What Is A Christian,
What Is The Church?

You may think this to be a rather impertinent document, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that most people don't have the slightest idea what Christianity is, or what it means to be a Christian. On a recent poll over 90% of Americans defined themselves as "Christians". If this was true, the Churches would be packed out every day of the week. If this was true abortion and the alleged "alternate lifestyle" would not be tolerated, and the smut you see on television wouldn't be on - there would be no market for it. If this was true then the Internet wouldn't have over 80,000 sites devoted to pornography, many of which are advocating pedophilia. No, there are not that many Christians in America, though I pray to God that there one day will be.

This lesson deals with what Christianity is, and what are the marks of a bona fide Christian.  Before anyone joins our Church I have made it a practice to counsel with them, and make sure they understand the basics of Christianity. A lot of people are "joining the Church" and equating this to Christianity. No, that's not Christianity. At present we have about 195 on our Church rolls (who joined under my predecessors) but only about 75 members that ever attend Church.

"Christian" is a term that the unbelieving world attached to the believer in Christ in order to ridicule him. The word actually means "little Christ". Rather than taking this offensively, we embraced the term from the start. You see, "Christianity" is a both a system of spiritual growth and a state of being developed by our Creator God for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.  If you are a Christian then you exist within this Divine System. This study will give you numerous points and Biblical references to define what a Christian is. LOOK THE REFERENCES UP. This is meant to be a study guide. Once you look up all of these references, meditate on them, study them, you will understand what "Christian" means and know the difference between the Churches building and the Church of Christ. If you have merely "joined a Church" or are "doing good works", yet have never accepted Christ as Savior, you are still lost in Satan's system called "worldliness".

1. A person who has once repented of following Satan's policies of evil and has freely chosen to accept Jesus Christ as Savior in his heart. Christianity is more than a simple profession of faith. It is BOTH a simple profession and a turning away from the former way of being. The Bible defines the "heart" of man as the thinking part of his soul (Proverbs 23.7; 2.2, 10). This is you very innermost being. The unbeliever, that person who is still lost in his sins, rejects Jesus Christ in his heart (Proverbs 5.12-14; 21.4; Jeremiah 5.23; Zechariah 7.12).

Let's put it this way: what are you "devoted" to? Did you come to a point in your life where you realized you needed Jesus Christ, and realize that you couldn't live your life without Him? While you were in this state, did you cry out to God "Father, forgive me. I know that I cannot make it on my own. I ask that you save my soul in the name of Jesus". Did you fixate on Christ, clinging to Him as a drowning man would cling to a life preserver? You see, God looks at the heart of each one of us to determine whether we're saved or not (1 Samuel 16.7). You may have walked the aisle and joined with a Church on the good faith of its members, but unless you devoted your heart, accepted Jesus Christ as Savior in your heart at this one crucial point in your life you are not saved (Psalms 28.7; Romans 10.9-10). Remember, you may fool the preacher and your friends, but you cannot fool God!

2. Once you are in the state of salvation, you are no longer a non-entity, but are  a Key Player in the Plan of God (Romans 8.29, 30, 33; 1 Peter 1.2; 2.4; Colossians 3.12; 1 Thessalonians 1.4; 5.24; Titus 1.1; Ephesians 1.5, 11; Matthew 22.14).  Whereas before you had no access to God because of the sin that separates, you are now in a relationship with Him.  You are able to talk to and be understood by the full Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5.18-20; Colossians 1.20; Romans 5.10; Ephesians 2.14-17). Before salvation you were like a radio in a tunnel, and that tunnel (sin) cut you off from communicating with God. You could communicate with all others in the tunnel, all others who were under the sin barrier with you - but God would not hear your prayers (save for the prayer of salvation). After salvation you came out from under that barrier, and now have the freedom, the spiritual ability, to communicate with God and all those who are saved in Christ with you.

3. After salvation, though your ability to sin has not been removed, your ability NOT to sin has been increased. The comedian Flip Wilson used to do something then say, "The Devil made me do it". Before salvation not the devil, but the Old Sin Nature in you ruled your life. After salvation in Christ you are a new Creation, no longer a slave to that sin nature, but have been given the ever increasing ability to control that nature to the glory of God (Romans 3.24; Colossians 1.14; 1 Peter 1.18). Look, if you're EXACTLY the same after your profession and conversion to Christ you're just not saved, period!

