What is Christianity?

Interestingly, Jesus Christ never called his followers Christians, nor did the early church call themselves Christians. Instead, people outside the church coined the name “Christian” to describe people who accepted, believed, and followed Jesus Christ. They recognised that there was something different about them.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he lived as a man on Earth about 2,000 years ago. But Jesus is himself divine: he is one person of a three-person God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christians believe the accounts in the Bible which say Jesus was miraculously conceived and lived for about 30 years before beginning three years of travelling around the Middle East, teaching about God and healing sick people. Christianity teaches that Jesus was betrayed, tried and convicted on false charges and executed by crucifixion but rose from the dead and reappeared to hundreds of people. He then ascended to heaven to be with God. In the future, there will be a time of judgement. After that those who have put their trust and faith in Jesus, will be with him in eternity.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

To be a Christian means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, trusting Him as both Saviour and Lord. It is not merely about attending church, following rules, or having moral values, but about a transformative change in the heart and life.

Core beliefs include:

Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, who lived, died on the cross for humanity’s sins, and rose again.
Accepting salvation as a free gift of grace through faith in Jesus, not earned by good works (The Bible, Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV))
Being "born again" - experiencing a new spiritual life, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (The Bible, John 3:3 (NIV), 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV))

Living as a Christian involves:

Following Jesus' teachings, especially loving God and loving others as oneself (The Bible, Matthew 22:37–39 (NIV))
Reflecting Christ’s character - showing love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, peace, and self-control (The Bible, Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV))
Striving daily to grow in faith, hope, and love, even while acknowledging imperfection.

Put simply, being a Christian is about being a disciple - a follower of Jesus Christ; being someone whose life is shaped by His example and message.

Becoming a Christian

To trust in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and become a Christian, you need to understand who Jesus is, what he has done for us and how that changes our lives. And that is known as the gospel.

The term “gospel” comes from the Greek word euangelion, which means “good news.” And this good news? It’s simple and life-changing!

Here are the basics:

We have all sinned. Sin can be defined as the bad actions we take, such as lying or stealing. All of us are born into sin, which separates us from God. The Bible, Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Because of sin, we deserve death. The penalty for sin is death. The Bible, Romans 6:23 (NIV) reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus came to earth and died as the sacrifice for our sins. God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus lived a perfect life and was then crucified to pay the penalty for our sins. The Bible, Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death once and for all. After three days, Jesus was resurrected from the dead, defeating death for all of us. In The Bible, Matthew 28:6 (NIV), we read, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Now, we can follow Jesus and be with him for eternity. Because of what he did for us, we get to have a personal relationship with Jesus, freely following him and enjoying life with him forever. The Bible, John 3:16, (NIV) tells us, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Becoming a Christian is simple and straightforward. There is no special formula to follow but here are three steps you can take right now to start your journey with Jesus:

Admit to God that you’re a sinner and in need of a Saviour.
Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, defeated death, and rose from the dead.
Confess that Jesus is Lord and commit your life to following Him.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” - The Bible, Romans 10:9, NIV

What next?

If you have taken those steps to becoming a Christian then:

Get connected with other Christians!

Find a local church which offers sound Bible-based teaching and join some of its services and activities. Some churches run special courses for new Christians.
Talk to other, more experienced, Christians who can explain to you more about following Jesus.

Get a Bible, if you have not already got one, and start reading it regularly. Luke’s Gospel might be a good place to start. There are plenty of Bible reading apps online which can help you read the Bible in a structured way. Many churches run Bible study groups, often in a home with an informal format, where you learn more about the Christian faith and ask questions.

Learn how to pray. Prayer at its simplest is just having a conversation with God - as you might with a good friend. Ask Him to help you as you as you share your concerns and joys and seek to know Him better.

You may find further help on this website: https://www.christianity.org.uk

Langford Evangelical Church