What Is a Christian According to the Bible – Definition

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it actually means to be a Christian? I certainly have. For a long time, I thought it was about following a set of rules, being a “good person,” and showing up at church on Sundays. It felt like a checklist of religious duties. But when I started looking for the answer myself, really digging into the Bible, I found something completely different. It wasn’t a religion I found, but a relationship. It was less about what I had to do and more about what Jesus has already done.

This journey changed everything for me. It took the pressure off and brought a sense of freedom I’d never known. So, I want to walk through this with you, to cut through the cultural noise and the confusing traditions. Let’s explore together and answer that foundational question: What is a Christian according to the Bible?

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Key Takeaways

For those who want the answer right away, here’s the core of what it means to be a Christian:

• It’s a Relationship, Not a Religion: At its heart, being a Christian is about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not just following religious rituals.
• It Starts with Grace: It begins by acknowledging our own shortcomings (sin) and accepting the free gift of forgiveness made possible by Jesus’s death and resurrection. You can’t earn it.
• It Results in Real Change: True faith isn’t just a mental belief; it leads to a transformed life from the inside out, guided by God’s Spirit.
• It’s a Lifelong Journey: Becoming a Christian is the starting line, not the finish line. It’s a daily walk of learning to follow and become more like Jesus.

Where Did the Term “Christian” Even Come From?

It’s interesting to note that Jesus never called His followers “Christians.” He called them disciples, friends, and brothers. The term actually appeared later, and it wasn’t even started by the believers themselves.

The Bible tells us, “…in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26).

Antioch was a bustling, cosmopolitan city, and it’s likely the locals came up with this name as a kind of nickname, and it probably wasn’t a compliment at first. It literally meant “little Christs” or “partisans of Christ.” They saw this group of people whose lives, words, and actions were so centered on a man named Christ that they mockingly labeled them after Him.

But what started as an outsider’s label was eventually embraced. These early believers were so radically changed by their relationship with Jesus that they were happy to be identified with Him. Their identity wasn’t in their nationality, their job, or their social status anymore—it was in Christ. This tells us something profound: the lifestyle came first, then the label.

Is Being a “Good Person” Enough to Be a Christian?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions out there. Many people, including me for a long time, believe that if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds, they’re on the right track with God. We think of it like a cosmic scale. But the Bible presents a completely different standard.

The Scripture is brutally honest about our human condition. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The word “all” is absolute. It doesn’t say “most people” or “some of the really bad ones.” It means every single one of us, from the person in prison to the person who volunteers at a soup kitchen every week. “Falling short” means we’ve missed the mark of God’s perfect standard.

Why Our Best Efforts Don’t Cut It

I spent years trying to earn God’s favor by just being “nice.” It was exhausting, and I always felt like I was failing. I’d be patient with someone, then lose my temper in traffic five minutes later. The relief I felt when I understood grace was life-changing.

The Bible makes it clear that we can’t save ourselves through our own efforts. Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the most freeing passages you can read:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Being a Christian isn’t about being “good enough.” It’s about admitting that we aren’t good enough and that we need a Savior who is.

What Does the Bible Say Is the First Step to Becoming a Christian?

If being a good person isn’t the way, then what is? The Bible lays out a clear path that begins not with doing something, but with believing something. It’s a change of heart and mind.

Do You Have to Acknowledge Your Sin?

Yes, this is the essential starting point. Before a doctor can treat you, you have to admit you’re sick. In the same way, before we can receive God’s forgiveness, we have to agree with Him about our condition.

The Bible calls this condition “sin.” It’s not just the big, obvious things like murder or theft. Sin is any act, thought, or attitude that goes against God’s character and design for our lives. It’s the pride, the selfishness, the impatience—the stuff we all struggle with daily.

1 John 1:8 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Acknowledging our sin isn’t about shaming ourselves or feeling worthless. It’s about being honest. It’s looking at our lives and saying, “God, you are perfect, and I am not. I need help. I need a rescuer.” This honest admission is the doorway to grace.

How Does Believing in Jesus Christ Change Everything?

Once we understand our need, we can appreciate the solution: Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection are the centerpiece of the Christian faith.

The most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, explains it perfectly: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The key word here is “believes.” In the Bible, this kind of belief isn’t just intellectual agreement, like believing that George Washington was the first president. It’s a deep, personal trust and reliance. It’s like sitting in a chair—you don’t just believe the chair will hold you; you actually put your full weight on it.

To believe in Jesus means to trust completely in who He is and what He did.

• Trusting Who He Is: That He is the Son of God, fully God and fully man.
• Trusting What He Did: That He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose from the dead three days later, defeating death itself.

Romans 10:9 puts it this way: “…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is a personal decision to transfer your trust from yourself to Jesus.

If It’s Not About Works, Does How I Live Matter?

This is a fantastic and logical question. If we’re saved by grace and not by our actions, does that mean we can just live however we want? The Bible gives a resounding “No!”

