WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
The most important question anyone can ever ask
Many people think that being a Christian means living a good life, attending church or trying to follow the teaching of Jesus.
The Bible teaches something far more wonderful.
A Christian is someone who has been brought into a right relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why Do We Need Christ?
God created us to know Him, love Him and live for His glory. Yet every one of us has sinned against Him. We have all gone our own way and fallen short of His perfect holiness.
This is the great problem facing every one of us. Our sin separates us from God, leaves us guilty before Him and places us under His just judgment. No amount of good works, religious activity or personal effort can remove that guilt or make us right with God.
We cannot save ourselves.
God's Good News
The message of Christianity is what God has done for sinners through His Son.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came into the world to save sinners. He lived the perfect life that we have failed to live. And he willingly gave His own life upon a cross to bear the punishment that sinners deserve. Then, he rose from the dead showing that he had won the victory over sin and death.
Because of Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins and eternal life are freely offered to all who will put their faith in Him.
The Bible says:
"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"
1 Timothy 1:15
This is the good news – the gospel.
How Does Someone Become A Christian?
The Bible calls every person to repent and believe the gospel.
To repent is to be sorry for sin, turning away from it towards God. Think of a child who has been very disobedient and wrong in their actions towards their father. They must be sorry for their wrondoing, they must apologise to their father and then they must intend to change and not do the same again. So with us and God, the heavenly Father.
To believe is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation, abandoning every hope of saving ourselves. This belief is an intellectual belief, but is it more than an intellectual belief - it is from the heart. This is why it it to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
We can saved only by God’s grace, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Salvation is God's free gift, received not because anyone deserves it, but because of His mercy.
What Difference Does It Make?
When someone trusts in Christ, they are forgiven by God, accepted as His child and given the sure hope of eternal life.
They begin a new life of following Jesus Christ – not in order to earn God’s favour, but because they have already received it.
Christians are not perfect people. They continue to struggle with sin, but they seek to grow in holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit, learning to love God, love one another and live according to His word.
Explore the Christian Faith Further
If you would like to explore these truths in more depth, we also recommend the Good News Course – a free series of short videos explaining the Bible’s message about God, humanity, sin, Jesus Christ, the cross, the Resurrection and salvation.
You can work through the course at your own pace, and we would be very pleased to discuss any questions it raises with you. We hope, however, that it will encourage you to join us in person, where you can hear God’s Word faithfully preached and become part of the life of the local church.
Come to Christ
If you are asking these questions for yourself, we encourage you to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is able to save sinners and reconcile us to God.
Jesus says:
"Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out."
John 6:37
God has appointed the faithful preaching of the Bible as the ordinary means by which He calls sinners to Christ and builds up His people. When the Scriptures are faithfully preached, God Himself speaks through His word.
For this reason, we warmly invite you to join us on a Sunday, where the Bible is faithfully preached and the Lord Jesus Christ is proclaimed. Whether you have many questions or none at all, you will be very welcome.
If you would prefer to speak with someone personally, please do get in touch. We would be delighted to answer your questions.