What is a Christian?
This is a good question in today’s world.
Some would say a “good” person, someone who tries to be kind, loving, neighbourly, humble and doesn’t curse in traffic.
Others would say a churchgoer or religious person.
Still others might say someone who lives by the golden rule: do to others as you would have done to yourself.
Perhaps someone who obeys the Ten Commandments. They don’t steal, murder, commit adultery or bow down to idols.
Others would say someone who is not a Muslim, a Jew, a Hindu, a Buddhist, an Atheist or Agnostic.
So, what then is a Christian?
The main problem with the above answers is that they have nothing to do with Christ. One would expect a “Christian” to have something to do with “Christ”!
If Christ came into the world as the Bible claims, if he lived, died, rose, ascended, and is coming back, you would expect him to be critical in the definition of one of his followers.
In Matthew Ch. 3 the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist (Luke 16:16), gives us great insight into the definition of a Christian.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 3:1-8
John the Baptist gave at least two commands to his listeners.
1. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (v2)
To repent means to change your mind, to turn around and go in the opposite direction. John urged his listeners to do an about-turn from sin and self-rule and to turn towards God’s King.
Why? Because the reign and rule of God’s King was around the corner.
2. Bear fruit in keeping with repentance (v8)
The reality of the change of direction in your life, once you’re turned around and followed God’s King, is a transformed life.
Jesus, God’s King, is the root and a renovated life is the necessary fruit. In other words, the evidence of your faith is not simply your confession but also your conduct.
Not a perfect life, but a progressing life.
Not a sinless life, but a sanctified life.
A Christian according to John the Baptist is someone who has changed the direction of their life by following Jesus as King and backs up their profession with a lifestyle that seeks to honour God.
Many of the religious leaders at the time thought they were right with God, but in fact weren’t. They were hypocrites and presumptuous. (Cf. Matthew 3: 7-10)
As we celebrate again the birth of God’s Son and King, do make sure you are in fact a Christian.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:12
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