What is a Christian?

Resha Caner

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Please give me a good thoughtful and prayerful answer, and if you can use Scripture.

This may sound facetious at first, but a Christian is whoever God says it is. It doesn't matter what we think. I don't understand the need for us to define it.

Beyond that it's merely a matter of who lives and moves within my church community.
 
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Toro

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Please give me a good thoughtful and prayerful answer, and if you can use Scripture.
A Christian is:
Someone who picks up their cross daily and follows Him. Matthew 16:24-26

Someone that obeys His teachings. John 14:23

Someone that submits to the will of the Father above their own will. Matthew 7:21 Matthew 12:50

A fast answer is one who has the Holy Spirit in them.

Fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23

and lastly a Christian believes that though we deserve to be judged and cast into Hell, that the blood and sacrifice of Christ has paid the debt that we could never pay on our own. That though we refuse to live in sin, that when we fall into it, we are forgiven.
 
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FutureAndAHope

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Please give me a good thoughtful and prayerful answer, and if you can use Scripture.

I feel one of the best explanations of faith come from the book of Galatians. The scripture is as follows:

Gal 3:1-14 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.


Gal 5:13-14 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

When Jesus died on the cross He paid the penalty for our sins. Every one of our sins from the time we were born to the time we die are covered by the blood of Jesus. When we have faith in that fact we are saved. We are not saved by performing works, yet as Christians we should strive to not sin as Gal 5:13-14 says. We have 100% liberty, we are free, and saved, but we should not take advantage of that fact to give the flesh (our lower nature) reign.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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This has always bothered me, that there are Jewish believers who prefer to call themselves by another name. I do like the term Messianic, but when people use it to divide themselves from the Church it really makes me disdain the term. The apostles taught that there is no difference between the Jew and Gentile in Christ, such a division doesn't exist. We are one people, of one body, of one Lord, with one baptism, indwelled with one Spirit, and one inheritance.

But, Dave, I will consider what you have brought up. How about the first letter of Peter that was written to...

"...those who are the elect exiles of the Dispersion..." - (v. 1)

He says in that same book,

"Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." - (v. 4:16)

What are your thoughts?
Now this sounds like a whole different thread....but I will interject. Yes there is a difference today, and I say today because the Apostles did not encourage Jewish practices on Gentiles however Jewish converts who followed Jesus had and or still have a hard time breaking from tradition.
 
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worshipjunkie

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I find the creeds neatly summarize the Scriptures as to what it means to be a Christian. Here's an Apostle's Creed with Scriptural citations: The Apostles’ Creed With List of Bible Scripture References | Access Jesus Were I to write my own creed today, the only thing I would probably add to the Apostles' Creed is the necessity of salvation through Christ alone, something that was probably a given back then but is all too often denied today. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
 
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It doesn't matter what we think. I don't understand the need for us to define it.
We need to define it because we use words. Words are useless for communication if we don’t agree on a definition. Unless the particular word is used in prayer only.
 
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UnprofitableServant

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Please give me a good thoughtful and prayerful answer, and if you can use Scripture.
Simple answer: A follower of Jesus.

When is one considered a follower of Jesus?

When they obey the commands of Jesus.

Being a Christian (follower of Jesus) is no different than being a follower of any other teacher or person. It makes sense if you believe in a person enough to follow them, you will choose to obey the teachings of your master.

If you don't agree with the teachings of your master. You should find another master.

In peace
 
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Ken Rank

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Please give me a good thoughtful and prayerful answer, and if you can use Scripture.
The answer is in the definition of the word Christian. Christ is a transliteration of Christos which means anointed or anointed one. The "ian" ending means "of or belonging to." So literally, the word Christian means, "he who belongs to the anointed one." If you belong to Christ, you're a Christian.
 
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Not David

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Not really, the word for church (ekklesia) is used throughout the Greek OT (LXX) for Israel. At Sinai, Israel is called the church.
Yeah, because the nation of Israel were chosen by God, and now the Gentiles are included there.
 
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Not David

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He founded a way of life, not an institution and the people following this way contrary to the world of man were the church.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Said by Jesus Christ himself.
 
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