4. If you are saved, you may slip into sin on occasion. This is part of the fact that you are not in a glorified body, and are still human. However, the Christian will never be destined for the eternal punishment of Hellfire. The fact that you cried out to God and devoted your life to Christ satisfied God, and He begins to work in your life while you walk this earth. The penalty of your sins are removed from eternity's records (John 3.18; 5.24; Romans 8.1; 3.24-26; 1 John 2.2). When you do slip, God expects you, as His adopted child, to quickly repent of that sin and confess it to Him. These personal sins, once confessed, quickly returns you to a right relationship with your Heavenly Father (1 John 1.8-9; Romans 4.25; Ephesians 1.7; 1 Peter 2.24).

5. Once you have accepted Christ as Savior God Himself identifies you with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. You are freed from the Mosaic Law, and brought under the spiritual guidance of God's Holy Spirit (Romans 6.4, 6, 8, 14; 7.4, 6; Galatians 2.20-21; 3.25; Colossians 2.12; 3.1, 3; 1 Peter 2.24; 2 Corinthians 3.11). You are a new Creation in and by God Himself, and now possess a body, soul, and spirit whereas the worldly unsaved only possess a body and a soul. (John 1,12; 3.7; 13.10; 1 Corinthians 6.11; Titus 3.5; 1 Peter 1.23; Galatians 3.26; 6.15;  2 Corinthians 5.17; 6.18; 1 John 3.2; Ephesians 2.10; 1 Thessalonians 5.23). You are an "adopted son of God" (Romans 8.15,23; Ephesians 1.5) and are in a family relationship with God the Father.

6. The Christian is righteous in the eyes of God the Father because, at salvation, your declaration or devotion to Christ caused the Spirit of God to place you in union with Christ (Ephesians 1.6; 1 Peter 2.25; Romans 3.22; 1 Corinthians 1.30; 6.11; 2 Corinthians 5.21; Philippians 3.9; Hebrews 10.14; Colossians 1.12). This "imputed" or God given righteousness, allows God to declared you righteous in His Courtroom in the Heavens (Romans 3.24; 5.1, 9; 8.30; 1 Corinthians 6.11; Titus 3.7). You now have a citizenship in Heaven, having been delivered from the kingdom of Satan. You are no longer regarded as a citizen of this world, but an ambassador for Christ, representing Him on the earth (Luke 10.20; Ephesians 2.13,19; Philippians 3.20; Colossians 1.13; 2.15). Because you are a work of God, you are secure in your salvation, so secure that you can never lose that salvation (1 Corinthians 3.11; 10.4; Ephesians 2.20). You are a Royal Priest in the service of God forever (1 Peter 2.5, 9; Revelation 1.6).

7. The Christian is one who has access to God anytime he or she desires (Romans 5.2; Ephesians 2.18; Hebrews 4.14, 16). If  you are a Christian you are under the superior care of God (Ephesians 2.4, 8-9; 4.7; 5.2; Romans 5.2; 1 Peter  1.5; John 17.18; Titus 2.12). You are guaranteed eternal life with God in Heaven (John 3.15; 10.28; 20.31; 1 John 5.11-12).

8. Christians must understand that they are in a new position. We are no longer of the world, but are: Partners with Christ (Colossians 3.4; 1 Corinthians 1.9), Workers together with God (1 Corinthians 3.9; 2 Corinthians 6.1), Ministers of the New Testament (2 Corinthians 3.6), Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20), Living epistles (2 Corinthians 3.3), Ministers of God (2 Corinthians 6.4). We are united to the Triune God: To the Father (1 Thessalonians 1.1; Ephesians 4.6), To the Son (1 Corinthians 12.13; John 10.27-29; 15.5; Ephesians 2.21-22; 5.25-27; 1 Peter 2.5, 9;  2 Corinthians 5.17), and To God the Holy Spirit (Romans 8.9, 16).

9. The Christian has been the recipient of all the ministries of God's Holy Spirit. He is indwelt by the Spirit (John 7.39; Romans 5.5; 8.9; 1 Corinthians 3.16; 6.19; Galatians 4.6; 1 John 3.24). He is sealed by the Spirit, marked by God as a Son of God (2 Corinthians 1.22; Ephesians 4.30). The Christian is the recipient of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12.11; 12.27-31; 13.1-2), gifts that should be used in the gathering of the Church to build up other fellow believers. The Christian has at least one, but possibly more than one spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12.11, 27-31; 13.1-2). The Christian is Baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1.5; 1 Corinthians 12.13), and Regenerated or made alive (John 3.6).

10. As a Christian you are the possessor of every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1.3). We are given greater blessing as Children of God, but we are also under greater discipline if we walk away from our familial relationship in God (Hebrews 12.5-11).

Now that we've seen an extensive list of what the Christian is, let's look at what the Church is. Though many "walk the aisle" and are placed on the rolls of their local Church, you are not truly a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, unless you are saved (i.e. a Christian). The two systems go hand in hand. If you are a believer in Christ, you are a Christian. If you are a Christian, you are entered into the Body of Christ, the Church.

