¿What is a Christian? 

Many claim to be Christians, but what is really a true Christian? Is it enough to just "believe in Jesus Christ" or does it take more than this? 

Christianity is the world's largest religion, with more than two billion adherents. But most of these people don't have a clear idea of ​​what it means to be a true Christian. Is it enough to believe in Jesus Christ to be a Christian? Is Christianity only an emotional religious experience or a momentary decision?

What does it mean to be a true Christian according to the Bible? Many Christian people say they have had a religious experience and have "accepted Jesus." However, their lives remain the same as before going through that experience.

So what is a true Christian?

Anyone who takes their convictions seriously should ask themselves, "What is a true Christian?" What differentiates a Christian from an ordinary person? Who or what has the authority to answer these questions? Where should we look for an answer?

Only the Bible can answer these questions. In Acts 11:26 we read that "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." In this passage, the word "Christian" means "follower of Christ" and "disciple" means "student" or "apprentice", which is very useful information for us. A true Christian is not one who simply believes in Jesus Christ. A true Christian is a follower and apprentice of Jesus Christ. In other words, being a Christian involves striving to imitate the example of Christ throughout life.

Whoever claims to be a Christian should demonstrate it by living as Christ lived; that is, doing what He did and avoiding what He avoided. In short, Christianity is a way of life. A true disciple of Jesus is one who follows him and tries to live according to his example.

Being a Christian is deeper than it seems

Being a true Christian is much deeper than it seems. If we want to follow Christ, we must first study his life to know what he did and how he lived. The Apostle Paul's teaching to Christians is: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11: 2, emphasis added)). It is not enough to have the emotional experience of "giving our hearts to God" or saying that we are "Christians" to be true Christians; we must live imitating the example of Jesus day after day. In 1 John 2: 6, the apostle John explains more about it: "He who says that he abides in him [in Jesus Christ] must walk as he walked."

But how did Christ live on earth? The four New Testament Gospels tell us what Christ did during his life. Jesus dedicated his life to serving God and others; he always obeyed the laws and commandments of God and subjected his will to that of the Father. Being a true Christian involves a radical change in our lives — the Bible calls it “repentance” —that is to stop thinking and acting as human beings normally do.

A Christian dresses the new man

The apostle Paul teaches us that, as learners of Jesus Christ, we need to make changes in our lives; “If indeed you have heard him, and have been taught by him, according to the truth that is in Jesus. As for the past way of living, get rid of the old man, who is flawed according to deceitful desires, and renew yourself in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God in the justice and holiness of the truth ” (Ephesians 4: 21-24).

This implies that when we follow Christ and make changes to resemble Him, our way of thinking and living will become different than it was before. This transformation is a life-long process through which we will become more and more like Jesus Christ.

Paul's teaching to the Christians in Rome gives us more details about this process; In Romans 13:14 the apostle advises us, as followers of Christ — or Christians: "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not provide for the lust of the flesh." Here again we see that Christianity is a way of life and not just an emotional experience.

What else does it take to be a true Christian?

But being a true Christian requires something more. To give our lives to Christ we must repent of our sins and submit our will to that of God. As Paul says, we must first be baptized so that our sins are forgiven, and then strive to sin no more. "For we are buried together with him for death by baptism, so that as Christ rose from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also walk in new life" (Romans 6: 4).

And, in the book of Galatians, Paul clarifies this further by explaining that "all of you who have been baptized into Christ are clothed with Christ" (Galatians 3:27). To be "clothed with Christ" is to completely change our way of thinking and start living according to the word of God (Matthew 4: 4).

Furthermore, Romans 8: 9-10 reveals to us that, after being baptized, a Christian needs to receive the Holy Spirit — the power that will enable him to overcome sinful habits and thoughts. Paul writes: “But you do not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, it is not his. But if Christ is in you, the body is truly dead because of sin, but the spirit lives because of justice. " A true Christian is a person who has received the Holy Spirit of God, through whom Jesus Christ can live within a person.

The Spirit of God is indispensable for the life of a true Christian. As the apostle Paul explains in verses 13-14 of Romans 8, “if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God ”(emphasis added).

But just having the Holy Spirit is not enough either. In addition, a true Christian must allow himself to be guided by the Spirit in order to "get rid of the old man", "put on Christ" and become a new man.

What is a true Christian?

Being a true Christian is more than "believing in Jesus Christ" or "accepting Christ in our hearts". A true Christian is an active follower and imitator of Jesus Christ who has given his life to him, has been baptized and has received the Holy Spirit; He is the person who strives to “put on Christ” —to live as Jesus Christ lived on earth.

A true Christian is always struggling against sin and trying to become more and more like Christ, trying to be "perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). This is a life-long process, not a decision or experience of the moment. And it is a commitment that will be eternally rewarded, because if we are true Christians, we will be eternal heirs of the kingdom of God together with Jesus Christ, our older Brother!