What It Means To Be A Christian

Samaritan Woman

Ask the Samaritan Woman that Jesus talked to in John’s Gospel chapter 4, “What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus or a Christian?” She would probably answer. “I don’t have a clue.” “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

The Samaritan woman would have about as much knowledge about being a disciple of Jesus as the Osmand family on Television. I watched a news magazine interview the Osmands and saw several minutes of their real life interactions. I watched a family with no moral disciplines. The Osmand family is typical of many American familes where God is only acknowledged in swear words.” Ask the Osmands what it means to be a Christian and they would answer: “We don’t know and I don’t care. Mind your own business.”

The Samaritan woman and the Osmands represent the majority of Americans in America. God is not relevant. A couple weeks ago I was talking to an older couple in the community. She is 85 and he is 80. When I tried to talk to them about their spiritual life and faith in God they quickly changed the subject. God is not relevant to them even in the final phase of their lives they have no need for God. They have spent most of their life working and doing good things but have made no preparation for life after death.

When we talk about becoming a Disciple of Jesus. We must make a decision to first of all to take Jesus at His Word.

To be a Christian is to Know Jesus as personal Lord and Savior.

A Christian is a “Christ One.” A true authentic Christian believes and puts his life on the line that Jesus alone is the way to God. People without an understanding of God’s Word or those who know the Bible but reject its teachings, want to believe that all roads lead to heaven.

All roads don’t lead to the same place. When I was in London, England for the first time I drove around for four hours and never got to the place I was trying to find. I saw signs to the Wimboldon Tennis Park but I never found it. For the entire time I was in London I was lost. After four hours I was thankful to get out of London and back on the Motorway to Northern England where I had appointments with other FM pastors. I needed a better road map. I needed a tour guide.

The Bible is your road map in life and Jesus is your tour guide.

You may say that people who believe that Jesus is the only way to God are narrow minded, bigoted, and snobbish in their views.

Remember Jesus is the one that claimed that He alone was the way to God. You either receive what Jesus said as truth or reject what Jesus said. John 14:6, Jesus declared: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

If Jesus is the incarnate Son of God, and He is, then there is no reason to doubt this truth.

Acts 3 Peter and John are going into the temple at the time of prayer. A cripple man was at the gate of the temple. He had been cripple from birth. Someone had to carry him daily to the temple so he could beg for donations. As Peter and John walked by he begged for a donation. Peter said, “Look at us.” He looked at Peter and John expecting a donation but Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple court, walking and jumping, and praising God.”