What is a Christian?

There are a lot of different answers to that question. Some think a Christian is a good person who follows the golden rule. Others claim that a Christian is a person who believes in God, prays and attends church.  Some might say that a Christian is a person who goes to church and thinks that they are better than everyone else.

Can we even know what really makes someone a Christian?

Thankfully the answer is "Yes!" The answer is found in the one place that resolves this confusion— the Bible. The Bible is the authority on all things Christian, and the Bible alone can teach us what it is to be a Christian.

The Bible says that nobody's perfect, even Christians.

Surprised? Most people are when they hear that for the first time; yet that is what the Bible states. Of course that is not the whole story; but that is the first part. The Bible tells us that: all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Bible claims that there is not one person (including Christians) in the world who has not sinned and fallen short. The Bible also tells us that the punishment for sin is death, which means total separation from God. This presents a serious problem for all of us; because we all know that we are far from perfect. Thankfully this is where the good news comes —”God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). What does this mean?

 The Bible tells us the reason that Jesus came and lived a life on this Earth was to die for us. The Bible tells us that Jesus lived a perfect life in which He committed no sin. The Bible also tells us that because of His great love, when Jesus died on the cross He took the punishment for our sin upon Himself. When Jesus rose from the grave, He defeated the grave and made freedom from sin and death available to mankind. The Bible tells us that by believing in Jesus and turning away from our lives of sin we can be forgiven of our wrong doings and receive eternal life, meaning never having to be separate from God again.

How do I become a Christian?

Between you and God, simply pray to Him. Talk to Him and tell Him that you acknowledge that He alone is God. Tell God that you realize that you are a sinner and that you are unable to save yourself, and that you need Jesus to save you.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”—Romans 10:9

what DO ChristianS DO?

A Christian is still a person who knows that he or she is not perfect. A Christian is a person who understands that on their own they cannot make it, so they chose a different path.  Ultimately a Christian is a person who in faith, believes that the only way to be right with God is to trust and hope in the power and work of Jesus Christ alone. Simply put, a Christian is a sinner saved forever by Jesus. The apostle Paul, one of the most famous Christians of all time, put it this way: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15).

God designed us to live this life together; being a Christian isn’t something you can do alone.  We gather together, at church on Sundays and throughout the week in community groups, to encourage and support each other.  If you are curious about faith and want a safe place to ask questions and learn from others in a similar place, get in touch today!

HAVE QUESTIONS?

If you have more questions about the idea of being a Christian or want to know more about Wellspring Church, we would love to talk with you.  Contact us at church@wellspringcc.org or at (616) 662-8955 if you'd like to know more.