What is a Christian?

This morning’s message asks a question. What is a Christian? I really believe there is much confusion over what a real Christian is. Even though we live in the Bible belt and as some have said, North Carolina is the belt buckle. There is still a great misunderstanding as to what or who Christians are.

In fact, if you were to take a survey of ten citizens selected at random, I’m convinced you’d come up with just about as many different answers.

How would you answer that question? What is a Christian?

Let me begin this morning by stating some things a Christian is not.

1. A Christian is not someone who is morally upright.

By morally upright I mean a good person. A person with deeply held moral values about what is right and wrong. And they live their lives accordingly.

Don’t get me wrong. I do believe that a Christian certainly should be a person who has high morals and a Christian should be a good person. But simply living a good life, the best you can, does not make you a Christian. (The Bible is full of persons who lived good lives. Persons who believed in God. Examples of Nicodemus and the rich young ruler.)

2. A Christian is not someone who is helpful, or kind, or nice, or friendly, etc.

Again, a Christian ought to be helpful. A Christian ought to be kind, and nice and friendly. But you don’t have to be a Christian to be helpful, or kind, or friendly. A Hindu can be kind. Some of the nicest people I know are Mormons, but they’re not Christians, (I don’t care what Jimmy Carter says).

3. A Christian is not someone who is a church member.

Please hear me now. I believe a Christian ought to be a member of the church, but being a church member doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than living in a garage makes you a car.

Too many people equate being a church member with being a Christian. They think because they have joined the church, or because they have been raised in the church

they are Christians. Some people have been confirmed, or because they successfully completed catechism, that they must be a Christian. Not so!

4. A Christian is not someone who has been raised in a Christian home.

Being a Christian is not cultural or hereditary. (I could not believe my ears as a college student when I heard my Chemistry professor say he was a Christian because he lived in a Christian nation and he grew up in a Christian home).

It is a wonderful thing to grow up in a Christian home where mom and dad are Christians, but it will not make you a Christian. You can’t get to heaven clinging to your parents’ coattails.

5. A Christian is not someone who has been baptized.

The bible teaches that every Christian ought to be baptized. For a Christian not to be baptized is disobedience. Yet baptism does not make you a Christian. I like the way the old country preacher said it. “You can be baptized so many times that you know every frog in the pond, but if you’re not a Christian before you go in, then you go in a dry sinner and come out a wet sinner.”

6. A Christian is not someone who has walked an aisle of the church, prayed a prayer, shook the preacher’s hand and sat down.

Now that we know what a Christian is not, let’s discover what a Christian really is.

I. A CHRISTIAN IS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SAVED, v. 8

“for by grace are ye saved”

A. Saved from Sin, verse 1

B. Saved from Self, verse 2

C. Saved from Satan, verse 2 and John 10:10a “the thief comes not but to…”

D. Saved from the Second Death, verse 1 (Apollo 13 Moon Mission-RESCUED)

E. Saved by Something. Saved by works, goodness, no, but God’s grace.

Grace is God giving us that which we don’t deserve. What we deserve is death and hell. But God in His love for us granted grace and salvation to us through His son Jesus Christ.

It’s not what we do, but what He has done that we are saved. (Moody and the Mormon on a long train trip. Moody said, “I’ve come to the conclusion that there are only two letters that separate your religion from mine. “Do” and “Done.” You believe

there is something you must do to secure your salvation whereas I believe Jesus Christ has already done everything that needs to be done for my salvation!)

II. A CHRISTIAN IS SOMEONE WHO IS SURE

Can you imagine any of the New Testament Christians not having assurance of their salvation? Peter, are you sure you’re a Christian? Peter wouldn’t say, “I hope so.” I’m doing my best. I think I am. Maybe I am.” Oh no, Peter would say,

2 Peter 1:10

Brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure

Or Paul, “Paul, can a person really know for sure they are saved, that they’re a Christian? Would you expect to hear Paul say, “Well you know, I’ve thought about that for a long time. I’ve concluded that no one can really know that for sure.”

On no. We’d hear Paul say,

2 Timothy 1:12

I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (KJV)

The Bible tells us we can know for sure. 1 John 5:13

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)

How can you know? Three evidences of your salvation:

1. The External Assurance, 1 John 3:14

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.

2. The Internal Assurance, 1 John 4:13

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (KJV)

3. The Eternal Assurance, 1 John 5:11-12

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (KJV)

III. A CHRISTIAN IS SOMEONE WHO IS SEPARATED

The Bible says of a Christian, “come out from among them (unbelievers) and be ye separate.” God intends for his people to be separate from this world’s ways, it’s thoughts and its philosophies.

1 John 2:15

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (KJV)

Romans 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

This world has its own standards, customs, morals, values and lifestyles. It is often represented by its fashions, its music, religion and amusements. The true Christian is a changed person. Our “want to” should be different.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

If you are truly a Christian, then you are going to follow the beat of a different drummer. (Gospel Song - “There are some things I cannot do. There are some places I cannot go.”

Conclusion: Acts 16:30-31

what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (KJV)

Becoming a Christian, a real Christian is as simple as A.B.C.

A—Admit that you are a sinner, you’re lost and you need a savior

B—Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for your forgiveness and rose again for your justification.

C—Commit your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Come to Him today and give Jesus the control of your life.

Every head bowed and every eye closed.

Are you a Christian today? If you know that to be true, you know you’ve trusted Christ as your savior, you have assurance of salvation and your life has been changed as evidence of that fact, if you know that, raise your hand.

Those who did not raise your hand, listen to me. I’m about to ask you to do something that could change your life! If you want to become a real Christian today, just listen to what I say. The bible says “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Remember what I told you. It’s as simple as A.B.C.

Admit that you’re a sinner in need of a savior.

Believe that Jesus has the power to save you,

Commit your life to Him today.

Pray with me this prayer…….

Now if you prayed that prayer, just lift your hand up right now.

Now those of you who raised your hand and prayed that prayer, just look up at me right now.

Did you mean business with God when you prayed that prayer? If so, then you just got saved.

Aren’t you glad? Doesn’t that make you happy?

Listen, the Bible says that when we receive Jesus Christ as our savior that we are to confess him publicly before others. I’m going to ask you who just prayed that prayer and Jesus saved you to get up out of your seat right now and come and stand down front with me.