What it means to be a Christian according to the Bible
More people want to know what it means to be a Christian. What’s important is knowing what it means to be a Christian according to the Bible, which is God’s word, not man’s. If you do not believe that God exists then there is little reason for you to continue reading because this article is for those who know that God is the creator of heaven and earth and everything in between. God created us and has a purpose for all of his creations.
What is a Christian
A Christian is one who not only believes in Jesus but follows Him on a daily basis. This means we have an ongoing relationship with our creator and communicate with him daily through prayer and reading His word. As Christians, we strive to live as Jesus lived. He was not of this world:
John 17:16-18
New King James Version
16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. As His followers, we are not to live as a part of this world:
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
How Did Jesus Live?
Jesus lived a pure life, free of all sin, yet He was tempted in every area after His baptism when Satan approached Him in the wilderness. Each time Satan attempted to sway Him, Jesus rebuked Him with scripture. Read Matthew 4 and see how Jesus remained strong, even though He had been out there for forty days and forty nights.
Is it possible for us to live as Jesus did? Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There was only one perfect person on this planet and it was Jesus. It is possible to live a healthy, clean life by following Jesus’ example, yet nobody will ever be perfect.
Is There Hope?
As followers of Christ, we know that He came to Earth to save us by dying for our sins:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. The book of Ephesians is the one to study these matters. We cannot buy our way into His kingdom, nor can we “work” our way into it. We must have faith and believe that eternal life is a gift from God for all who trust in His word and have a personal relationship with HIm.
Luke 9:23
Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
What does this passage mean? It means to deny yourself. Some people are confused about what it means to deny yourself. Did Jesus drink alcohol? No, he did not. Some would argue that the wine he made from water in John 2 was fermented. It was grape juice fresh from the vine, which they referred to as new wine back in those days:
Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, That I may not destroy them all.
To pick up the cross and follow Jesus is to forsake all worldly sins and devote yourself to a clean life. After all, our bodies are not our own but were bought with a price:
1 Corinthians 6:19: 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.What Is Sin
The Lord wants His followers to avoid those things that defile both the body and the mind. This is how Jesus lived. He was tempted in three areas out in the wilderness: The sins of the flesh, The eyes, and the spirit. The easiest way to determine if an activity would not be approved of is to think: What would Jesus do?
It Is More Than The Ten commandments
When I began my walk with Jesus I was still drinking and smoking. The closer I became to our savior the more convicted I became that continuing to defile my body and mind in this way was taking the Lord’s name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 New King James Version
7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. This passage does not speak of cussing. To take His name in vain is to talk the talk but not walk the walk. If you claim to be a Christian, you live as a Christian to be an example to the world. I continually felt guilty until I left those things behind me and gave my life completely to God.
Victory Over Sin
John 8:31-36:
The Truth Shall Make You Free
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
The Lord freed me from my bondage and each day I give praise and thanks to Him! It is possible to be free from the sins of the flesh, knowing that the promise of everlasting life is the reward! I am blessed to be a child of God and am happy to walk the walk in newness of life each day.
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