What does it mean to be a Christian?

If you ask people today what it means to be a Christian you will likely get a wide assortment of answers. Even from Christians you may get answers like, "I think being a Christian means..."

Well I know it doesn't really matter what I think a Christian is. What really matters is what God says a Christian is. Here is what I have found the Bible (God's holy word) to say:

The Bible is God's true and holy word, from cover to cover

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

The Bible is comprised of many books written over a long period of time but they are all given to us by God. It's not just a book of rules or some old fable to help you live a better life. Parts of it are historical records of events that took place, parts are rules that God set for us to live by, other parts are prophetic poems and songs, and still others tell of things to come, but it is ALL given to us by God because He decided it is what we need to know. Christians believe this.

God created everything from nothing

I didn't copy it all here, but the book of Genesis gives a full account of creation. Here are some important points.

God created everything in literally six days. There was no big bang and we did not slowly evolve over millions of years. He even emphasized that it was a literal six days by saying for each day, "And there was evening, and there was morning - the first day." and the second and the third, etc. as if to say "Let there be no doubt here. I'm talking about a literal six days."
God created animals and man on day six and each was created to reproduce "after his own kind", not to change into a different kind. Over long periods of time some characteristics of some kinds of animals may change but science has never documented a single case of one species of animal evolving into another.
God created man "In God's own image", not in the image of an ape, monkey, fish, or amoeba that would later evolve into modern man.
For much more information on this subject, you should visit the website Answers in Genesis

We have all sinned against God.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. Isaiah 53:6

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that no man (except for Jesus Christ, the son of God) has ever been able to live a perfectly sinless life.

Sin is any disobedience to God's law. The more one studied law the more one realizes that the law cannot save us. It only serves as proof that no one is perfect. From the time we are born we begin breaking the law no matter how good we try to live.

So what does this mean? Why is it important to note that we are all sinners? Read on...

The punishment for sin is death and eternal separation from God.

The first death of any kind recorded in the Bible is in Genesis where God killed the animal to make a covering for Adam and Eve after they had sinned. Before sin, there was no death.

So now that we have all sinned and the punishment for sin is death how can anybody ever hope to make it to heaven and to be with God? This is where Jesus comes in. But who was Jesus? It is very important to note that Jesus was much more than just a great prophet or teacher. Jesus was God's very own son.

Jesus is God's only son

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:18-23

Jesus never sinned, but died to pay for our sins.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; I Corinthians 15:3

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Since Jesus never sinned He was not required to die, yet He chose to die in order to pay for our sins. If Jesus had sinned He would not have been able to die for our sins because He would have had to die for His own.

Jesus commissioned us to go and tell everybody

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 am with you always, to the very end of the age."

And why wouldn't Christians want to tell everyone the good news? Can you think of anything more exciting than eternal life? Anything more important? Whenever we hear of something very exciting or very important the first thing we want to do is to share it with someone we care about. If you really believe then you should want to tell everyone! That is what being a Christian is all about.

What is a Christian?