“Christian” is now a mainstream word. Many people claim to be Christians without fully understanding what it means.

Christianity is not simply lifestyle, a personality trait, or some spiritual ambition. It is who we are at our core when we choose to put on Christ’s identity.

To understand true Christianity, there is no better place to look than the Bible.

An Understanding of Christianity

A Christian is a believer in Christianity, one of the most popular of thousands of religions worldwide. However, Christianity is much more than another religion in the crowd.

Christianity, More Than a Religion

The word “Christian” comes from the Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), which means “follower of Christ”. Therefore, all Christianity is about Jesus Christ.

A few aspects distinguish It from other global religions:

• Belief in Jesus Christ: Jesus, the Son of God, is the Savior of all humanity. Fully divine and fully human, He came on earth, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead, offering salvation to all who believe in him.
• The Trinity: Christianity teaches the concept of the Trinity, which is the belief in one God in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
• Salvation by Grace Through Faith: Contrary to most religions where spiritual growth depends on human works and efforts, Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift from God, granted by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not something one can earn.
• The Bible: Made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament, the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God. Christianity’s teachings and theological doctrines stem from the Bible, and the Bible alone.
• The Resurrection: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is proof of His divine authority and the promise of eternal life for believers. This belief in bodily resurrection is distinct from reincarnation concepts of other religions.
• The Great Commission: Jesus commands His disciples to spread the good news of salvation worldwide. It is a responsibility all Christians have and must carry out well.

The Person and Work of Jesus Christ

Who is Jesus?

One can only understand Christianity by knowing who Christ is, specifically, His heart and His work on earth.

The Heart of Jesus

Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 16:16, John 1:34). One of the Persons of the Holy Trinity. When He walked on earth, He demonstrated what true love is.

He was compassionate and merciful.

His whole focus was on those around Him. He did nothing for personal gain, nor sought fame or glory.

He served, healed, and taught so people could know the Father’s heart for them and come to Him.

His teachings focused on love, forgiveness, and righteousness (Matthew 5-7). Although He sat and ate with sinners, He fought for their souls by calling them to repentance (Matthew 9:10-17).

Though He is the King of kings, He humbled Himself before mere human beings to show them how to love one’s neighbors.

And out of love for humanity, He paid the price for our sins.

The Work of Jesus

In the beginning, God created the heavens, the earth, and human beings. Mankind had a close relationship and a deep connection with God. However, evil entered the world and severed this link.

Our God is HOLY and cannot be in communion with sin. Thus, man is separated from God. Nonetheless, He still desired that initial connection.

Due to our shortcomings, we are unable to bridge the gap. So God Himself in the Person of Jesus, came down on earth to make atonement for our sins and bring us back to Him.

His mission was to save humanity, reveal God’s love, and fulfill the Old Testament prophecies. He established a new covenant through His death and resurrection, providing a pathway to eternal life (John 14:6).

Christianity is all about our relationship with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Key Elements of the Christian Faith

A few elements are essential to the Christian faith:

• Belief in God: God exists in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus Christ: Jesus is the Son of God, who came to earth, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead to save humanity from sin.
• The Bible: The Bible is the sacred text of Christianity, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is the inspired word of God and is central to Christian beliefs and practices.
• Salvation: Salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not earned by good works but given by God’s grace.
• The Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead symbolizes victory over sin and death and offers the hope of eternal life to believers.
• The Church: The Church is the body of Christ on earth, where believers gather for worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
• Love and Forgiveness: Christians are taught to love God and others and forgive those who wrong them, following Jesus’ example and teachings.
• The Second Coming: Jesus will return to earth at the end of time to judge the living and the dead and to establish God’s kingdom fully.

Who is a Christian?

Dictionaries define a Christian as one who believes and adheres to the teachings of Jesus Christ:

• Merriam-Webster: A person who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Oxford English Dictionary: A person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.
• Cambridge Dictionary: Someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Meaning of Christian

Christians are the disciples of Christ Jesus. In the Bible, Jesus’ followers were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26), to identify them as “followers of the teachings of Christ.”

They were like Jesus, exuded His character, followed His steps, and continued His mission.

