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A believer (historically used for Christians but not apt) is one who is born again, who’s sin has been remitted and have received eternal life (John 3:16). A Christian is one who believed in the gospel of Jesus, – one who is born again. A Christian is one who acted on Romans 10:9-10, receive salvation and continue to abide in God and do the Word of God. The first requirement is to affirm the lordship of Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. After affirmation you receive salvation and you now know you are in Christ. A Christian is one who is called to display the excellence and perfection of Christ. Without these basic core principles, the person is not a Christian. Religious office, theological erudition or one’s opinions, actions or inactions by itself are irrelevant.
Another important point. The term born again Christian is another redundancy, often used in certain places to emphasize the new birth. Jesus used the term born again to depict one who believes in Him and is spiritually reborn from above. It was at Antioch (now Antakya) Turkey, where unbelievers observed practicing Christ followers and branded them Christians. It follows then that a Christian is one who is born again in the nature of Christ and not just a church goer. For you cannot truly follow Jesus if you do not believe in Him, and you cannot act like Him if you do not have His nature.
“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.” Romans 10:9
A Christian believes in the physical death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus, confesses His lordship and acts accordingly. Evidently, not all “church-going” Christians are Christians in the complete sense of the word according to the Bible. Some go to church, hold office, and even call themselves Christians but do not believe or act like one. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “by their fruits you will know them.” This ancient wisdom is still relevant today to separate the wheat from the chaff. True Christianity is about a relationship with the King, His kingdom, vision, message, mandate, and not about the religion in Christianity. True Christianity is about having a real and personal relationship with Jesus that impacts how you think, talk and act. It’s all about Jesus Christ and your love for Him. If you are not convinced to love Jesus and act like Him, then your Christianity is questionable.
“A Christian believes in the death, burial and bodily resurrection of Jesus, confesses His lordship and acts accordingly“
As you may have realized from the preceding paragraphs, a believer in Jesus Christ is:
- One who believes in and acts on the salvation in Jesus and receives eternal life. John 6:47, Romans 10:9-10
- Believers in Christ believed unto righteousness and became associates of the Godkind. Romans 10:10, 2 Peter 1:4
- One who demonstrates faith in God. 1 Thessalonians 1:3
- One who acts in love through faith in God. 1 John 3:16
- One who is in a personal relationship with God. John 15:4
- One who practices righteousness because of his new nature. 1 John 3:10
- One who worships God whole-heartedly. John 4:24
- One with the evidence of the Fatherhood of God by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:16
- A believer is a doer of God’s word. John 14:15
Culled from Being Born Again 101: called to inherit a blessing
