To be a Christian is to be at peace with God, by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ! Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
To be a Christian is simply defined, to be a follower of Jesus Christ. There are three components of which I must at least have a simple understanding, to become a Christian.
First and foremost I must accept that there is a Creator God. Jehovah God has revealed Himself to us, by observing His creation, by the witness of Himself that he places within us and by His Word, the Bible. The Bible teaches us who God is, what He loves, what He hates, His desire to be in relationship with humankind and His eternal plan.
Second I must understand who I am. Once again by the revelation of God’s Word and by the light, knowledge, shined into our hearts by our Creator we understand that we are condemned because we are sinful. God is Holy. I am not. God is sinless I am not. God is perfect I am not. How should I respond to this knowledge? Should I just try to do better? What should I do with the sins of my past? If man is willing to wrestle with the hard questions of his heart and be honest with himself, he will understand that he is not prepared to enter into the presence of Holy, Holy, Holy God. Repentance, sorrow for sin and turning to God, demonstrates that we now understand who we are.
Third, believing God and understanding myself prepares me to receive God’s plan to redeem or buy us back. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came to earth to show the love and mercy of God. Jesus experienced earth life like you and I with its pleasures and difficulties and yet he did so without ever sinning. Jesus Christ, fulfilled the plan of God and became the Saviour of the world when He died on the cross and His blood washed away the sins of all mankind. This blood cleanses me when I reach out in faith and accept from God what I cannot provide for myself, a cleansed heart and sinless life because of the blood of the perfect sacrifice Jesus Christ. Peace with God is mine!
The morning of the third day after Jesus died, he arose from the dead. In Christ, we to are born again and resurrected to new life! The child of God has been given a new heart, new desires, and new life. New life means that we die, and continue to die, to our native sinfulness and live in new Christ life. We obey God and live out his will for our lives. God receives honor and glory as men and women show to an ungodly, sinful world the God-given power to live above sin. Praise God, and yet we are sobered because God also tells us in His Word, where there are no fruits of new life, no obedience to His Word, we can also then conclude there is also no salvation. Faith without obedience is dead.
What does it mean to be a Christian? Stated simply. By faith we receive Christ and are saved. Relationship is restored with God. Relationships restored brings peace, and the righteousness of God to earth through his children. Do you know this God? Does He know you?
2Ti 2:19 ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.