Can Someone Please Define What a Christian is?

[Cassandra]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

 

[GISMYS_7]

A Christian is person that believes in and accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

 

[Waiting on him]

One that manifests Christ.

 

[GaryAnderson]

A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows his teachings.

 

[Mayflower]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ, but it is so much more then that. A saved believer is one who believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that He was the payment for our sins on the cross. A Christian is one who is totally sold out for Jesus Christ because of this, because they are so grateful for the grace and mercy of the Father. Christians want to live God's Word and understand His Word, because they know that God's way is the right way to live. A Christian is saved by faith, not by works.

There is so much theology on here that it can make your head spin. I question how much is legalism, how much is important to talk about, and how much is just plain evil and not of God in the name of free speech. A Christian shows love in speaking Truth and by their words and actions.

 

[Enoch111]

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

All we need is the Bible definition. So a Christian is a born again child of God (John 1:12,13). But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Children of God are followers of Christ who do what He has said.

 

[Truman]

We are born-again of the Spirit from above.
Forgiven and redeemed by His Blood.
We believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead.
We are His Body and He is our Head.

 

[Lambano]

I notice the definitions are progressing from simple to more complex as the thread gets longer.

 

[farouk]

I notice the definitions are progressing from simple to more complex as the thread gets longer.

@Lambano Good to keep close to Scripture....

 

[Daniel Veler]

The word christian was I believe first used in Antioch. They were said to be walking their lives as Christ did. Before that they were called disciples. Christ even referred those who follow him were his disciples. What’s sad today is people are called Christians in name only.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

I guess I just think of a Christian as someone who has received the Holy Spirit.

 

[Aunty Jane]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

Since Jesus will reject "many" who claim him as their "Lord" at the judgment, it is really important to understand that being a Christian means more than just "believing"...it requires action, since Jesus said that the ones judged unworthy of life did not "do" the will of God....what then is the "will of God" for us? (Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus did the will of his Father and showed us how to do that too.
James also wrote that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:18, 19, 26).....so faith must be backed up by actions.

Faith in God and in his son is required but Jesus said...."And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Do we really "know" God and his Christ? How well do we know them? This is what it means to be a Christian.....this is how we gain "eternal [everlasting] life".....following their guidance and direction in all things, understanding what they taught and why....and doing what we are commanded to do.....no more, no less.

 

[Aunty Jane]

I guess I just think of a Christian as someone who has received the Holy Spirit.

What does that mean in real terms SBG? Is it the same for all, or do people receive the HS in different ways?

 

[Taken]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

A Christian is a simple term, denoting one believes Jesus is the Christ and is following Jesus’ teachings.

It can be confusing, BECAUSE:
A person going to a Christian Church, hearing, believing, saying he is a Christian, being called a Christian by others, He can confess he believes, agree to be water Baptized (which makes him a member of a Christian Church) ... call himself Baptized...and the specific Church where he was water Baptized, he can transfer his record to any other Christian Church.....AND;
Can at any time, stop hearing, stop believing, say he used to be a Christian.

Scripture makes a deeper delineation IMO, whereas Scriptural teaching expressly speaks of “Conversion”, meaning Heartfully (not of the mind) but Heartfully believing, Heartfully confessing, Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God; is the act, of the person...and the reaction of the Lord is: to search the heart of that person, IF his confession BE TRUE, the Lord Baptizes the individual with His Holy Spirit...(and the individual receives all the Works of God that involves ... the Conversion)

A person having experienced a Conversion, would be one whose highlight is: Forgiven his sin of having HAD disbelief;
Body spiritually crucified with Christ;
Soul restored unto To God, ie Saved;
Spirit quickened, having received Gods Seed, ie Born Again;
New heart, ie circumcised
Gods Spirit of Truth within the individual;
God forever WITH that individual; Kept by the Power of God
Forever that individual WITH the Lord God; Kept by the Power of God
The individual could never again NOT believe, (ie Free from ability TO sin)
Sealed with Gods Promise to Redeem his Body and Raise his body uncorrupted, (ie in Glory).
Once THAT IS ESTABLISHED, it is permanent...
This person would be called Saved and Born Again.
This person would be called Converted IN Christ.
This person could be called a “born again Christian”.

* Anyone can call themselves a Christian....and then stop.
(Judas an example, followed closely, then walked away, never became converted)
* A Born Again Christian or Converted IN Christ Christian reveals they have been Converted IN Christ , Saved and Born Again by the Power of God...
They can never become “unconverted, or unsaved, or unborn”. (OSAS premise).

The difference hangs on ...
WHAT POWER is KEEPING the person IN BELIEF?
The individuals? Who can walk away.
Or
Gods? Whose power is supreme, and “keeps” the person in Belief.

Scripture is full of examples of:
People hearing, and not believing
People hearing, believing, doubting, denying, believing, wondering, denying
People hearing, believing, following, not following.
People hearing, believing, confessing true belief and being Converted.

