What It Means to Be a Christian: Faith, Identity, and the Essentials

The Name “Christian”: Identity and Origin

The term Christian comes from the Greek word Χριστιανὸν, meaning "follower of Christ" or "belonging to Christ." This wasn’t a label early believers gave themselves—it was a title first used in Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26. The name stuck, not because of any branding or strategic rollout, but because the lives of the early believers so clearly mirrored the life and mission of Jesus. It was an identity rooted not in heritage or culture but in transformation—a visible allegiance to the crucified and risen Messiah. The term appears only three times in the New Testament—Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16—but it carries with it a profound legacy of belief, suffering, and devotion.

Christian Doctrine in the Book of Acts

The Book of Acts provides a theological backbone for the Christian faith. It affirms salvation through faith in Christ alone—sola fide—as Peter boldly proclaims in Acts 2:21, 15:7, and 15:11. The early sermons, particularly Peter’s at Pentecost, teach both the humanity and deity of Christ. Jesus is presented as a real man, attested by miracles and crucified under Roman authority, but also declared Lord and Messiah—fully divine and exalted. Central to Christian proclamation was the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Acts 2:24, 31–32 anchor this truth in eyewitness testimony and Old Testament prophecy.

The early Church also affirms the Trinity in its early creeds and preaching. In Acts 2:32-33, we see the cooperative work of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is identified not only as the Savior but also as the long-awaited Messiah who confronts and resolves human sin. Repentance is preached as a direct command—an internal act energized by the Holy Spirit, leading to the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism, while not emphasized as a command like repentance, becomes a powerful symbol of identification with Christ. It is the external marker of a believer’s faith, visible to others and practiced as part of the early Church’s witness.

A Confession of Christian Essentials

The historic Christian faith has often been summarized in statements like the Apostles' Creed—a robust affirmation of what believers hold in common. At its heart is a belief in God the Father, the almighty Creator of heaven and earth. Christians affirm the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, buried, descended to the dead, and raised again on the third day. He now reigns at the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes as our mediator and High Priest. From there, He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Belief in the Holy Spirit binds the Church together in unity. The “holy catholic church” refers not to Roman Catholicism specifically but to the universal body of Christ, sanctified by the Spirit and united in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the hope of bodily resurrection and everlasting life.

Core Doctrines of the Christian Faith

At the center of Christianity is the triune nature of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is the sovereign Creator. Jesus Christ, fully God, and fully man entered into creation through the virgin birth, fulfilled His role as Messiah, and now reigns eternally. The Holy Spirit indwells believers, regenerates hearts, and empowers the Church for mission and sanctification.

Christianity also teaches the fallenness of humanity. Every person is born into sin, separated from God, and in need of redemption. Christ’s bodily resurrection demonstrates not only His victory over death but His divine authority to forgive sin, reconcile us to God, and rule as King. As Savior and Redeemer, Jesus bore the penalty of sin through His death on the cross. His atonement was necessary—He paid the debt humanity could never repay. Through His redemptive work, believers are reconciled to God, adopted into His family, and made new.

Repentance is essential to salvation. It is a turning away from sin and toward God, prompted by the Spirit and confirmed by faith. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. As Paul states in Ephesians 2:8, it is not something we earn but a gift we receive. Our guilt is expunged not through effort but through trust in the finished work of Christ.

Baptism and the Visible Church

Baptism plays a vital role as an outward sign of an inward transformation. It is an act of obedience that identifies a believer with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. While baptism does not save, it symbolizes one’s inclusion in the family of God and reflects a public commitment to Christ.

The Church—the ecclesia—is the community of those called out by God. Though opinions vary on structure and governance, the Church’s nature and role remain central to Christian life. The Church exists to worship God, proclaim the gospel, and reflect Christ to the world. In its most valid form, the Church is a living testimony of God’s kingdom on Earth—a people sanctified by grace and sent into the world as ambassadors of reconciliation and hope.

Final Thoughts: Following Christ Today

To be a Christian is not just to agree with theological facts—it is to be transformed by them. It means trusting in Christ, repenting of sin, being united with the Church, and living as a citizen of God’s kingdom. Christianity isn’t just a set of beliefs but a new identity. As the early believers in Antioch demonstrated, being a Christian means reflecting the life, love, and lordship of Jesus in every area of life.

So, what does it mean to be a Christian today? It means believing in the essentials, trusting the Savior, and belonging to a community shaped by grace. In a world of shifting definitions, this ancient identity remains: a Christian follower of Christ.