An enormous number of people around the Globe claim to be Christians, around 33% of the World population, which becomes around 2.2 billion , but their beliefs , teachings and practices vary extremely different from place to place. But a natural question arises quite often among many of us, who is a CHRISTIAN, what does this particular term mean to me as a Christian, Is it a Religion , As we see in the above Chart , the world describes it as a Religion, For me what is it ?
The name Christian we find a couple of places in the Holy Bible, The first one is mentioned in Acts 11:26- And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
This states that the Disciples / Followers of JESUS CHRIST were called Christians in an insulting sense, but as time went on believers embraced the term as a badge of witness and honor. Then the next question arises quite naturally, are all Christians followers of Christ?
Just before Jesus Christ ascended to heaven there is a great command to his disciples which is mentioned in Gospel of Mathew Ch:28 vs.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The above mentioned verses are the basics of a Christian, i.e to know who is Jesus Christ, what was the purpose of Jesus Christ coming to this world, then to follow his teachings & commands and live a Christ like life.
Who is Jesus Christ ?
1- John :10-30- I and my Father are one. (Jesus Christ is God)
2- John :10-36- Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (Jesus Christ is God Incarnate) & (Jesus Christ addresses himself as Son of God)
3- Words of Apostle Paul : Titus 2: 13-Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
4- Words of Apostle Peter:2nd Peter 1:1-Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
5- Words of Disciple Thomas: John 20: 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
6- Certification from God the Heavenly father: Mathew17: 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
The answer to who is Jesus Christ is – Jesus Christ is God who came down to this world taking the form a Man and addresses himself as Son of God in this World and Heavenly Father certifies Jesus Christ as his Son while he is in this world.
What was the Purpose of Jesus Christ coming to this world ?
John 3- 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He 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.
The purpose of Jesus Christ coming to this world was God’s plan of eternal Salvation to mankind who once disbelieved, rebelled and turn away from God, through the vicarious sacrifice of his son on the cross of Calvary.
What to believe
Romans 5: 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans10- 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Who are Sinners and What are types of Sin.
Romans 3: 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17And the way of peace have they not known:
18There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
29Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
All those who are born in this world are sinners by birth. Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of Jews but for the whole Mankind.
Conclusion :- Based on the above writings Let me conclude like this , billions of people around the Globe who claim themselves as a Christians , are they true followers of Christ. For me I am proud to be a Christian because I am Christian by faith , I believe that I am a sinner by birth and in order to redeem me from my Sin, My Savior Lord Jesus Christ who was God himself came in the form of man to this world to become a live sacrifice to wash away my sins and has raised me from the dead . And I have confessed with my mouth the same by the Inspiration of Holy Spirit. Soon after as per the great command witnessed my Lord in Waters by Immersion, leading a life pleasing to God as per the guidance of Holy Spirit & following the ordinances and teaching as per the Holy Scriptures.
We ought to be perfect and are to live a Christ like life as a true Christian, but as we live in this mortal world, many a times, in spite of being redeemed from our sins by the precious blood of Christ, we stray away from the truth several times disgracing the sacrifice of our Savior. If we have done so we have to reconcile and ask pardon from our Heavenly father and remain as true witnesses till the end. Christian life is not a bed of Roses, there are thorns always , so being born in Christian family or in a Christian community, with a locket of cross in the neck chain , doesn’t make anyone a Christian , but by only accepting Lord Jesus Christ Individually as their Personal Savior , and by following his ordinances one is a Christian. So based on the above passage let each one of us those are reading this passage answer to themselves
- Am ‘I’ a CHRISTIAN-
By, Sam V Joseph
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