Are You a Christian?
Is a Christian just a person who thinks that there is a God? What do Christians think? Is a Christian simply a person that was born in a Christian Nation? Is a Christian simply a person that thinks their good works will get them to heaven? Is a Christian simply someone who believes some of the events in God’s Bible? Is a Christian simply a person who lives a better life than the other people around them? The answer to these questions is in one word NO.
The answer believe it or not is extremely simple. A Christian is a person who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he came and died on the cross to take the penalty for their sins. Are you a Christian? John 3:16 (NIV) says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:17 (NIV) goes on to say: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:18 (NIV) says even more: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Are you a Christian?
What is a Christian? You see just believing in a God or trying to be “good” just isn’t enough. Jesus made this crystal clear when he stated in John 14:6 (NIV): “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus declared that he is the only way to the Father. While the world attempts to make their own way to heaven, Jesus declared it won’t work. People try to tell us that there are many ways to Heaven, but Jesus says that he is the only way. God’s word tells us that multitudes of people be condemned to Hell for believing the lies of this world. Are you a Christian?
God provided us his Ten Commandments to show us that we fall short and cannot live the holy life that he requires. What do Christians believe? Not any of us can keep the Ten Commandments. Ever since man fell from God in the Garden of Eden we have had a fallen and corrupted nature that is most of the time contrary to God’s nature. Jesus said if we look at a woman with thoughts of lust then we’ve committed adultery in our heart. He said if we are angry with a brother then we’ve committed murder in our heart. We just can’t live up to God’s required perfection. That is why Jesus became a man. He lived a perfect life. He owed no debt. He gave his life in our place and paid our debt for us if we will only believe in Him.
We all come up lacking. We’ve all made wrong decisions. We’ve all sinned before God. We’re all lost and headed for hell in our fallen bodies. Our only hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ who loved us [enough to die for us|and died for us|and gave his life for us. He offers us a new life with him for eternity and freedom from the debt we owe. What is a Christian? A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus and follows him. You can be a Christian now. It’s that simple!
About the Author: Brad Weese is a believer in Jesus Christ and what Jesus accomplished by shedding his perfect blood on the cross for the forgiveness of sins for all who believe. What is a Christian? Brad wants to share the good news so others will have the same hope he has in the risen Son of God. Brad has more articles on his website: http://www.graftedbygod.com/
You can email brad at: info@graftedbygod.com
