Being a Christian is about more than identifying with a particular religion or accepting a particular value system.

Being a Christian means you have accepted what the Bible says about God, humanity, and salvation. Consider the following truths found

in writing:

God is the Sovereign Creator . Contemporary thinking says that man is a product of evolution. But the Bible says we were created by a personal God to love, serve, and enjoy endless fellowship with Him. The New Testament reveals that Jesus personally created everything (John 1: 3; Colossians 1:16). So He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103: 19). This means that He has authority over our lives, and we owe Him absolute devotion, obedience, and honor.

God is holy . God is absolutely and perfectly holy (Isa. 6: 3). Hence, he cannot do or condone wrongdoing (James 1:13). God also requires our holiness. 1 Peter 1:16 says, "Be holy, for I am holy."

Man is sinful . According to the Scriptures, everyone is guilty of sin "there is no man that does not sin" (1 Kings 8:46). This does not mean that we are incapable of the actions of human kindness. But we are completely incapable of understanding, loving, or pleasing God (Rom. 3: 10-12).

Sin requires punishment. God's holiness and justice require that all sin be punished by death (Ezek. 18: 4). That is why simply changing our behavior cannot solve the problem of sin or eliminate its consequences.

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Jesus is Lord and Savior. The New Testament reveals that Jesus personally created everything (Colossians 1:16). So He also owns and rules everything (Psalm 103: 19). This means that He has authority over our lives, and we owe Him absolute devotion, obedience, and honor. Romans 10: 9 says, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Even though God's justice requires death for sin, God's love provided a Savior who paid the penalty and died for sinners (1 Peter 3:18). Christ's death fulfilled the demands of God's righteousness, and His perfect life satisfied God's holiness (2 Cor. 5:21), thus enabling God to forgive and save those who believe in Him (Rom. 3:26).

The nature of saving faith . True faith is always accompanied by repentance from sin. Repentance is agreeing with God that you are sinful and confessing your sins to Him and making a conscious choice to turn from sin (Luke 13: 3,5; 1 Thess. 1: 9) and follow Christ (Matthew 11: 28-30, John 17: 3) and obey him (1 John 2: 3). It is not enough to believe certain facts about Christ. Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James 2:19) but do not love and obey Him. True saving faith is always revealed in obedience (Eph. 2:10).