You may hear a person say, they used to believe, was water Baptized...but changed their mind.
Key word...MIND...God doesn’t search a man’s MINDful Confession. God searches a mans HEART for a Confession of Belief.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Cristo Rei]

I have been reading some stuff on this board, and I don't mean some things, I mean some stuff.(!)

I just want to know, please indulge me, what everyone's definition of Christian is?

Good question because i don't think i know myself...
As we see, there are some varied interpretations of what it means to be a Christian.

I was almost going to announce that im not a Christian because i don't understand how Jesus can also be God.
But then i discovered Christians who were in the same boat as me, their not trinitarians...

So then. Is there one true definition of Christian? Which one is it?
The answer appears to be subjective but considering that Christs name is in the word i would say a Christian accepts Christ as a saviour and his teachings. Thats my opinion anyway

 

[Pearl]

What is a Christian?

To put it simply a Christian is someone who belongs to God; who is a son or daughter in God’s family and to whom he is Father.

Now there are two ways we can legally belong to an earthly father. We can be born to him or we can be adopted by him. Either way we are his and he is ours for ever and nothing can ever change that.

Although everyone one of us has been created by God and are the works of his hands, we are not all part of his family. As in the natural so too in the spiritual; God only had one begotten son and that was Jesus the rest of us needed to be adopted or born again into his family.

That new birth comes when through the work of the Holy Spirit we ‘see the light’; have our eyes opened to the truth of the Gospel and respond in our hearts to God’s call on our lives by accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour by faith.

Once we’ve done that we belong to God; we are his son or daughter and nothing can ever change that fact; we are part of his family the Church.

We are now set apart for God and therefore holy in God’s sight.

It is not about conforming to a set of rules – that’s religion. It’s not about which church you choose to belong to – that’s a matter of choice. It’s not even about whether or not you read your bible – in whatever translation. It is your position in Christ that matters to God. There are only two alternatives – in Christ or not in Christ. It is not your performance that matters; it is not about how well you preach or how many hours you spend in prayer. No, the only thing that sets you apart and makes you holy is your heart’s response to the Living God.

Once you have made that decision to allow Jesus into your life you belong to the King of kings. You may end up being a prodigal – many do – but you will always be his child and he will always be your loving Father, there watching out for you every day and just waiting with open arms to welcome you back.

 

[Mayflower]

What does that mean in real terms SBG? Is it the same for all, or do people receive the HS in different ways?

Que?

 

[quietthinker]

those who are emotionally connected to Jesus have his spirt; they are his and he is theirs.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Since Jesus will reject "many" who claim him as their "Lord" at the judgment, it is really important to understand that being a Christian means more than just "believing"...it requires action, since Jesus said that the ones judged unworthy of life did not "do" the will of God....what then is the "will of God" for us? (Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus did the will of his Father and showed us how to do that too.
James also wrote that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:18, 19, 26).....so faith must be backed up by actions.

Faith in God and in his son is required but Jesus said...."And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Do we really "know" God and his Christ? How well do we know them? This is what it means to be a Christian.....this is how we gain "eternal [everlasting] life".....following their guidance and direction in all things, understanding what they taught and why....and doing what we are commanded to do.....no more, no less.

Your post got me really thinking, especially your first paragraph. Been sitting here with it for a few minutes.
Since you seem like a sister who might not get all defensive and shrieky in talking but who really likes to just discuss, I have some questions. I really don’t want to offend anyone and there are some people I just wouldn’t even ask these questions of, but here goes.

First, what would that action/works look like in, say…a quadriplegic Christian?

Second, could…cooking and serving dinner for a gathering be an example of that action maybe? Along the lines of Martha maybe?

Thirdly, do you think there is such a thing, as some old saint used to say, as “actives” versus “contemplatives” and if you think there may be, do you think they understand each other or do you think they don’t, as Martha complained about Mary?

 

[stunnedbygrace]

What does that mean in real terms SBG? Is it the same for all, or do people receive the HS in different ways?

Hah! What are you asking? How can it be answered? It would take pages, wouldn’t it? You can’t catch the wind in your hands in real terms and discuss it and examine it. Personal stories compiled might help, but even then, one person tells of a particular month, day and year of their life, and all they can say about it is, Fire! Oh! Fire! And another has no particular date but just says, He was always just there from childhood or, it was just a slow awareness that built over a few years. And people who had a dramatic moment of fire might not trust someone’s explanation as real who had a gradual, building awareness and vice versa. And then some people physically feel the Spirit, (moreso in the beginning, those tender brushes), in and on their own flesh and waves of something washing against and in that flesh.

There are so many different and varied stories of people trying to explain what happened or how it happened or what it feels like, or similar to, that your question can’t be answered in the real terms you want. And maybe that is why we were given a way to know (but even with that, there are the terrible twos and there are stages of lashing out in death throes, so distinction has to be…discerned otherwise sometimes by a good adviser), and that way we were given to know is love. Not as the world loves though, so there’s even confusion there.