Who is a Christian?

[Aabbie James]

Who is a Christian? by Pastor Chuck DeVane

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17

• A Christian has a right relationship with the Lord.
• A Christian has a right relationship with the church.
• A Christian has a right relationship with people.

Robert Frost concluded his most famous poem, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Two roads diverge in this life we live, one is the road to destruction and the other is the road to Damascus. Christians who experience genuine conversion have proof to offer in its aftermath. That's the road taken by Paul. You take it, too. It will make all the difference in this life, and in the life to come.

What say you?

 

[Red Gold]

A Christian is a member of a Christian church.

 

[bmjackson]

A Christian or little Christ, is one with Christ, and shares in the divine nature. Is holy as He is holy, as instructed.

 

[Hammster]

It would depend on how you define a Christian. For instance, if you looked at the life of Judas before the betrayal, would you consider him a Christian?

 

[Aabbie James]

It would depend on how you define a Christian. For instance, if you looked at the life of Judas before the betrayal, would you consider him a Christian?

Exactly! Judas was never a true Christian. We can see from the words of Christ... John 6:64-65, "'But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, 'For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.'"

 

[trophy33]

"Christian" is a biblical term given to Gentiles, who were following the teachings of Christ, as presented specifically by the apostles Barnabas and Paul.

"In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians."
Acts 11:26

 

[SavedByGrace3]

If you remember this.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

 

[Hammster]

Exactly! Judas was never a true Christian. We can see from the words of Christ... John 6:64-65, "'But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, 'For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.'"

I think you missed my point. There’s no definition of a “true Christian” in scripture. To the disciples (like us) Judas would have been a Christian.

 

[Aabbie James]

I think you missed my point. There’s no definition of a “true Christian” in scripture. To the disciples (like us) Judas would have been a Christian.

Fair enough... Even when Jesus announced that 1 among us (the 12) would betray him, whispering to Judas to go quickly and do what he must do, the other 11 questioned "who is it...is it I?" While they were all confused, Jesus knew from the beginning.

The author of the article in the OP lays out a reasonable "modern" definition of a "Christian." Citing 2 Corinthians 5:17 to begin with, then by way of illustration, says a Christian has the right relationship with the Lord, the church, and with people. He correctly points out that a "true" Christian (his use of the term) follows the narrow path and not the broad road (of destruction).

We might also equate a "true Christian" with a believer in Christ Jesus as LORD and savior, the one who sacrificed His life on the cross for the salvation of the ones His Father brought to Him.

There are many "Christians" sitting in the pews of many churches today who are on the broad road of destruction... LORD have mercy!