What makes a Christian a Christian?

Question

If someone tells you there a Christian what does this mean?

what does it mean to Believe in Christ?

so they believe everything he did and said?

Then why do most Christians Not Do what he said to DO?

are they really Christians if they say they believe, but do not Do what he said for them to Do?

Answer 1

Only a personal relationship with Christ, that and accepting his gift of salvation and atonement for our sins, can we be saved.  I'm afraid a lot of "Christians" tend to forget what their purpose on this earth is.  They are supposed to be in the world, but not of it.  Yet so many seem to fail at that.

ALSO for every person who tells you they are a Christian, I bet that at least a few of them are going to define being a Christian as "being a good person".  That's not what being Christian is about at all.

Answer 2

There is a little word called hypocrisy, and it often goes hand in hand with religion, not just Christians.  

Answer 3

The foundation of God stands sure having this seal, let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity

..

the above scripture clearly descibes what a true Christ-like person is...one who departs from iniquity....so the question becomes what is iniquity...

Iniquity is sinfulness that is specifically applied to your own experiences of defiling your own conscience...in other words its wilfull sins

..

Iniquity is different from the word "transgression" because transgressions are when someone does something against what the moral law of moses teaches...but one can do that without the consent of the conscience

..

The word "sin" is a general word describing someone who misses the mark..compared to the great magesty of Gods holiness and again its not in a sense of wilfullness....for example our humanity when compared to Gods glory consists of mistakes, faults of character, and errors of judgement....you can not do these kind wilfully....its impossible to do a wilfull mistake...or a wilfull fault of character or a willfull error in judgement>>we do not have all knowledge but we sometimes makes errors in judgement in our conclusions...God has all knowledge so He does not make errors in judgement

..

The point is that INIQUITY is a subjective experience and those who are real christians have "departed from iniquity" or in otherwords because of the atoning work of God in Christ in their spirit they do not wilfully sin anymore...thats the power of God in salvation...They shall call His name Jesus because He shall save His people FROM their sins....not save them while still in them but from them....

..

Another scripture shows conclusive proof of this as follows:

.

"......and then (jesus speaking to religious professors on day of judgement)...and then I will say unto them depart from me I never knew you, YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY"

..

..

"WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOES NOT COMMIT SIN (wilfully), FORE HIS SEED (christ's spirit and life) IS IN HIM AND HE CANNOT SIN BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD, IN THIS ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD MANIFESTED......"

..

.

BELIEF IN CHRIST MEANS BEING LIKE CHRIST IN SPIRITUAL QUALITY ON ACCOUNT OF HIS ATONEMENT WORKING IN YOU TO LIVE HOLY ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE

Answer 4

A CHRISTIAN IS A FOLLOWER OR DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

As a follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian accepts the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ over their life, is obedient to the commands of Christ and accepts all that He taught.

    * Accepts the call of Jesus Christ, just as He called His 12 disciples to "...follow Me...", the believer is called by Jesus Christ to follow Him also:

      Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

      The Holy Bible, Matthew 16:24-25

    * Accepts the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

      Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."

      The Holy Bible, Matthew 28:18-20

    * Accepts all that Jesus Christ taught and commanded in relation to Himself, God, the Bible (Scripture), man and salvation.

      We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.

      The Holy Bible, 1 John 2:3-6  

Answer 5

There is no fundamental definition of Christianity.

This is why it is difficult for us atheist to debate with them.

Edit: I also agree with CC. Whenever a certain definition of Christianity cannot stand under scrutiny, the Christians would have no shame changing the definition.

Answer 6

From what I have observed, any christian is a christian until their bad behavior has been exposed.

Answer 7

It's a personal relationship with Jesus.  And the way these churches are into politics and telling you how to vote, I would say skip them, and go right to Jesus and let HIM lead your own personal life the way only He can do.

Answer 8

If they believe that Jesus died for our sins, they are christians.  But only the person themselves will know if they really believe this or not, so as you have said if they don't it is most likely the reason why they do not do things that God has told them to do.  But even christians who truely believe in God will still sin, we have no choice, because we were all born a sinner, which is why we all sin.

Answer 9

He died for your sins and is the risen Lord.

Yes

Sin

They are backslidden

Answer 10

Christ makes one a Christian. However, Christians, much like yourself, are incapable of perfection, so we are taught to "judge not, lest we be judged."  

Answer 11

Well a Christian is anyone who has repented of their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  If they are truly Christians and truly love Christ then they will do what he says, yet I realize many do not, but does this mean they are not Christians???? I honestly can't answer that, but I personally would have my doubts about them.  Now, if this disobedience is only happens once in a while, well, we all stumble, just because we are Christians doesn't mean that we don't sin.  Now the Great Commission is a command that probably gets ignored the most, and yet is the most important of them all.  As Christians, if we truly love others (like we are supposed to) we should want to see them get saved as well, and will obey that command to share our faith and spread the gospel.  yet many don't for whatever halfhearted excuse that they have.  This reminds me of a quote from the prince of preachers Charles Spurgeon who said "Have you no wish for others to be saved?  Then you are not saved yourself, be sure of that."

Answer 12

There are true christians and nominal christians.  True christians accept and believe in God, Jesus Christ His Son who died for us and rose again, conquering death, and paid our penalty for all of our sins.  We believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God and to Heaven.  We believe every Word of God (bible).  A nominal christian is IN NAME only, claims to be a christian, but only talks the talk, but does not walk the walk with Christ.  When Jesus judges us, He looks at our hearts, not the christian label that  means nothing.  But remember, all of us fall short of the glory of God and sin, but when you accept, believe, trust and follow Christ, you are forgiven.  God bless

Answer 13

The blood of Christ.

Answer 14

Deeds before creeds...if being a Christian makes somebody a rotten bugger, then I'd suggest they walk away from it...

Answer 15

Everyone sins!  There is no possible way that a Christian could NOT sin.  A true Christian will try not to sin but will be unsuccessful.  Jesus Christ is the only human that could not sin!  

Answer 16

Belief in Jesus is the savior. That's mainly it.

Answer 17

The word "Christian" mean "Christ follower".

To believe in Christ means everything He did, say, and dying on the cross for everyone's sins and accepting Him as Saviour and getting saved.

I don't know where you got that statistic of "most Christians not do what he said to do". Because, I've never heard of that before.

If you are a Christian, then you will do what Christ tells you to do. If they don't, that doesn't mean they aren't a Christian (saved) but it might mean they are struggling in their walk or they might not even be a Christian. the only person who knows is themself and God.

Answer 18

Please Read:

John 3:15-21

Acts 2:21

Eph 2:8-9

1 Cor 15

1 John

Hebrews 11-13

Job 19

James 2

Romans (1,3,6,10)

Matt 24-25

If you read these scriptures it will help you understand what a christian is.