What does it mean to be a Christian today?
Answer:
Being a Christian is to believe in the gospel. Many people think that being a Christian is about believing in God, or doing good, or being born into a Christian family, or going to church, or loving others. These things do not make anyone a Christian. While they are things that a Christian should do, they do not make a person a Christian.
There is not much difference between being a Christian today and in the past. The requirements are the same:
1) Recognise our sinfulness before God and know that we cannot save ourselves, but that we are condemned in our sins. (Ps 7:11, 11:5)
2) Believe that Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, died for us, rose again on the third day as a perfect sacrifice in our place to pay for the penalty of sin and satisfy the wrath of God that was upon us.
3) Believe that we are not saved by our own good works, but by God who, through His grace and mercy, chooses us, changes our hearts and brings us to Himself in faith.
4) Place our faith in the gospel as recorded in Scripture. Repent from our sins and trust that because of what Jesus has done on the cross for our sins, we have been declared righteous in His sight.
We read in Scripture (Matt 5) that believers are the salt and light of the world. This means that as the world heads towards corruption and evil, Christians strive in the very opposite direction. This often results in much hostility and persecution from the world. In this sense, the Christian is relevant to the world not because he is like the world, but because he is counter-cultural. He is different from the world and culture he is in. He is a beacon that shines forth God’s truth both morally and intellectually wherever the Lord places Him.
The Christian bases his thinking and worldview upon the scriptures. He does not pursue the things of this world, but on Christ. He proclaims God’s truth, preaches the gospel to the world and he seeks to live a life pleasing to God. To shine as light means that they are to be the spiritual opposite of all the other people in the world. Christians should not conform to the world, but stand out like lights in the darkness.
Leave a Comment