What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

Christianity. What does it mean? What does it take to be a Christian? These questions have long plagued the Christian community itself, let alone non-believers. What do we have to do to be saved? How do we enter the church? If you see a common theme, you’d be correct. We keep asking what do WE have to do? I believe that it is not so much what have to do to join the “club.” It is you agreeing to receive the gift. So, what do you have to do? You must simply believe.

What does it mean to believe? The best baseline definition of a Christian is outlined in the Apostles’ Creed. A summary of this creed is as follows. You must believe that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three in one. One God, one deity. God came to us through His son, and was sacrificed for our sins. He rose again, and is in Heaven. His spirit guides us here on earth (Apostles’ Creed, web)

Jesus commands us to believe and be baptized, and we will be saved (Mark 16:16, NIV, web). If the Apostles’ Creed is confessed, I consider Jesus’s command to “believe” to have been covered. What about His command to be baptized? Does the act of baptism confer salvation? I do not, believe this is the case. Baptism is the public proclamation of our faith. We will want to show the world that we are saved. Our desire to have this done will come with our newfound faith. Are there those that don’t wish to be baptized? Absolutely. Will God condemn them if they do? I don’t have that answer. I believe, that only by the grace of God, we are saved. He already showed His grace by the death of Jesus. I do not believe he will condemn us on a