What is a Christian?
– Gordon Rainbow

Many people think they are entitled to call themselves Christians because they

• were baptized (or christened – as many call it),

• are members of a church or believe a creed,

• live a good life or do good deeds,

• live in a so-called Christian country.

• have repeated the words of a 'sinners prayer'.

What do you think?

Most people will admit that human organizations have the right to set their own qualifications and standards for membership. Few would pose as a member of such if they had not been accepted in accord with the organization's own official qualifications and standards.

But, when it comes to being a Christian (which is far greater than being a member of any human organization) almost everyone thinks they have a right to claim to be a Christian based on their own qualifications and standards!

The Holy Scriptures are the only place to find the divine qualifications and standards by which a person can be truly considered a Christian. Let us see what the Scriptures say:

• The first persons to be called Christians "had heard the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus" and "believed and turned to the Lord", Acts 11: 26.

• King Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian by the apostle Paul, a prisoner in chains because of his beliefs, Acts 26: 28-29.

• The apostle Peter speaks of suffering as a Christian, 1 Peter
  4: 15-16.

Is that your idea of being a Christian?

Jesus was rejected by most people.

• He "was in the world, and the world had its being through Him, and the world" (all mankind whom He had created) "knew Him not.

• "He came to His own, and His own" (people, the Jews) "received Him not;

• "but as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to be children of God, to those that believe on His name; who have been born, not of blood, nor of flesh's will, nor of man's will, but of God", John 1: 10-13.

Have you received Him?

Scripture nowhere says that baptism, church membership or belief in creeds can give you forgiveness of sins, justify you before a holy God or assure you of eternal salvation.

As for a so-called good life or good deeds, Scripture says of mankind naturally, "There is not a righteous man, not even one; there is not the man that understands, there is not one that seeks after God. All have gone out of the way . . . there is not one that practises goodness, there is not so much as one", Romans 3: 10-12.

What then does Scripture say? It says that:

• It is Christ alone "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offences, according to the riches of His grace", Ephesians 1: 7.

• "By works of law no flesh shall be justified before Him" (i.e., God) ". . . being justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus . . . through faith in His blood . . . so that He" (i.e., God) "should be just, and justify him that is of the faith of Jesus . . . for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law", Romans 3: 2-28.

• "For ye are saved by grace, through faith; and this not of yourselves; it is God's gift: Not on the principle of works, that no one might boast", Ephesians 2: 8-9.

But some one may say, I believe there is a God, surely that is good enough. That is only a delusion because Scripture says:

• "Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble", James 2: 19.

• Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father unless by Me", John 14: 6.

• "For God is one, and the mediator of God and men one, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all", 1 Timothy 2: 5-6.

• And Peter said of Jesus, "Salvation is in none other, for neither is there another name under heaven which is given among men by which we must be saved", Acts 4: 12.

How then can anyone expect to be accepted by God if they refuse His beloved Son and try to bypass Him?

"What must I do to be saved?" One man asked that question and received the welcome answer:

• "Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house" and he "rejoiced with all his house, having believed in God", Acts 16: 30-34.

• Earlier Peter said "Repent, and be baptised, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit", Acts 2: 37-41, and

• "To Him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on Him will receive through His name remission of sins", Acts 10: 43.

• And Paul said,
  • "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised Him from among the dead, thou shalt be saved.

  • "For with the heart is believed to righteousness; and with the mouth confession made to salvation …

  • "For every one whosoever, who shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved", Romans 10: 8-13.

Don't put it off. Do it now!

But that is only the start. We all need to learn the Scriptural principles in regard to:

• leading a life pleasing to God in the power of the Holy Spirit,

• fellowship with other believers,

• participating in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus and in praise and worship to God,

• witnessing as to the power of the gospel of God to family and friends.

Others believers are ready

• to help you further as to God's way of salvation,

• to share their experience of Christian living and what they have learned from the Holy Scriptures with you.

Gordon Rainbow.