What Makes an Individual a Christian - Part 5a

FAITH makes an individual a Christian the very moment of believing

Without faith it is impossible to please God; it is impossible to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour

• Romans 10:17  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
• Acts 4:12  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
• Acts 16:31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
• Ephesians 2:8  “For by grace {are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God:”
• John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

An individual is a Christian when he or she places their personal faith solely and exclusively in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord:

Faith in Jesus – Biblically, He is the Only Way to Salvation:

John 10:9  “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…”

1. "I am the door" - Ephesians 2:18 "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

John 14:6  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

• "the way" - Hebrews 9:8 "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." | Hebrews 10:19-20 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness {confidence} to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus." 20 "By a new and living way {by which believers have direct access to God's Throne}, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;" 
• "the truth" - John 1:14, 17 "And the Word {Logos; eternal Jesus} was made flesh {human form}, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." | John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." | John 18:37 "Pilate, therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
• "the life" - John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"
• "no man cometh unto the Father" - 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" | "one God": Galatians 3:20 "Now a mediator is not a mediator {intercessor} of one {not for only one}, but God is one." | "one mediator": Hebrews 9:15 "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament {covenant}, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
• "but by me" - John 10:7-9 "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." 8 "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them." 9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

Acts 4:12  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

Romans 5:9  “Much more then, being now {having been} justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Romans 10:12-13  “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” 13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 

John 10:1, 7, and 9: 1  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” 7 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” 9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  

Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized¹ shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

¹Baptism is not a Biblical requirement for salvation; it is a result of salvation in obedience to God; an outward expression (dying to sin, being raised to life) of an inward change (spiritual rebirth) and identifying with and not being ashamed of Jesus Christ as Saviour; salvation first followed by baptism

• John 5:24  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
• John 1:12  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
• John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, be have everlasting life.”
• John 6:47  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 20:31  “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
• Romans Chapter 4 – Please look up this important passage regarding Abraham
• Acts 16:30b-31 “…Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
• Galatians 3:6-22 – Please look up this important passage also regarding Abraham

1. Note: Abraham lived in Old Testament times, before Christ. Romans Chapter 4 and this passage tell how Abraham was “made righteous/saved”