What is a Christian?

A Christian is a person who has a personal relationship with the true and living God through Jesus Christ. According to the teachings of the Old and New Testaments in the Bible, Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth to rescue sinners from a life of sin and to escape the consequences of sin which is the eternal righteous judgment of God.

The Bible teaches that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and thus, have a broken relationship with God their Creator. The Bible also states that the only way to know God and enjoy a right relationship with Him is by placing one’s faith and trust in the person and work of Christ, including His atoning death on the cross and his physical resurrection from the grave (John 14:6; I Corinthians 15:1-4).

It is because of God’s love and grace that He came to earth in the person of His son, Jesus, to save a rebellious people (John 3:16). This message of salvation (also called the “gospel”) is not based upon man’s good deeds but upon God’s gracious initiative (Ephesians 2:8-9).

When an individual repents of their sin and trusts in Christ, a spiritual rebirth occurs, i.e. one is “born again” (John 3:3) whereby the Spirit of the living God indwells the Christian. So, a Christian is one who affirms that Christ died for them and that Christ is living in them (Galatians 2:20). This vital union produces in the Christian a love for God and a desire to follow and obey Jesus Christ (John 14:15). The relationship between a Christian and Jesus will continue on through all of eternity.