What Makes a Person a Christian

A true Christian is not a person who is or considers him/her self to be morally superior. The opposite is true.  He/she acknowledges failure to live in accordance with God's  moral requirements  and sincerely relies on God's provision in this respect through Jesus Christ.  As Paul the Apostle put it 

1Ti 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

God is not limited by time or space. He is eternal. A concept beyond our understanding in our present "Living Soul" state.

In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth, i.e. the Universe, and every thing and animal in it. The first man, Adam, became a Living Soul.

Gen 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Gen_2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Ecc 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

 ("Soul" equates to "Spirit" not the Holy Spirit/God's Spirit. It is our eternal Spiritual "Being" ) Thus God created a human body as a temporary (lifetime) habitation for a spirit (such spirit being our real, eternal, being)

Gen_1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

"image" clearly means "reflection of characteristics" not exact physical likeness, since God is Spirit.

However, humans are inherently "Sinful" i.e. Disobedient to God. 

This is clear from our normal experiences. From a very early age children naturally and deliberately disobey their parents and only gradually learn that obedience brings rewards and disobedience results in loss or pain - psychological, emotional or physical. When older they often reject instruction in order to "do it their way". Likewise, adults prefer to do things their way if they are impatient or dissatisfied with events and are inherently self seeking.

Sin entered into mankind through Adam and Eve falling for Satan's lie and disobeying God's precise command, resulting in mankind being separated from God and thereby subject to eternal "Death"..

Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 

Gen 3:5  For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 

Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

 I can see nothing in Scripture which supports the view that God intended Mankind to physically live forever and had his plan frustrated by Satan but there was a Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden

Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 

 but we are not told if God would have allowed Adam and Eve to eat thereof had they not sinned, although it might be argued that if the Tree of Knowledge was placed in the Garden by God it was His intention that man would, eventually, be permitted to participate thereof, but that is conjecture. 

Whether we like it or not, the clear teaching of Scripture is that there are two distinct classes of people in this World.  Gods children and those of the Devil.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 

Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 

Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 

Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 

Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 

Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

and

Joh 8:39  They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 

Joh 8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 

Joh 8:42  Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

If we find this offensive in that Gods appears to lack mercy in not granting every human automatic, salvation, all. I can say is that in the end when all truth is known, God will be shown to be fully merciful, loving, righteous and just.  As Paul puts it

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 

Meanwhile, he has given us His word, both written and living (Jesus) which he expects us to follow in complete faith

This "Fall", foreseen by God, required God to make provision for man's fellowship with God to be restored. That provision was only provided by the substitutional sacrifice of Jesus, which became the source of salvation for those born before and after the event. Initially, God dealt directly with individual people, through visions and dreams

Num 12:6  And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 

Num 12:7  My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 

Num 12:8  With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? 

and God made a direct covenant with Abraham (basically that Abraham would become the founder of a large nation. )

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 

Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

There were then two Covenants instituted by God for the benefit of the descendants of Abraham. Both covenants required true belief in God's promise and had provision for foreigners ("Strangers") to participate therein. Under the First Covenant, directed at the physical descendants of Abraham, sacrifices of specified animals were required, initially not specifically set out in Scripture but clearly known throughout the Earth from the earliest days (passed on through Adam's/Noah's descendants) until fully detailed instructions were given through Moses thousands of years later. It was repeatedly stated that this covenant would be replaced by a new covenant implemented through a "Messiah" and "written in the heart" 

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Job in about 1300 BC was clearly aware of the coming Messiah - the "Christ" (anointed one).

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

and

Isa 53:1  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 

Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 

Isa 53:8  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 

Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 

Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 

Isa 53:12  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

The constant requirement for a person to benefit from/participate in the various covenants is genuine belief and trust in God. The opportunity for such belief is generated and orchestrated by God but for a person to benefit therefrom, he/she must always freely and willingly accept that opportunity. 

Rom_4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Gal_3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Jas_2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

lJoh_6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh_6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the 

Joh_6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.". NIV

Joh_6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Note: Jesus is the living Word of God 

(Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

therefore "Eating my flesh" means absorbing The Word. "Drinking my blood" means relying on Jesus' sacrifice (shed blood) for our salvation.

Such true belief cannot be lost or forfeited.

There are many other passages of scripture which make it clear that the eternal life of God's chosen children is eternally secure, relying solely on the finished work of Jesus Christ, but there are also other passages which might seem to indicate that our salvation can be lost. As these two understandings are incompatible then we must examine the scriptural integrity thereof. 

Whilst some may cast doubt on such promises as 

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

by saying "that does not say we cannot remove ourselves from his hand" there are other passages which clarify this and leave no such doubt.

Joh 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 

Joh 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

Rom 8:38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

Rom 8:39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The security of our eternal salvation thus established, those passages which might seem to conflict therewith must be considered.

First of all it is not enough just to say you believe in God. 

Jas_2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

True belief is evidenced by the production of (however slowly) the fruit of the spirit (Not the GIFTS which can be fabricated)

Mat_7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Luk_6:43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Gal_5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Notice "Fruit" not "Fruits".)

