What Makes Us Christian?

Have you ever asked yourself, or has anyone you know ever asked you, what makes you a Christian? There are certain things we must do to become Christian. The first one is the hardest one, like in any other thing we do in life. For us to be considered Christian, we have to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We have to give our life to him and let him guide us to righteousness.

We have to let God know that we have sinned and we repent in the name of the Jesus Christ. Why is this so hard? Well, when we come from the world, which is full of corruption, full of pleasure and where we are the ones in charge, it is difficult for us to let all of that go and put it in the hands of God. It is extremely hard because we have to act on Faith alone, we have to trust in God and we can no longer be how we used to be. We have to change and most people don't like to change. We have to have confidence in the Lord and trust his promises. We are no longer in charge, God is in charge of our lives. That is hard for some people to grasp.

After that first step, we have to learn the law of God. We have to learn the word of the Lord. How do we learn what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God? Well, we have to devote ourselves and read the scriptures. The Bible has everything we need to know to reach salvation, the Bible has everything we need to please God and make our lives better in his eyes. We start reading the bible, then we start attending church. Church is another important part of Christianity. We are the body of Christ, the church is the body of Christ. We represent Jesus' work on earth. Jesus Christ is the head and we are the body.

"For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." [Ephesians 5:23]

That verse clearly states that Christ is the head of the church and the Savior of the body. Who is the body? Us, we are the body. But, you can also find that yourself in the Bible, here it is:

"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." [Colossians 1:24]

After we learn more by reading the bible and going to church, God lets us know if our acceptance of Jesus Christ was true or not. He will let us know by letting us experience his power. He will baptize us in the Holy Spirit. This might take a while for a newly converted Christian to experience but it could also take just a short while if that Christian's heart is in accordance to God's will. In any case, it's God's decision to make. However, you might be asking yourself, how do I know I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit? Well, again, the Bible shows us:

"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." [Acts 10:44-46]

From those verses we can infer that the Holy Spirit allows those who are baptized in it to speak in tongues. What is speaking in tongues? Speaking in tongues is speaking languages that you do not know.

Now that we have made the decision to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have learned by going to church and reading the bible, and we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, what else is there to do as a Christian? Well, we have to give testimony of how God's glory has made us into a better person. We have to let the whole world know of the good news. The news that there is a God, there is hope for human kind. We will be saved in the name of Jesus and we will go to Heaven and live a beautiful life in God's presence forever. We have to reach those who do not know the word of God. We have to preach it to the whole world. Now, we must also live a righteous life. We have to do good in God's eyes, we must never depart from his word. We must never stop going to church. We have to love those who love us, we have to love those who hate us, we have to treat everyone as Jesus did. With love, affection and care. We have to be the best we can be in the name of God. We have to pray, speak with God himself and ask for help. We have to put everything in his hands. If we do make a mistake and sin or come close to it, we must humiliate ourselves in the presence of God, ask for forgiveness and NEVER do that which has caused us to sin.

I'll leave you with another passage from the Bible. God Bless!

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." [1 Peter 4:12-19]