When we talk to people about Jesus and what it means to be a Christian, we might be asked: “Why Are You A Christian?” That is a question that we should all be prepared to answer. Allow me to offer a response that you may choose to adapt and use.
I am a Christian because of God’s grace. God graciously offered me a way to be saved from my sins through the gift of His Son Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 tells us, “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
The gift of Jesus wasn’t a simple act of kindness. It was an act of God’s love (John 3:16). I am a Christian because of God’s love. Romans 5:6-8 teaches us, “6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God’s love expressed to us in Jesus involved Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven (Philippians 2:5-11). The amazing concept of all that is God coming down to earth as a helpless infant and then going through all of the things that humanity goes through, yet without sinning, is mind-boggling (Hebrews 4:15).
For Jesus to go to the cross and sacrifice Himself for me shows a love that very few show others. Such sacrificial love shown among us is honored as heroic. The cross is the ultimate expression of Jesus’ love. In the cross we see the genuineness of Jesus as the Christ. The cross proves the love of Christ for us all. Jesus died a horrible, painful death for you and me, and everyone, for all time. Jesus not only died, but He also resurrected.
I am a Christian because of Christ’s resurrection. Without the resurrection Christianity is a gathering of people with no eternal purpose. 1 Corinthians 15:19 offers this summary of a faith without the resurrection, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” The resurrection of Christ gives His followers the promise of resurrection when He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). This gives me hope.
I am a Christian because of the hope I have in Christ. The hope I speak of is not just a hope in the resurrection, but the hope that God gives me every day. I know that I am not perfect, but in Christ I hope to change and be more like Him (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). I know that I can’t make it to heaven on my own, but because of Christ I have the hope of promised salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). I know that I’m not the best example for others to follow, but His example gives me hope to be a good influence (1 Corinthians 11:1).
I am a Christian because of God’s gracious love. Such incredible love promises us forgiveness of sins and the hope of resurrection. I am a Christian because I hope in Him. Without Christ, I cannot truly experience God’s gracious love or the forgiveness of sins. Without Christ I cannot truly have hope in this life or the life to come. This is why I am a Christian.