1. A great spiritual body of believers. All believers enter into the Church at the point of salvation. If you are in Christ, you are in the Church (1 Corinthians 1.2, 30). You may fall into carnality, but the Christian is still in Christ (Romans 8.1, 38-39; 2 Corinthians 5.17, 21; Ephesians 1.3, 6; 1 Corinthians 12.12). The Body of Christ crosses denominational lines (which were created by man, not God) and encompasses all of those who are in Christ.

2. Because of the vast scope of the Body of Christ, the Church, and because of the need of each believer to be fed from the Word of God, the Church is formed into local Church bodies.  The Church is not a building, a social club, or a clubhouse, but it is where ever two or more believers gather together under the leadership of the Pastor-Teacher (Acts 7.38; 19.25; Matthew 18.17; 1 Corinthians 1.2; 1 Thessalonians 1.1; Revelation 1-3; Philippians 1.1; Ephesians 1.22-23; 5.25-27; Colossians 1.17-18; 2.9-10). The Pastor-Teacher (some Churches refer to this position as Bishop, Elder, Pastor, or Preacher) is the representative of Christ in leadership and has physical and spiritual authority over that local Church (Hebrews 13.7; 1 Thessalonians 5.12; 1 Corinthians 16.15-16). You will find no place in Scripture that gives the Pastor-Teacher a job description of building custodian, grounds custodian, or nanny to your kids. He is the chief servant in a flock of servants, and must emulate Christ in his behavior and service. The Deacon is the administrator of the local Church, and is the Pastor-Teacher's helper.  The office of the Deacon was established by the Apostles under the leading of God so the Pastor-Teacher would be free to dedicate himself to the spiritual nurturing of the local Church (1 Timothy 3.8-13; Acts 6.1-7). You will find no reference in Scripture that the Deacon, or Board of Deacons, are in any way the "supervisors" of the Pastor nor bosses of the Flock.  The Pastor-Teacher is already under extreme accountability to God (Hebrews 13.7), and God oversees the overseer. The Church that sets its people or its Deacons over the Pastor is the Church that is carnal, and destined to fail in its mission. The Pastor-Teacher who fulfills his duties to the flock will receive a eternal reward in Heaven (1 Peter 5.1-4).

3. The Church is a unique institution created by Jesus Christ, and was not established until the Day of Pentecost.  The Church is not to be confused with Israel.  The two are entirely separate entities, and the Church was a mystery (or unknown to man) in the Old Testament (Ephesians 3.1-6; Colossians 1.25-26; Romans 16.25-26).

4. The Church is the only place where believers in Christ are free to exercise their spiritual gifts for the edification of that whole Body (1 Corinthians 12.5-31; 14.12, 26, 31-33, 37). If you are exercising your spiritual gifts to build up yourself rather than God's Church, you are outside of the will of God.

5. The Church is the building of God, composed of  believers in Christ. Christ is it's cornerstone or main foundation.  When the Body of Christ is completed the Church will be removed from the earth by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2.20-22; 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18). The building that we worship in may be a chapel, but it is not the Church. When believers assemble in any building, or outside of a building, they assemble as the Church (1 Corinthians 3.16-17; 6.19-20). After Jesus takes the Church off the earth it will be recognized as the Bride of Christ (Revelation 19.6-8).

Both the individual Christian and the Christian joined with other Christians (the Church) recognize the Bible, The Scripture, as God's operation manual.

The written canon of God's Word, expressly given only to the Christian Church.  These writings began when God prompted Moses to write (around 1441 BC), and was completed when God closed the canon through John the Revelator (96 AD). The Scripture did not originate from human viewpoint, nor was it the rambling of men. The Old (Israel) and New Testament (Church) Believers were caused by the Holy Spirit to write exactly what God wanted to transmit. Though each book may have been flavored with each writer's style and emotional mannerisms (they were not robotically writing), not one word in the original text came from the mind of man (2 Peter 1.20-21). The Holy Spirit communicated a complete and coherent message to human writers called Prophets, Apostles, or Apostolic witnesses (such as Mark or Luke).  These writers weren't more holy than anyone else, nor were they special.  They were believers just like we are (2 Samuel 23.2-3; Isaiah 59.21; Jeremiah 1.9; Matthew  22.42-43; Mark 12.36; Acts 4.24-26; 25.28). The Bible is the mind of Christ (Proverbs 8). The Bible is the absolute criterion for believers.  We do not rely on science, rationalism, humanism, or emotionalism.  We rely on the Word of God for our guidance (1 Corinthians 2.16; 1 Timothy 2.16; Psalms 138.2).

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