CHRISTIANITY: The True Meaning.

A dictionary definition of a Christian would be something similar to “a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus.” While this is a good starting point but, it falls short of really showing the biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian. The word “Christian” is used three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Followers of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ. The word “Christian” literally means, “belonging to the party of Christ” or a “follower of Christ.”

Unfortunately over time, the word “Christian” has lost a great deal of its significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values but who may or may not be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a “Christian” nation. But going to church, or being a good person does not make you a Christian. Being a member of a church, attending services regularly, and giving to the work of the church does not make you a Christian.

The Bible teaches that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” So, a Christian is someone who has been born again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has put faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is “…by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day. John 1:12 tells us, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4, 10). A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ. One who has forsaken his/her old sinful ways of life and has follow the lifestyle of Christ whose seed (Spirit) dwells in by being born again.
Therefore, a Christian must not continue in a sinful lifestyle after redemption. Romans 6:1-2 says "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?. Also 1John 3:8-9 says that, "He that commits sin of the devil... Whosoever that is born of God doesn't sin because, the seed of God is in him... So, a Sinner is not a Christian and a Christian is not a sinner. 1John 5:17 states that "all unrighteousness is sin and 1Corinthians 6:9-10 confirms that unrighteous person cannot enter into the Kingdom of God..". So, you need to know where you belong so as to make amends.
What category of Christian do you belong?. Remember, it is only you that can answer this above question.
Therefore, I implore you to answer truthfully, surrender your life to Jesus, confess and repent from your sinful lifestyle and follow after righteousness and holiness. Be ready for the RAPTURE!.