What is a Christian? This seems like it should be a very easy question to answer, yet it does not seem to be answered easily. We hear the number of “Christians” in the world as being over one billion people, yet Jesus was very clear that not many are being called now (Matt. 6:33-34: Luke 12:32 “little flock”; Matt. 20:16; Matt. 22:14; Luke 10:2 and Luke 13:23-24).
God’s Word reveals that the vast majority of people will be raised up in the future and given their chance to meet and obey God (Rev. 20:12-15).

It is curious that we often call “nice” people “Christian”.  When did “nice” become the definition of a Christian? In Church and in conversation, the term “Christian” is used quite regularly to describe many people.

It would be good to define some terms of what is “meant” or understood by most of this world, when one uses the word “Christian”.

• A “nominal Christian” being one who lives in a Christian Nation but does not attend church.
• A “marginal Christian” being one who attends church on Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals.
• A “professing Christian” being one who attends church regularly, Easter, Christmas, funerals, weddings, is a “nice” person, gives to the poor, serves at church, and believes in the Jesus he or she has been taught about and has good feelings…

Question: Are these Biblical definitions of what a Christian truly is?  
Answer: No! Not by God’s definition of a Christian.

What then is God’s definition of a Christian?

A Christian is someone who has been called of God (John 6:44), repented of their sins (Acts 2:38), been baptized by full immersion (Acts 2:38), and then had the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18) to receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9 and Acts 2:38), to become part of the body of Christ (I Cor. 10:16-17; 12:12,20,27; Eph. 5:30; Col. 1:18;3:15).

This newly begotten “Christian” then goes on to live a life of obedience to God and His law (Rom. 2:13; 3:31; 6:1-2,15,23;7:12;8:6-9;13:8-10; I Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-23; I John 2:3-6; 3:4, 22; 5:3; Rev. 20:12-15; 21:8. God expects His family to keep His laws.  

What must one do to be baptized?

“Mark 1:15 tells us to “repent and believe the gospel.” These two conditions are what is expected of the budding young Christian, “repent” and “believe”.  Also, Mark 16:15-16 Jesus tells us to “believe and be baptized”.” Believe includes obedience to God’s Law. Jesus said it, therefore we must do these things to be a Christian.”

What scriptures back up the given definition of a Christian?  I Cor. 7:19; John 15:10; Matt. 19:16-19; I John 3:22-24; John 15:10; 14:15; Rev. 22:14-15; I John 2:3-4; 3:4; Matt. 7:21.

God says to be a Christian we must repent of sin, be baptized by full immersion, have the laying on of hands and then receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in us. And, God is also very clear, as Christians, we must keep His Commandments. 

Here’s a helpful link to a sermon that will shed some light on this topic, entitled “Which Tree are We Eating From?”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuMXvb3HjDc .