Thus, being a Christian is not a trend, a personality trait, or a religious practice applicable in certain settings. It goes even beyond a lifestyle because lifestyles can change.

Being a Christian means being Christ-like.

Christ-Like, What Does it Mean?

Being Christ-like means putting on the identity of Christ and being transformed in His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

What does that look like?

1. Be Humble: Philippians 2:3-4 tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition but to value others above ourselves. It encourages us to serve others and consider their needs more important than our own. Jesus exemplified this in Matthew 14:13-21 and John 6:5-14. He was grieving the loss of His cousin John the Baptist and went to a solitary place with His disciples to rest. But, a crowd followed them and He had compassion for them, taught, and fed them.
2. Have the Heart of a Servant: Jesus served others. He modeled servanthood to His disciples when He washed their feet in John 13. We are to do the same and strive to exhibit love and compassion in our interactions.
3. Desire and Seek Communion with God: The whole point of Jesus coming on earth is to reconcile us with His Father. Romans 8:15 certifies that we have been adopted into God’s family. 2 Corinthians 6:18, says, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” We answer this call by cultivating a relationship with The Father daily. We ought to practice spiritual disciplines: pray, read the Bible, and fellowship with other believers. 
4. Die to (Your) Self: In Luke 9:23, Jesus says that whoever wants to be His disciples must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. In Jesus’ time, the cross was symbolic of death. Dying to self is to surrender ourselves in totality to the will of God and His purpose for our lives. A Christ-like life reflects His love and grace and identifies with His suffering.

Christian Lifestyle and Mindset

There is a lifestyle that is particular to Christians: to live according to the Word of God, regardless of culture, ethnicity, family ties, or social standing.

The Bible tells us not to conform to the pattern of the world (Rom 12:1-2).

We live in a fallen world governed by sin and evil. Moral right or wrong changes from place to place and period to period.

Trying to fit in with the world is simply confusing.

But the Word of God does not change and is everlasting (Psalm 119:160, Matthew 24:35, James 1:17).

Through His Word (the Bible), God enables us and equips us to do life and walk according to His will.

A Christian is someone whose life and mind are set on the Word of God.

Identify a Christian

Knowing who a Christian is can be challenging. However, as The Lord says, one is recognizable, or identifiable, by his fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).

Churched vs. Christian

There is a huge difference between a churchgoer and a Christian.

Christians are not perfect human beings, but we must uphold God’s standards. One can look like they know or love God but be far from Him (Matthew 15:8-9).

Churchgoers have little to no fear of The Lord. Their words, actions, or attitudes oppose God’s truth. They may go to church and participate in activities, but they are not committed to Christ.

Some also think they can be right with God by their own strength. They believe they are inherently virtuous or morally superior. Thus they position themselves higher than others.

True Christians recognize their sinfulness, incapability to save themselves, and need for Jesus. A Christian aims to do the will of God and exhibits a passionate commitment to following Jesus. Christian believers embrace Christ’s teachings and seek to share His love with others.

True Christians live out their faith through action and love. Lukewarm Christians blend in with the world because they lack a transformative relationship with Christ.

Spiritual Fruits, Conduct, and Behavior

Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). You may not know what a mango tree looks like from the get-go, but if you come across a tree with mangoes hanging from its branches, you identify it as a mango tree. The same goes for Christians.

In John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Though it might be difficult to know what someone believes in, their lifestyle, conduct, and behavior are often a great indicator. 

Who are they? How do they treat others? What is their relationship with their families and friends? Do they love others? Do they only seek to please themselves, or are they self-sacrificing? Are they gentle, kind, and loving?

Galatians 5:22-23 tells about the fruit of the Spirit, which are internal characteristics of one who knows God and walks filled with the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

A true Christian exhibits these traits and seeks the Holy Spirit to produce what may be lacking.

Conclusion

God alone knows with all certainty whether someone is a true Christian. However, we can use wisdom and discernment.

The goal is not to microscopically examine everyone but to be mindful and understand that Christianity is an identity that manifests itself from the inside out.

A Christian is someone who is Christ-like, lives according to the Word of God, and in whom the fruit of the Spirit is produced.

It doesn’t require much to become a Christian, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Then, read the Bible and live according to what It says.