A Believer in Christ

Introduction

Being a believer in Christ is more than carrying the name “Christian”. It is more than attending church, reading the Bible, giving offerings or being familiar with Christian language. A believer in Christ is someone whose life has been transformed by the power of Christ.

Paul says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

Notice that the Bible does not say that the person has simply become a better version of the old person. It says the person has become a new creature.

When Christ comes into a person's life, He does not merely improve the outside. He changes the person from within.

A true believer is someone who has moved from the old life into a new life in Christ.

1. A Believer Is Someone Who Is “In Christ”

Paul begins with the words, “If any man be in Christ…”

This is the foundation of Christian identity.

Being around Christ is not the same as being in Christ.

Judas was around Jesus, but his heart was not surrendered to Him. Many people were around Jesus during His earthly ministry, but not everyone who followed Him physically belonged to Him spiritually.

You can be around the church and not be in Christ.

You can know Christian songs and not know Christ.

You can carry a Bible and still not have surrendered your life to Christ.

To be in Christ means that Christ has become the centre of your life. Your trust is in Him. Your identity is found in Him. Your hope is in Him. Your life is surrendered to Him.

A believer does not simply say, “Jesus is part of my life.”

The believer says, “Jesus is my life.”

2. A Believer Is a New Creature

The Bible says:

“He is a new creature.”

Christianity is fundamentally about transformation.

When someone genuinely encounters Christ, something changes.

The person may still have the same name, live in the same house and work in the same place, but there is a new person within.

The old desires begin to lose their control.

The old sinful lifestyle can no longer be embraced comfortably.

The believer begins to develop a hunger for God's Word, prayer, righteousness and fellowship with God.

This does not mean that a Christian becomes perfect overnight.

There may still be struggles, weaknesses and mistakes. However, there is a new direction.

Before Christ, the question may have been:

“What do I want?”

After encountering Christ, the question becomes:

“What does God want?”

That is evidence of transformation.

3. A Believer Has a New Identity

One of the greatest discoveries a believer can make is understanding who he or she is in Christ.

Your past does not define you.

Your mistakes do not define you.

Your failures do not define you.

Your family background does not define you.

Your circumstances do not define you.

If you are in Christ, Christ defines you.

The enemy may constantly remind you of who you used to be, but God reminds you of who you are becoming in Christ.

You may have been a liar, but in Christ you can become a person of truth.

You may have been controlled by anger, but in Christ you can learn self-control.

You may have lived in immorality, but in Christ you can walk in purity.

You may have been consumed by bitterness, but in Christ you can learn forgiveness.

Your past may explain where you came from, but it does not have the authority to determine where Christ is taking you.

4. A Believer Has Left the Old Life Behind

Paul says:

“Old things are passed away.”

There must be a separation between the old life and the new life.

The believer cannot continually celebrate what Christ came to deliver him from.

If Christ has saved you from a sinful lifestyle, do not keep returning to it.

If Christ has delivered you from bitterness, do not continue feeding bitterness.

If Christ has brought you out of hatred, do not keep nurturing hatred.

If Christ has given you freedom from destructive habits, do not deliberately return to them.

The old life must lose its authority.

This is why genuine faith produces genuine change.

We are not saved because we have changed. We change because Christ has saved us.

Grace does not give us permission to remain in sin. Grace gives us the power to leave sin behind.

5. A Believer Is Continually Being Renewed

The Christian life is not a one-day experience. It is a daily walk with Christ.

There will be areas of your life that God will continue to work on.

Your character must grow.

Your faith must grow.

Your understanding of God's Word must grow.

Your love must grow.

Your patience must grow.

Your prayer life must grow.

Your obedience must grow.

A believer should be able to look back and say:

“I am not where I used to be.”

You may not yet be where you want to be, but thank God you are not where Christ found you.

God is still working on you.

6. A Believer's Life Should Point Others to Christ

A believer is not transformed merely for personal benefit.

God wants your transformed life to become a testimony to others.

People should see something different in the way you speak, behave, respond to pressure, treat people and handle difficulties.

Jesus said:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16

Your life is preaching even when your mouth is silent.

How you respond when someone offends you can preach.

How you conduct yourself when nobody is watching can preach.

How you handle money can preach.

How you treat your spouse, children, colleagues and neighbours can preach.

How you behave when you are under pressure can preach.

The world should be able to see Christ through the life of a believer.

7. A Believer Must Guard His New Life

The fact that you are a new creature does not mean you should become careless.

You must guard your heart.

Be careful about what you watch.

Be careful about what you listen to.

Be careful about the company you keep.

Be careful about what you allow to influence your thinking.

The old life will always try to find an opportunity to return.

That is why Scripture says:

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23

Do not feed what Christ is trying to kill.

Do not return to the chains from which God has delivered you.

Do not allow your environment to pull you back into your former way of life.

8. A Believer Must Live by Faith

Being a believer means trusting Christ even when circumstances are difficult.

There will be moments when you do not understand what God is doing.

There will be prayers that appear unanswered.

There will be seasons of waiting.

There will be disappointments.

But a believer continues to trust God.

Faith says:

“I may not understand it, but I trust Him.”

Faith says:

“I may not see the way, but I know God is leading me.”

Faith says:

“My circumstances may change, but Christ remains faithful.”

The believer's confidence is not in the stability of life. It is in the unchanging nature of Christ.

9. A Believer Is an Ambassador for Christ

Paul later says in 2 Corinthians 5:20:

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.”

This is a powerful responsibility.

An ambassador represents another kingdom.

As believers, we represent Christ wherever we go.

At home, represent Christ.

At work, represent Christ.

In business, represent Christ.

In your community, represent Christ.

Online, represent Christ.

When people encounter you, they should have an opportunity to see something of Jesus.

You are not merely carrying the title of Christian. You are carrying the reputation of the Kingdom.

Therefore, ask yourself:

“Does my life represent the Christ I profess?”

10. The Evidence of a New Creature

How can we know that someone is truly growing in Christ?

Not merely by what they say.

Look at the fruit.

Is there increasing love?

Is there increasing obedience?

Is there increasing humility?

Is there increasing hatred for sin?

Is there increasing hunger for God's Word?

Is there increasing willingness to forgive?

Is there increasing concern for others?

Is there increasing desire to please God?

These things are evidence that Christ is working in a person's life.

Jesus said:

“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
Matthew 7:16

A believer does not need to constantly announce that he belongs to Christ. His life should increasingly make it evident.

Conclusion

2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us one of the most powerful descriptions of the Christian life:

“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”

Notice the words “any man”.

It does not matter how broken your past has been.

It does not matter how many mistakes you have made.

It does not matter how far you have wandered.

If you come to Christ genuinely, He can make you new.

Your past may be full of regret, but Christ offers a new beginning.

Your past may be full of failure, but Christ offers restoration.

Your past may be full of sin, but Christ offers forgiveness.

The Christian life is not about pretending that the old person never existed. It is about allowing Christ to create something new.

Therefore, do not live as though you are still the person you used to be.

You are in Christ.

You are a new creature.

The old has passed away.

God is doing something new.