Who Is Truly A Christian?

To this question one might respond, “The person who has been baptized for the remission of sins”. It is true that baptism is for the remission of sin, Acts 2:38. It is equally true that baptism by immersion is essential to salvation but is that all it is to it?

I have seen over the years congregations that would accept into their fellowship anyone who said they had been baptized for the remission of their sins. This is an area where we must be open but extremely cautious. There are various denominational groups that baptize for remission of sins: Mormonism, United Pentecostal, I know of a Primitive Baptist that baptizes for the remission of sins. Catholics baptize by sprinkling but do so for remission of sin. My friends one can be baptized for the remission of sin having an improper faith in Christ or without truly repenting, or by making an improper confession, by not being sincere or by not having a proper understanding. I have known some who were taught denominational doctrine, obeyed denominational teaching, baptized with denominational baptism, but when they heard the truth on baptism, they concluded that the reason they were baptized was for the remission of sin, when in fact, nothing could have been further from the truth.

A Christian is one who has been taught the truth, which sets men free (John 8:32). When a person has been taught and learns of the Father, then can he truly come to the Father (John 6:44-45). Things a person must learn is that he is without God, without Christ and without hope (Ephesians 2:12), because of his sin (Romans 3:23, 6:23), and thus stands in need of a Savior. The person must realize that God sent His Son into the world for the purpose of being its Savior (1 John 4:14). Christ was made to be sin for us that we could be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). There is no other name under Heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

A Christian is the person who out of a sincere heart (Romans 6:17) complies with the conditions set forth in the holy scriptures to become a Christian, which involves: believing in Jesus Christ as God’s son, and the only saving sacrifice for mankind (John 8:24,), genuinely repents (turns from sin) (Luke 13:3), confesses that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom.10:9-10), this person is the proper candidate to be baptized for remission of sin to become God’s child (a Christian) (Gal. 3:26-27; Mk. 16:16) .

Bill Cantrell