What is a Christian

12/30/01 | Me

[Sparkvark]

Ive noticed alot of threads on FR that mention Christianity. I was wondering, how do you define yourself as a Christian? Does merely professing oneself a Christian make you one? Im curious, how do you perceive the Christian faith?

[Sparkvark]

Just a question to all those on FR who consider themselves Christians.

[overseer5]

A Christian is defined in the Bible as someone who has been quickened by the Holy Spirit of God, through faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour. The person admits he/she is a sinner who needs a Saviour, that he/she believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to earth to die as a propitiation for our sins. The person asks Jesus to save them from hell when they die. Once saved and quickened, a Christian cannot lose his/her salvation for "no man can pluck thee out of the Father's hand." Some pertinent passages to read are Ephesians chapter 2, Romans chapters 5 and 10, 1 Corinthians 15, among many others.

[crystalk]

First of all, unlike all other major faiths, Christianity does not teach that having Christian parents or ancestors makes you a Christian. It takes a deliberate act of the individual, voluntarily, to become confirmed, baptized as an adult, or to take on church membership. Even where some persons are carried on church books just because of infant baptism, no one would claim that made them a Christian (once they had grown up).

Therefore, a Christian by this world's count, will have to include everyone who wants to so self-identify, and whose conduct is not so outrageous as to result in such identification being widely disbelieved.

Christians also believe in a judgement to come, at which it will be determined by higher authority, who was genuine or real in his claim to be such, and who was just putting on.

[3catsanadog]

For starters, this Christian calls herself one because she believes in the words found at John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. I believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, that he was crucified, dead and buried and on the 3rd day, he arose from the dead (was resurrected).

As far as living a so-called Christian life, I try and fail and try and fail. I neglect church going, keep bad habits and don't pray enough. But I still love God to the depths of my soul. And I have experienced the touch of his Holy Spirit. I will not even attempt to explain that.

[shoedog]

My definition (and I do call myself a Christin) is this: Someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior. I am knowingly a sinner but through the Grace of Jesus on the Cross, (not through actions) I have been saved and have a home in heavan.

It does not mean that I don't make mistakes. It doesn't mean that I am better than anyone else. It doesn't mean that I don't sin. It means I recognize Jesus message and his soverign grace and though I will fail many times, I try to follow his teachings.

Hope this helps.

[xm177e2]

I don't consider myself one, but I think to be a Christian you must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Messiah, and accept his teachings.

If Mormons qualify as Christians, then you don't have to believe Jesus was virgin born or the only son of God to be a Christian.

If the Pope is a Christian, then you don't have to believe that the only way to heaven is through belief in Jesus Christ.

Muslims do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, even though they consider him to be the Messiah. It should be clear that they are not Christians.

I wonder if Unitarians who don't think Jesus is the Son of God can still be Christians (even if they still think he's the Messiah, but born of ordinary parents)...

It gets a little fuzzy around the edges...

[shoedog]

I believe that you will find that Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, not the Messiah.

[PFKEY]

A Christian is one who follows the teaching of Christ.
That is not the same as the multitude who claim to be Christian.

[Buckeroo]

(I guess they are not Muslims.)

[RMrattlesnake]

Well anyone can call them selfs a Christian, look at Bill Clinton and Al Gore. But to be a real Christian it takes more then words. To begain with you need a profestion of faith. To exept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior then you need to repent that means to turn away from your sins. To chance your direction. The Believers Baptism is important not sprinkling water on babys but to submerge in water as the bible says too, after you made your profession of faith. If they have really become a Christain you will see a change in there life. Then you will begain to love the things that God loves. That is it in a nut shell.

Sorry to those who don't like what I say about Baptism. It what the Bible says sorry. You don't have to be baptist to go to heaven but it a commandment for Christains to do and that does not mean sprinkling water on there fore heads.

[PFKEY]

...to be a Christian you must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Messiah, and accept his teachings.

For a non-Christian you sure have a perfect understanding.

[Bobby777]

posted before but for your question ... my conversion and Faith are based upon

1) the same plea of the "tax collector" of Luke 18:9-14
2) the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19
3) the Call of Acts 2:38
4) the Belief, Confession and Salvation of Romans 10:9-10 and
5) the Grace of Ephesians 2:8

I'll let the curious examine these Scriptures ... this tells you, IMHO, the main ingredients necessary for Salvation, or Faith in Christ ... once someone has received Christ, they have become a Christian ... it's not a political, social or ethnic group ... it does not occur by joining a church ... shocking, no? ... FReegards

Bobby

SufferingMessiah.Com

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Send me $5, I'll tell ya.

[Harp]

If the Pope is a Christian, then you don't have to believe that the only way to heaven is through belief in Jesus Christ.

Please explain what you mean. Catholics should be interested.

[Darth Sidious]

A "Christian" is someone who desires to deny any claim that power - ALL power - has over him. The only way existing to do so is to crucify oneself daily - having faith that the way has been prepared for us - so that in dying to ourselves, He lives all the more fully within us.

It does not mean assuming power for oneself because of His sacrifice. Though a lot of Christians make that mistake.

[xm177e2]

Of course, many Christians consider the club to be a bit more... exclusive.

From the outside, it's easy for me to label people "Christians" simply by checking whether they place Jesus Christ as more important than any other holy figure.

But nobody owns who is and is not a "Christian" (except God, of course), so I really can't tell people they have to accept Mormons or Cahtolics as "Christians." Everyone has a right to believe in whatever they chose, and that includes believing who is and is not a coreligionist.

[D-fendr]

If I had to define it as narrowly as possible, I'd say it is someone who accepts, believes or knows that Jesus is divine.

From here you would have to further define orthodox, protestant, literal fundamentalist, etc. just as you would the differences in reform/orthodox judaism, theraveda/mahayana buddhism, Sunni/Shia muslim, etc.

[xm177e2]

Didn't the Pope say all people worshipped the same God, even if they weren't Christians? Does he think they'll still go to Hell if they worship the same God, but call him by the wrong name?

[sonserae]

I love all the comments on this thread.
I must say that many profess to be Christians,
but in no way act Christ-like. I believe that if you
truly have taken on the cleansing blood of Christ, you
are new...when your heart is in the right place, one acts
out of love for others. There are many who profess in words
"Christianity"...but the true Christian's actions speak
louder than words. Like the verse says, "They will know
we are Christians by our love.".

Concerning those who think Christ was a great
prophet/leader, but don't believe that He is the
Messiah, the Son of God....this concept doesn't work. Jesus
was either who He said He was, or He was a lunatic. For
He claimed to be God. If He actually is not
who He said He was, He was both dillusional and/or a liar.

[InvisibleChurch]

"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" Acts 16:31.

that's all it is ... our sin gets in the way and muddles God's simplicity