What is a Christian?

Some things are just like the wallpaper, once it is up, people pay it little or no attention, but it is always there underpinning everything.  The word Christian is like this in many ways,  but what does the word Christian mean, and how does a person become a Christian?  It may surprise you realize that the name started as a nickname at a place called Antioch, shortly after the death of Christ citizens of Antioch where watching those who had spent time with Jesus.  These people displayed behaviours and attitudes that reminded onlookers, of the crucified preacher and healer, so they branded these people with the name Christian Acts 11:19, 20 Bible.  The saying is true, if you throw enough mud some of it will stick, and stick it has for over 2000 years.  So there it is Christian means Christ follower or Christ like.

So how do people become followers of Christ today?  The Bible instructs in Romans 10:9 Bible that in order to become a Christian a person needs to:

• Believe that Jesus is the Son of God
• Confess openly that they are Christian

Following believing and confessing comes that act of baptism Acts 18:8 Bible.  This is an extension of a verbal confession because it is a public declaration of a persons faith with a symbolic act.  More on Baptism later.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/