WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?

Is being a believer in Christ the same as being a Christian? And does it really matter? The general English definition of Christian is: "a person who has received a Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity." Well, Satan believes in, or knows, who Christ is, but he will not be in the eternal Heaven simply because he believed, or knew, Jesus existed. The Strong’s Greek dictionary defines the word Christian as: "a follower of Christ.” The word Christian was non-existent until well after Jesus’ death, he called his followers disciples. 

So, what is a disciple? The Greek words translated disciple are matheteuo, Strong’s # G3100, which means: "to become a pupil or scholar", and mathetes, Strong’s # G3101, which means: “a learner or pupil". 

What we call ourselves is not necessarily what we are. I believe we are better defined by what we do. When we become pupils of Christ and learn how we were instructed by him to live our lives and do as he commanded, we are then followers of him and therefore become Christ-like or Christians. James 1-22 says: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only"

WHO WAS JESUS AND WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE IN AND FOLLOW HIM?

Matthew 1:23 says: "they shall call his name Emmanuel". Emmanuel means God with us, Strong’s # G1694.

In over 40 times in the New Testament Jesus is called the “Son of God".

John 3:16 says he is God’s only “begotten Son"

I personally believe that Jesus was fully God (Emmanuel), conceived by the Holy Spirit into a human body, his mother Mary, and born as a human child (Son). He lived his life to, among many other things, experience human life as we all have to, but more importantly to demonstrate God’s nature to us and to show us the way to eternal life thru salvation. How could a loving God judge and forgive us had he not first taken a walk in our shoes?

The four first books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, tell us of his birth and stories of his life. The remaining major portions of the New Testament tell us more about his life and his teachings for how to follow him. By reading and applying his teachings we become disciples (scholars) and followers (doers). Jesus taught so much to his disciples, and to us, so I will list just a few key verses to get the ball rolling and encourage you to study all of the Bible, reading on a regular basis. Pray to God prior to each reading and ask him for wisdom and understanding. Being a Christian is a journey whose destination is eternal life in Paradise.

HOW DO WE OBTAIN SALVATION AND LIVE ETERNALLY?

Romans 6:23 tells us: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 

Our Heavenly Father created all of our souls to prepare an eternal family. Sin is simply those things that we may do, think or say, that are contrary to his hopes for how we live our lives and develop as members of his family. Just as us as parents, if we love our children, we educate them and discipline them in certain ways with the hope that they will have fulfilled and happy lives, and return their love to us. None of us, our children and his children, will ever be perfect or totally sinless, so to escape eternal death at the judgment prior to the eternal Heaven, he provided a way, this free gift, we are told of in Romans 6:23, to escape that eternal death. 

This explains the most important aspect of God experiencing life in the person of Jesus Christ. He came not just to be our example but more importantly, to be sacrificed on the cross to pay our sin debt and to demonstrate that we too can be resurrected into eternal life. 

In John 14, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” So Jesus is the only way for us to obtain eternal life in God’s Heaven. How then is it that we get this or how does he give it to us? That, not a title, is what we need to understand if eternal life is our desire.

I believe that once we receive the gift of salvation thru Christ as our savior, it will always be ours but we have to keep it and care for it. If a good friend or loved one gives me a gift that I may treasure, it will always be mine to have and use but if chose not to keep it close to me, I may not have it available for its purpose at a time when I may need it. I believe this is true for our relationship with God thru Jesus. An important part of keeping the gift of salvation that gives us eternal life is repentance. If we discipline ourselves and make a truly honest effort to live Christ-like, we will have less sin but at those times when we stumble and sin, repentance is required. Matthew 4:17 tells us: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Acts 2:38 tells us: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." As each of us read God's word and become more and more familiar with it, we come to realize that there is so much benefit to us personally but the center always seems to be our need for repentance of sin and the forgiveness of God thru Jesus Christ. We benefit in this life from experiencing peace and joy and in the after life by becoming a part of God’s eternal family. If we are truly filled with peace and joy, the Holy Spirit, we become a light to others that then hopefully become Christ-like.

HOW DOES THE BIBLE INSTRUCT US AS BELIEVERS, FOLLOWERS, DISCIPLES OF CHRIST?

Jesus gave a number of commandments to his disciples. In John 14:15, he said: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

In Matthew 22:36, Jesus was asked: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? His answer in verses 37-40: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” 

We are commanded, not suggested, to love our God and all of our brothers and sisters.

LOVING GOD, OURSELVES AND OTHERS

So how do we come to love God, unseen? 1 John 4:12 tells us: “ No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” Once we have come to believe in his existence and know that he is our Heavenly Father that loves us and dwells within us, we respond to his love for us by living a faith filled life, loving others and spending time with him each day in prayer and Bible study. This time spent, as with any relationship, strengthens the bond and our love over time.

So how do we love others as ourselves? By being kind, patient, compassionate and generous but first by being those things to ourselves. We were each created unique by our God. We must love ourselves as he does.  In Matthew 7:12, Jesus instructed us to do unto others as we would want for them to do unto us. It is difficult in many cases to care for some individuals but we need to remember that God loves everyone, so in as much as it is possible, we should too. Romans 12:18 says, “if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Luke 10:25 thru 37 answers two questions: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ answer to the first question was to love God and your neighbors (everyone), be Christ-like. His explanation to the question what is a neighbor, was about loving others that are in need. This is the story of the Good Samaritan, where a man had compassion for a total stranger in need. At the end of this story Jesus said: “Go, and do thou likewise."

Colossians 3:13 says: "forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” When we repent and ask God for forgiveness, he forgives us. When others do us wrong and tell us in a sincere manner that they were wrong and make the situation right, if and as necessary, we must forgive them.  Even if we are not encouraged by them, to forgive them, doing so in our hearts will free us from the guilt or contempt that may be felt from holding on to something out of our control. 

1 Corinthians 13:4 & 5 tell us: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” Our love should not be about what it may bring us, though it will bring us much, our love should be totally focused on what it will do for others. Forgiving others does more for us that it does for them.

Jesus taught a lot about giving, serving and helping. Matthew 25:34-46 seems to sum up the importance of giving, serving, and helping. He was basically saying that when we do these for others, we are doing them for him. He also points out that if we are selfish and are unwilling to do for others, and him, we are not worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Charity begins of course at home but when we are capable of doing more then only the needs of ourselves and those closest to us, additional charity to others is a must. We must though learn to do so out of love, not regret. 

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” If you want to see the visitor at the door, you must open it and let him in.

The following is a simple prayer for salvation. If you have yet to ask Jesus to come into your life but have come to realize that you need for him to, say this or something similar to him in prayer only when you know that you can do so from your heart.

Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved". I believe that your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again on the third day for my salvation, I repent of my sins and surrender my life to you and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life. Lord Jesus, I believe these things in my heart and will make confession with my mouth, that you are my Savior and Lord. Thank you Father, Amen!