What is a Christian?
An A B C Guide*
It's not about 'being good'
It's not about following rules
It's not about going to church
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So, what is it about?
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Have you ever heard the phrase 'it's not what you know, it's who you know?'
There are lots of people who know Bible stories, or know how to be be kind, but we are not Biblians or Kindians - we are Christians. Being a Christian is all about knowing Christ, not just knowing facts about Him but knowing Him as a friend, as Lord of your life, and as your saviour.
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But who is Jesus?
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Christ isn't Jesus's surname, it's His job title, just like 'King Charles' could also be written 'Charles, the King.'
Christ means 'Chosen one, King, Saviour' - and the reason He can be all those things, and more, is that He isn't just a man. Jesus clearly claimed to be God, in fact that was the reason people eventually hung Him on a cross to die.
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Maybe you, like those people, find it hard to believe; but have a look at these famous words from CS. Lewis:
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“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [that is, Christ]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse…. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity
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Basically Jesus is God, who came to earth as a man. For all those people who say 'if God is real, why doesn't He just show Himself and prove it?' Well, He did, and the visit was so momentous we've been celebrating it for 2,000 years.
Jesus proved who He was through His transformative teaching, through miracles, and most notably through coming back from the grave. But it's not all just history, you can know Jesus today, He is alive and well and would love to spend time with you.
People who know Him today also experience transformation, miracles and a new life - all of which proves He is real and active in our lives today. Those people who follow Christ and know Him in that way, are Christians.
So, how do I get to know Jesus?
Becoming a Christian is the easiest thing in the world – and the hardest.
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It is the easiest because it doesn't involve any costly subscriptions, expensive payments, or application forms.
You can, in fact, become a Christian right where you are.
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It is the hardest because it involves the complete surrender of the life and will to Jesus Christ. The only book that can offer any assistance to this question of becoming a Christian is the Bible. While it has many puzzling and profound statements, the question of your relationship with Jesus Christ is dealt with in the most plain and simple language.
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It is in fact as simple as ABC.
A : Aknowledge
We are believing something every minute of the day, but in order to become a Christian there must be not merely a head belief, but belief in the heart.
You can believe in your head that on the Cross of Calvary Jesus Christ died to forgive your sin, but if that belief does not pass into your heart, it will do you no more good than believing that food will sustain you yet doing nothing to eat it.
To believe in Christ means to believe He died for you personally to remove the sin that separates you from God and to ask Him to be your Saviour as you turn over your life to Him.
B : Believe
Every man and woman in this world is a lost sinner.
No-one can escape this position, for the Bible says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
We are lost because God is holy – absolutely good and morally perfect – and He will allow no sinful person into heaven. We are so lost that without God's help nothing can be done to save us.
As a result of sin, we have lost our likeness to God, our love for Him and deserve eternal punishment. We must take our place before Him, firmly acknowledge this and turn from our sin to the Lord.
C : Confess
To confess Christ means to make known to others that you have become a Christian.
Don't be ashamed to do this for it will bring you out on His side and make clean-cut the decision you have made.
If you want to become a Christian, say this prayer, at the same time turning your life over to Christ:
"Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner.
At this very moment I confess my sin and believe in my heart that you will save me. Make me a Christian now and help me to tell someone today that I have found you as my Saviour. Amen."
If you have prayed these words, meant them and would like to receive further help, please contact us in order that we may support you through your amazing decision.