What Is a Christian?
The word Christian appears everywhere—from social media bios to census forms—but what does it really mean? Is it someone who believes in God, someone who tries to be a good person, or someone who goes to church? According to the Bible, a Christian is someone who has given their full allegiance to Jesus Christ as King. This article defines what it means to be a Christian in light of Scripture, early church practice, and the Gospel message that Jesus is Lord.
1. A Christian Confesses Jesus as the Risen King
Being a Christian begins with recognizing that Jesus is not just a historical figure, moral teacher, or religious leader—he is the reigning King and promised Messiah. Acts 2:36 declares, “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
To become a Christian is to acknowledge this truth publicly. This is not a mere intellectual belief but a declaration of loyalty—a confession that Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth. It is an act of transfer: from allegiance to self or the world, to allegiance to Christ the King.
2. A Christian Pledges Allegiance Through Repentance and Baptism
Peter’s call in Acts 2:38—“Repent and be baptized... in the name of Jesus Christ”—shows that allegiance to Jesus is not merely internal or symbolic. Repentance is the turning away from rival kingdoms. Baptism is the visible pledge of loyalty, a boundary marker that declares, “I belong to King Jesus.”
This public act of commitment was always part of becoming a Christian in the early church. According to The Gospel is Bigger than You Think, baptism functions not merely as a ritual but as enacted allegiance, a line drawn between the old life and new Kingdom citizenshipThe Gospel is Bigger th….
3. A Christian Lives Under the Rule of Jesus
Jesus didn’t only come to forgive sins—he came to establish a Kingdom. Colossians 1:13 says believers are “transferred into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” This Kingdom has a King, and that King has commands. To follow Jesus is to submit joyfully to his authority in every area of life.
A Christian does not treat faith as a private belief system or moral code. Instead, their life becomes a public declaration of Jesus’ Lordship. They obey his commands, not to earn salvation, but because his reign is good and liberating.
4. A Christian Is Being Transformed by the Holy Spirit
Faithful allegiance is never carried out by human strength alone. A true Christian receives the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to walk in obedience, produce spiritual fruit, and be conformed to Christ’s image (Romans 8:29). Sanctification is not optional—it’s the expected trajectory of every loyal subject of the King.
As The Gospel is Bigger than You Think emphasizes, grace is never just pardon—it is power. It not only forgives, it transformsThe Gospel is Bigger th….
5. A Christian Belongs to the Body of Christ
To be a Christian is to be joined not just to Christ, but to his people. Acts 2:41–42 shows that those who were baptized immediately joined the fellowship of believers. The New Testament knows nothing of private Christianity. Believers are adopted into a covenant family, and loyalty to Jesus includes love for his Church.
The church becomes the visible expression of Jesus’ reign on earth. A Christian gathers regularly with others, commits to shared worship and mission, and lives in community under pastoral care and mutual accountability.
6. A Christian Lives in Hope of the King’s Return
Finally, a Christian lives with their eyes fixed on the future. Jesus has already been enthroned, but his return will bring the full manifestation of his Kingdom—justice, resurrection, and the renewal of all things. The hope of a Christian is not escape from the world, but transformation of the world under the reign of Christ.
This eschatological hope shapes every choice. A Christian lives not for the kingdoms of man, but for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11).
Summary: What It Means to Be a Christian
A Christian is not just someone who believes in God or attends church. Biblically defined, a Christian is:
Someone who confesses Jesus as Lord and Messiah
Someone who has repented and been baptized in allegiance to Christ
Someone who lives under Jesus’ rule and follows his commands
Someone who is being transformed by the Holy Spirit
Someone who belongs to the visible church—the body of Christ
Someone who lives in hope of Jesus’ final return and the fullness of his Kingdom
This definition captures the beauty, weight, and joy of what it means to be a Christian. It’s not a cultural label or a casual commitment—it’s a total reorientation of life under the reign of King Jesus.
The Gospel
The Gospel is not merely the good news that sins are forgiven—it is the royal announcement that Jesus reigns. To be a Christian is to receive that news with faith, repent of rival allegiances, and enter a new life of Spirit-empowered loyalty.
The call of Jesus is simple, but demanding: “Follow me.” Those who do are not merely believers, but citizens of his Kingdom, members of his Body, and heirs of his promises.
Bible verses about being a Christian:
Acts 11:26, "And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians."
Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Acts 2:38, "Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’"
Colossians 1:13, "He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
Luke 9:23, "Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.’"
Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
1 Corinthians 6:19–20, "Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body."
Philippians 1:21, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
1 Peter 4:16, "But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name."
Revelation 14:12, "This calls for endurance from the saints, who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus."
