What Is a Christian, Really?

If you ask ten people what a Christian is, you’d probably get ten different answers. Some will describe a set of beliefs. Others will talk about a moral code or a church tradition. Folks might even focus on what Christians don’t do. Truth is, lots of people think they know what a Christian is, but they’re not sure.

At its core, being a Christian isn’t primarily about rules, labels, or a cultural identity. Being a Christian is about a relationship. One shaped by grace, grounded in truth, and centered on a Person.

So what is a Christian?

A Christian Is Someone Who Belongs to Christ

The word Christian first appears in Acts 11:26. It literally means “belonging to Christ” or “of the party of Christ.”

Acts‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Early believers weren’t given this name because they claimed it. People called them Christians because their lives looked like Jesus.

A Christian is someone who:

• Trusts Christ
• Follows Christ
• Reflects Christ

Not perfectly. Not flawlessly. But sincerely, humbly, and with growing faith. To be a Christian is to live an imperfect life with perfect hope.

A Christian Trusts Jesus as Savior

At the heart of Christianity is a simple, powerful confession:

Jesus Christ is Lord.
(Romans 10:9)

A Christian is someone who believes:

• Jesus is the Son of God
• Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live
• He died the death we deserved
• He rose again in victory
• He offers forgiveness and new life through grace, not our own effort

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Christianity is not a matter of moral self-improvement. It is not a badge of goodness. It’s not about how great we are.

It’s about rescue.
It’s about redemption.
It’s about grace.

It’s all about Jesus.

A Christian Follows Jesus as Lord

Salvation is a gift, but discipleship is a journey.

Jesus invites us to follow Him. To learn His ways, obey His teaching, and pattern our lives after His example. Jesus calls us to be imitators of Him. A Christian isn’t defined by perfection, but by direction. The Holy Spirit continues shaping us, guiding us, and transforming us from the inside out.

A Christian is someone who says, “Lord, here I am. Lead me.”

A Christian Belongs to God’s Family

Christianity is personal, but it’s never private. As believers, we are part of the family of God.

When we belong to Christ, we belong to His people. Scripture calls the Church:

• A body
• A family
• A fellowship
• A spiritual house

Christians gather not because we have it all figured out, but because we need one another. Christians encourage each other. We worship, serve, and grow in our faith together.

A Christian Lives Out Their Faith

We don’t earn salvation by doing good works, but good works naturally flow from a heart transformed by Jesus.

A Christian is someone learning to:

• Love God
• Love their neighbor
• Forgive as they’ve been forgiven
• Extend grace
• Pursue justice
• Walk humbly
• Serve generously

We don’t do these things to gain God’s love, but because we are loved.

A Christian Is Being Made New

One of the most beautiful truths of the gospel is this:

Jesus doesn’t just save us. He transforms us.

A Christian is someone God is making new, day by day, season by season, moment by moment. We still stumble. We still struggle. But grace keeps picking us up and pointing us forward.

So What Is a Christian?

A Christian is someone who:

• Believes in Jesus
• Belongs to Jesus
• Becomes more like Jesus

It’s not about having all the answers.
It’s not about a perfect track record.
It’s not about wearing the right label.

It’s about Jesus and His grace, His truth, His life, and His love.

Everything else flows from there.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

You can now find my articles in The Christian Grandfather Magazine.

---

Please hit me up if you have questions or drop a comment below. And please subscribe to my blog!

---

#bgbg2#BibleGateway

The Stigma Stops Here.🛑

#mentalhealthmatters

© 2025 Rainer Bantau | The Devotional Guy™ | All Rights Reserved