It is thus clear from scripture that if belief in God is real it will be evidenced. Also consider

Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

How can anything be clearer?

And

Joh 13:8  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 

Joh 13:9  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 

Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit:

The disciples clearly knew the humility implication of foot washing but Jesus said to them

Joh 13:7  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

The Foot Washing referred to is the daily, or even more frequent, necessity for confession of sin - To Jesus not to a man. This is what "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." clearly means.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us 

While the eternal security of a true believer does not depend on his continued good works, there are passages which might seem to contradict that, 

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

This could mean that you may not endure in the Faith, but then see

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, (endureth) but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Which makes it clear that all true believers WILL endure to the end.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

This indicates that it is possible for a true believer to suffer some sort of loss of a reward without losing eternal life. Therefore, this should be remembered when considering those passages which otherwise seem to be at variance with the eternal security of a true Bible Believing Christian.

There are other scriptural references which support the eternal possession of eternal life (e.g. if eternal life can be forfeited, it was not "eternal" in the first place) but the foregoing is indisputable - provided that the Divine authority of Scripture is acknowledged.

To summarise how you become a true Christian.

This process is called "Being Born Again".

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1) God must "Call" you.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

This "Call" involves both having a conviction of sin and the realisaion of the need for God to come to your aid. "Sin" being deliberate disobedience of God, normally (but not always) evidenced by some unrighteous act.   It is very dangerous to ignore such a call

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

2) You must willingly and sincerely respond by asking God for forgiveness for your sin, consciously asking Jesus to take over in your heart as Lord and Saviour, relying on His promises in the Scripture. i.e. Confession, repentance and trust in God.

Joh_6:37  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved

That may involve the awareness of a particular sin or it may be a general realisation of our overall sinful nature. If your response is a sincere committal of your life to God, the Holy Spirit will then enter your heart and and be responsible for your welfare. (Notice the emphasis on "confess with thy mouth" i.e. tell others of your belief.)

There are several verses which support this but the clearest is

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Jesus said:

Mat 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 

Mat 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 

Mat 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Therefore, unless the Holy Spirit enters immediately on becoming a Christian, Satan can take over and "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. " applies.

Remember, There is ONE God but that God is comprised of a Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore "The Spirit of Christ" is "The Holy Spirit". The Holy Spirit enters a person the moment they become a Christian.

When this happens you will probably not be clearly aware of what has happened to you but it will become clearer. There will be an immediate change in your life which you and other people will notice. You will develop a thirst for Scripture and a longing for the company of other true Christians. Whilst you may well stay close to your pre-Christian friends, you will tell them of your experience. They may not like the changes they see in your behaviour and may try to dissuade you and say "You will get over it". Your friends may or may not fade away but fellowship with your new Christian friends (actually your brothers and sisters in Christ) will grow. You will have a desire to share your experience with others with the object of their taking the same path and that is the "Great Commission".

Mar 6:7  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 

Mar 6:8  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 

Mar 6:9  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 

Mar 6:10  And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 

Mar 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

Mar 6:12  And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Do not be disappointed if you do not receive positive responses. Our duty is to bear witness to the Gospel. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to win souls.

1Cor 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase.

It is a common mistake by those who have not had the Born Again experience to consider those who have as being "Holier than thou" but nothing could be further from the truth. Being Born Again requires a realisation of our sinfulness and inability of ourselves to do anything to rectify that. No merit belongs to us in any manner. In effect it is that God has lifted us up and said to the world "Look at this useless failure and see what I am going to do with it".

 Becoming a Bible Believing Christian is due solely to the grace of God.  It is not something arising because of our diligence or efforts. We do not choose God. It is God who chooses us.
Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
He does not choose us because we have special talent or abilities. The Scriptures do not tell us specifically why he chooses us but do give clues.  

Being a Bible Believing Christian does not make us deserving of any merit  nor does it mean we are personally superior in any way. At our very best we are failed, sinners relying entirely on God's undeserved favour. Although we benefit immensely from that favour, we fully acknowledge we have done nothing to deserve it. We have to simply, truly believe His Word and trust Him to keep His promises as detailed therein and it is God alone who awakens our hearts to do that.

To the question "Why should God choose me?"  I reply  "I do not know."

 Becoming a Bible Believing Christian is due solely to the grace of God.  It is not something arising because of our diligence or efforts. We do not choose God. It is God who chooses us.
Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:
He does not choose us because we have special talent or abilities. The Scriptures do not tell us specifically why he chooses us but do give clues.  

Being a Bible Believing Christian does not make us deserving of any merit  nor does it mean we are personally superior in any way. At our very best we are failed, sinners relying entirely on God's undeserved favour. Although we benefit immensely from that favour, we fully acknowledge we have done nothing to deserve it. We have to simply, truly believe His Word and trust Him to keep His promises as detailed therein and it is God alone who awakens our hearts to do that.

To the question "Why should God choose me?"  I reply  "I do not know."