to forgive others. Be merciful with others, as He is merciful with us. Have patience with others when they make a mistake, because He is filled with patience towards us. Everything that Jesus is, we need to apply to our lives, because He is the perfect example of how to live.

Are you following Jesus and His teachings? When people look at your life, will they see Christ working in you?

In Christ,

Andrew