We have discovered by talking to thousands of people on the streets of london that many have a wrong view of what a christian really is. some will say it is a person who lives a good life, some will tell you it's going to A church while others will tell you it's BEING BAPTISED OR CHRISTENED. NONE OF THESE ARE ACTUALLY TRUE! SHOCKED? the word 'CHRISTIAN' is found in the bible so let us examine the word...
The word christian is used 3 times in the bible and was first of all used as a name given to the disciples who followed Jesus Christ - thus Christ-ian, Acts 11:26. We should be familiar in our social media dominated world with the concept of following. But we are not born following someone, it is a conscious decision that you make upon learning of a specific person whom you trust and are prepared to follow. There must be something in the person that causes you to follow them. Sadly over the years many have followed people that have led them astray and even ended up in their death. Be careful who you follow!
WE ARE NOT BORN AS CHRISTIANS
You and I are not born following Jesus Christ. The same bible where we find the word christian tells us we are born as sinners. Rom 3:23. The bible also tells us that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim 1:15. This is a common mistake that many make, they think they were born as a christian because their parents were christians but the bible teaches us clearly that to be a christian is to undergo a massive change in your soul. Your parents may have christened you but that makes no difference in God's eyes. The change you require the bible calls 'conversion' or 'salvation.' We all need to be saved because our sin separates us from God. We cannot follow God or Christ while our sins remain unforgiven because our sin keeps us at a distance from God. But Jesus died upon the cross and paid the price for our sins and if we come to Him and trust Him we will be saved and on a new road that leads to Heaven when we die. It guarantees we will never be in Hell.
WE MUST TURN FROM OUR SIN AND TRUST JESUS CHRIST TO BE A CHRISTIAN
In Acts 26:28 the bible records the words of a King called Agrippa. They are sad words. He said, 'almost you persuade me to be a christian.' This tells us two very important things. 1) It tells me this man recognised he was NOT a christian but that he was interested in being one. 2) It tells us that the sad reality is many people choose not to be a christian because they love their sin, they enjoy popularity and don't want God to cramp their lifestyle. Does that describe you today as you read this? Almost persuaded? Be careful you don't miss God's salvation because if you die without Jesus Christ you will end up in Hell. God wants no one to be there that is why He loved you so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins. Thank God He rose from the dead the third day and therefore you can follow Him with confidence. Many world religions follow a dead man but we follow Jesus Christ, the living Son of God. That is what makes a christian unique.
CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MEAN HEALTHY AND WEALTHY
There is a false Gospel that is preached today which promises if you give your money to the church you will be blessed by God and you will be healed of diseases.
This is not the true christian Gospel. The bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:16 that a man or woman may suffer as a christian and if they do, to praise God because that is what Christ endured. The bible tells us 'Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us unto God.' 1 Peter 3:18. Maybe you are afraid to be a christian because of what your friends might say and how they might mock you. Don't forget that they will have to stand before God one day. How will they answer for their sins?
To summarise - being a christian is not infant baptism or sprinkling. It is not saying prayers or attending a church. None of these things will take you to Heaven. Jesus Christ taught He is the 'only way' and therefore you must turn from your sinful ways and admit that God is right - I have sinned and need the Saviour of sinners. You will realise that when He died, He died for your sin personally and so you must place your personal faith, reliance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The second you do that then you become a christian. You have started to follow the Lord Jesus, reading His word and being obedient to it. Are your a christian? Would you like to be a christian? How do you know if you are a christian? The bible God's word makes it so clear that if you believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ you will be immediately saved. You cannot be a christian if you were never saved.
'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Acts 16:31
WE ARE NOT BORN AS CHRISTIANS
You and I are not born following Jesus Christ. The same bible where we find the word christian tells us we are born as sinners. Rom 3:23. The bible also tells us that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Tim 1:15. This is a common mistake that many make, they think they were born as a christian because their parents were christians but the bible teaches us clearly that to be a christian is to undergo a massive change in your soul. Your parents may have christened you but that makes no difference in God's eyes. The change you require the bible calls 'conversion' or 'salvation.' We all need to be saved because our sin separates us from God. We cannot follow God or Christ while our sins remain unforgiven because our sin keeps us at a distance from God. But Jesus died upon the cross and paid the price for our sins and if we come to Him and trust Him we will be saved and on a new road that leads to Heaven when we die. It guarantees we will never be in Hell.
WE MUST TURN FROM OUR SIN AND TRUST JESUS CHRIST TO BE A CHRISTIAN
In Acts 26:28 the bible records the words of a King called Agrippa. They are sad words. He said, 'almost you persuade me to be a christian.' This tells us two very important things. 1) It tells me this man recognised he was NOT a christian but that he was interested in being one. 2) It tells us that the sad reality is many people choose not to be a christian because they love their sin, they enjoy popularity and don't want God to cramp their lifestyle. Does that describe you today as you read this? Almost persuaded? Be careful you don't miss God's salvation because if you die without Jesus Christ you will end up in Hell. God wants no one to be there that is why He loved you so much that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins. Thank God He rose from the dead the third day and therefore you can follow Him with confidence. Many world religions follow a dead man but we follow Jesus Christ, the living Son of God. That is what makes a christian unique.
CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MEAN HEALTHY AND WEALTHY
There is a false Gospel that is preached today which promises if you give your money to the church you will be blessed by God and you will be healed of diseases.
This is not the true christian Gospel. The bible tells us in 1 Peter 4:16 that a man or woman may suffer as a christian and if they do, to praise God because that is what Christ endured. The bible tells us 'Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us unto God.' 1 Peter 3:18. Maybe you are afraid to be a christian because of what your friends might say and how they might mock you. Don't forget that they will have to stand before God one day. How will they answer for their sins?
To summarise - being a christian is not infant baptism or sprinkling. It is not saying prayers or attending a church. None of these things will take you to Heaven. Jesus Christ taught He is the 'only way' and therefore you must turn from your sinful ways and admit that God is right - I have sinned and need the Saviour of sinners. You will realise that when He died, He died for your sin personally and so you must place your personal faith, reliance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The second you do that then you become a christian. You have started to follow the Lord Jesus, reading His word and being obedient to it. Are your a christian? Would you like to be a christian? How do you know if you are a christian? The bible God's word makes it so clear that if you believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ you will be immediately saved. You cannot be a christian if you were never saved.
'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Acts 16:31