What does it mean to be a Christian?
I was thinking about a seminar I attended several falls ago. As part of this conference, they walked through some simple role-playing scenarios with one specific focus – how to share the Gospel with someone. At first glance, this would seem to be a rather simple proposition. Someone asks why you’re a Christian (or your thoughts on Christianity) and you share your personal testimony about what God has done to transform you. Yet, it was amazing to see just how difficult this can be for people.
Now, you’re asking why am I bringing this up? Well, I started noticing the most amazing thing a few months ago. We recently had a Borders bookstore open (now we have Borders, Barnes & Nobles and Books-a-Million - with their attached Seattle’s best coffee, Starbucks, etc - yes, life is great!). Every one had a decent sized section of religious titles. I like to browse every now and then to see what new age junk some would be guru has decided to push (or how someone else has come up with the latest and greatest way to re-interpret the Bible). Basically, to understand just how else someone is trying to undermine what it means to be a disciple of Christ. What slowly dawned on me was just how deathly quiet this one particular area of the bookstore can be! This seems to be the one spot in a store where you can be assured that no one will speak to you (or even make eye contact with you). As a matter of fact, in all the years that I’ve been in these bookstores, I have never had a single person even say hi to me in these areas (I look back on all of those missed opportunities to share the love of Christ with someone. I can only pray that one day I can cross their paths again and have the opportunity share the Gospel!)
It would seem that one of the best places to share the Gospel and your testimony is in an area where people are looking to understand religion, but, apparently that’s not so. This got me thinking. Why is it so hard to share the Gospel? What makes it so difficult to let others know that you are a Christian? I mean false religions don’t seem to have this problem. The other weekend my neighborhood was crawling with Jehovah’s witnesses. It was an incredible site. A whole line of cars rolls up and they come pouring out, divide up the neighborhood and go from door to door. Although I will admit up front, they didn’t come to my house. Truth be told, they visited me last month. After I grounded them on the history of the Jehovah’s witnesses (you’ll be amazed how many of them don’t even know where their cult came from). Anyway, I’m digressing. I’ll do a separate study on cults, false religions, etc…for everyone later.
Now, back on topic. Just what should it mean when someone claims to be a Christian? At the heart of it, I think you can boil it down into 4 areas:
1. The Core of the Faith
2. Acknowledgement of our condition
3. Recognition of God’s reply to our condition
4. Our response to God’s gift
The Core of the Faith
So, what do I mean by the core of the faith? To understand this, we have to get to the heart of the Gospel. Now, Gospel actually means “Good News” and the good news is contained in the following v erses:
1 Corinthians 15:3-4:
15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
Christ died for our sins and rose again on the third day! That’s the short and sweet of it. What does it mean when the Bible says “according to the scriptures?” The Scriptures directly refer to the Old Testament. In this case, we are interested in those portions that are referred to as the Messianic Prophecies. There are over 200 scripture verses that are believed to be Messianic references (the reality is that Christ is typed in most examples of the old testament – just need to know how to look for him!). I’ve listed a couple of the prophecies below:
Isaiah 53:5-6 (how Christ would suffer for our sins)
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.
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.
Psalm 16:8-10 (how Christ would be resurrected)
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Hosea 6:1-2 (how Christ would rise on the third day)
Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
Hos 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Acknowledgement of our condition
Why is the core of our belief so important? Well, it has to relate to our current condition and the fact that we all live under the original sin. So what do we mean by this? Well, the Bible sums it up this way:
Isaiah 64:6
64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:9-11
3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Romans 3:23
3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23
6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Essentially, no one has done anything to “deserve” or “earn” to go to Heaven. No one is found justified in the eyes of God. Everyone has sin and lives in a state separated from God. Always keep this important note in mind, even those things that we would count as righteous, God sees as filthy rags. There is no “earning” our way into Heaven through doing good “works”. So where do you think this leaves us? Luckily, God has taken care of that for us!
Recognition of God’s Reply to our condition
Just how did God take care of us then? The Bible shows us that also.
Romans 5:6-7
5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:8-10
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Amazing, huh? It’s just that simple! Sin separated us from God and God sent us salvation. Not as something we have to earn, but as a gift! No strings attached, no transformations, no amount of good works to earn it. He gave us the gift while WE WERE STILL SINNERS! And for one simple purpose, so that we can be brothers and sisters to Christ and partake of the Kingdom of God!
Our response to God’s gift
So, how do we respond to all of this? This is the best part of all. Our response to God’s gift is to simply accept it.
Romans 10:8-13
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
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.
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
10:11 For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. It’s that simple. The mouth confesses and the heart believes. Nothing more. God has promised to do the work to transform us into new creatures in Christ. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be our comforter. When we accept salvation, we start a journey toward growing in a relationship with Christ. Through the strength of the Holy Spirit, we are able to go and do the “good” works that God destined us for. We are free to fulfill Jesus' great commission – to share the gospel and make disciples of men. Not because we need it for salvation, but because salvation has freed us to do it! The great commission was given by Christ to his apostles and to all Christians. Go forth, spread the Gospel and make disciples of men. So, the next time you are in the religious section of the bookstore (or your workplace, or church, or store, etc..), make eye contact, say hi and the let the Holy Spirit do his work!
God bless!
Efrem