While our actions don’t save us, they are powerful evidence of whether our faith is real. A changed heart will always lead to a changed life.

What is Repentance and Why Is It So Important?

This is where the idea of repentance comes in. Repentance is often misunderstood as just feeling sorry for your sins. While sorrow is part of it, true biblical repentance is much more. It means “to change one’s mind.”

It’s a complete 180-degree turn. You were walking in one direction, away from God, and now you turn and walk toward Him. It’s a conscious decision to turn away from your old life of sin and to follow Christ.

Acts 3:19 commands, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. You can’t truly trust in Jesus as your Savior without also turning away from the sin He came to save you from.

How Does Faith Lead to Good Works?

The book of James in the Bible tackles this issue head-on. James 2:17 says, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

He’s not saying works are what save you. He’s saying that if your faith is genuine, it will naturally produce the fruit of good works.

Think of it this way: an apple tree doesn’t have to strain and struggle to produce apples. It produces apples because it’s an apple tree. That’s what it does. In the same way, when a person becomes a Christian, God changes them from the inside. The desire to live for Him, to love others, and to do good things flows naturally from that new identity. Good works are the proof of salvation, not the path to it.

What Does It Mean to Be a “Follower” of Christ?

Becoming a Christian is an event, but being a Christian is a lifelong process. Jesus didn’t just call people to be “believers”; He called them to be “disciples.” The word disciple simply means a learner or an apprentice.

A Christian, therefore, is someone who has committed to being a lifelong apprentice of Jesus. We learn His ways, His teachings, and His character, and with His help, we try to live them out.

How Do You Follow Someone You Can’t See?

This is where the spiritual side of Christianity becomes so real and practical. Jesus promised He wouldn’t leave His followers alone.

• Through the Holy Spirit: Before He returned to heaven, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to live inside every believer. He said the Spirit would be our Comforter, our Counselor, and our Guide (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is God’s personal presence in our lives, helping us to understand the Bible and empowering us to live for Him.
• Through the Bible: God has given us the Bible so we can know what He is like and how He wants us to live. It’s not just an ancient history book; it’s described as “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). As we read it, God speaks to us and transforms our thinking.
• Through Prayer: Prayer is simply having a conversation with God. It’s not a formal ritual with fancy words. For me, prayer became real when I stopped reciting things and just started talking to God like He was right there in the car with me—sharing my frustrations, my joys, and my needs.

What is the Role of the Church in a Christian’s Life?

When the Bible talks about “the church,” it’s almost never talking about a building. It’s talking about the people—the worldwide family of believers. Being a Christian is not a solo sport. God designed us to live in community with other believers.

Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together.”

We need each other for encouragement, for accountability, and to serve together. The church is a messy place because it’s full of imperfect people like you and me, but it’s also God’s family, and it’s where we grow.

So, What Is the Ultimate Definition of a Christian?

Let’s pull it all together. Being a Christian is so much more than a cultural identity or a moral code. It is a radical, life-altering reality based entirely on the person and work of Jesus Christ.

According to the Bible, a Christian is:

• A person who has transferred their trust from themselves and their own goodness to Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.
• A person who has repented of their sins and turned to follow Jesus as the Lord (the leader and boss) of their life.
• A person who has been “born again” by the Holy Spirit, receiving a new nature and a new desire to live for God.
• A disciple, or apprentice, who is committed to learning from Jesus and becoming more like Him in their thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

It really is a relationship, not a religion. It’s about knowing God personally. If you’re looking for more resources on what it means to be a disciple, many great organizations offer free articles and videos. For example, Dallas Theological Seminary has a wealth of information for growing as a disciple that I’ve found incredibly helpful.

How Can I Be Sure I Am a Christian?

This is a question many sincere people ask. In a world of changing feelings, how can we have assurance? The Bible doesn’t tell us to look for a dramatic lightning-bolt moment or to rely on our emotions, which can be misleading. Instead, it gives us tangible evidence to look for.

The apostle John wrote one of his letters for this very reason: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). He wanted believers to be sure.

He points to things like:

• Do you have a growing love for other Christians?
• Are you increasingly obedient to what God says in His Word?
• Do you see a change in your life, a turning away from your old patterns of sin?
• Do you have the inner testimony of the Holy Spirit in your heart, confirming you are a child of God? (Romans 8:16)

There are days my feelings are all over the place, but I have to anchor myself back to what God’s Word says is true, not how I feel in the moment. Our assurance rests on the solidness of God’s promises, not the shakiness of our feelings.

Being a Christian isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about the direction you are heading. Are you moving toward God, even if you stumble along the way? That is the journey of a Christian. It’s the most challenging, rewarding, and meaningful journey you could ever take. Ultimately, the question isn’t just “What is a Christian?” but “Have I met the Christ they’re named after?” It’s the most important question you will ever answer.

Frequently Asked Questions – What Is a Christian According to the Bible