What is a Real Christian According to the Bible?
In today’s world, there are a ton of different answers to that question. Here are 5 popular answers:
#1 An American is a Christian
Some think that America and most European nations are Christian nations, and therefore, the citizens of those nations are automatically Christians. Certainly, there are many Christians in those nations, but that doesn’t mean that the citizens of those nations are all Christians. Just like not all Israelis are Jewish or Italians are Catholic. People are not Christians by virtue of their nationality.
#2 A good person is a Christian
Others would suggest that if one lives with high moral principles, then he or she is a Christian. If you are a providing father, loving mother, generous, kind, and forgiving, then you are perceived as a Christian.
But what about Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims who attempt to live with high moral principles? Are they Christians? While Christians live with high moral principles, it is not only their lifestyle that makes them Christian.
#3 If you believe in God you are a Christian
Once again, people in other religions like Judaism and Islam believe in God, but are they Christians? I don’t even think they would like to be called Christians! While Christians definitely believe in God, simply believing in God is not sufficient to become a Christian.
#4 People who go to church are Christians
Christians definitely “go to church,” i.e., assemble with the saints. But Unitarian Universalists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and members of lesser-known cults also go to church. are they Christians? Church attendance doesn’t make you a Christian.
Then we come to the most common definition:
#5 Someone who believes in Jesus Christ is a Christian
Once again, Christians definitely believe in Jesus Christ. But is belief in Jesus enough to make you a Christian? Muslims believe in Jesus. Demons believe in Jesus. Many atheists believe in the historical Jesus. Are they Christians?
This question can be so confusing, and that is exactly the way Satan likes it.
We hear all types of people and places called “Christian” without much thought given to the Biblical definition of “Christian”:
“That’s a Christian school.”
“That’s a Christian tire shop.”
“He is a good Christian man.”
If we want to know what a Christian truly is, we need to go to the Bible and see what the Bible says a Christian is.
The Word “Christian” in Scripture
You might be surprised that the term Christian is only found in the Bible 3 times.
The first time is in Acts 11:26 where the Bible says:
“The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26 | NKJV)
This was many years after Jesus had ascended back to heaven, and the church had grown dramatically. Later in Acts, when Paul was recounting his conversion and proclaiming Christ to King Agrippa, The King said to Paul:
“‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’” (Acts 26:28 | NKJV)
Then finally, Peter writes:
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Peter 4:16 | NKJV)
That’s it, that’s all there is. But that is 100% sufficient for us to know without a doubt what a Christian is according to God.
God says,
“The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26 | NKJV)
So a Christian is a disciple of Christ. Okay, but what is a disciple, and how do you become one? Once again, the Bible has the answer. Let’s start by looking up the word in a Greek dictionary and see if that sheds any light on it.
μαθητής
one who engages in learning through instruction from another, pupil, apprentice
one who is rather constantly associated with someone who has a pedagogical reputation or a particular set of views, disciple, adherent
(Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 609. Print.)
So a disciple of Christ is a pupil or apprentice of Christ. But how do you become one?
How are Disciples Made?
Let’s look at what Jesus Himself said in the Great Commission. Jesus gave the Great Commission after his crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. He had already established the New Covenant and was about to return to heaven. These are some of Christ’s final words that He spoke on earth, and this is what He said to His apostles who would be left to carry on His work.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” (Matthew 28:18–20 | NKJV)
The verb “make disciples” is in the imperative mood, meaning it is a command, and the participles “baptizing” and “teaching” tell us how it is to be done. So, a person is made a “disciple” (in this specialized use of the term) by being baptized into a relationship with God and being taught His word.
So there we have it! A Christian is a disciple, and a disciple is someone who has been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and has been taught to follow Christ’s teachings.
However, in the Gospels, we find other qualifications for being a disciple or Christian. For example:
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)
”Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27 | ESV)
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33 | ESV)
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35 | ESV)
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV)
So then, one becomes a disciple (or a Christian) by being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and being taught to observe all things that Christ has commanded. We then prove we are truly disciples by the way we follow those commands.
This opens up a lot of other questions like:
What is baptism?
What is the purpose of baptism?
Do you have to be baptized to be saved?
Who should be baptized?
Should infants be baptized?
Is there ever a need to be "re-baptized"?
We’ve made a series of videos to answer these questions from the Bible that you can watch here. Or you can continue your study with other articles on this website. We hope you find them helpful!
