Believers: Following Christ in Faith and Obedience

A believer is more than someone who acknowledges Christian doctrine—they are a follower of Jesus Christ, marked by personal faith, transformed living, and identification with the global body of Christ. This article explores the biblical understanding of what it means to be a believer, the unity and responsibility we share, and how our lives reflect our faith in a watching world.

The Foundation of Belief

Central to the Christian belief is the acknowledgment that Christ died, was buried, and rose again, confirming Him as the Son of God (1 Cor 15:3,4). The faith that makes a person a Christian is a personal trust in Jesus, who gave His life in our place because of our sins and rose again for our justification, which means we are totally acquitted in God’s sight (Rom 4:24,25). Righteousness (right standing with God) and eternal life are given to those who believe in Him and claim Him as their Saviour and Lord (Jn 3:15,16,18,36; Rom 10:9,10). This gift of salvation is not based on our efforts or abilities and is found in no other person (Act 4:12; Eph 2:8,9).

Unity and Responsibility Among Believers

All Christians are in effect our brothers and sisters in Christ, because we have been adopted into the same heavenly family (Eph 2:19; 1 Tim 5:1,2). We are all one in Christ; in God’s eyes there are no divisions or levels, but all are equal regardless of gender, nationality, language, economic, or social standing in the natural realm (Jn 17:21; Gal 3:28). While it is natural to develop strong relationships with others in the Church (the body of Christ) as we worship and serve God together, this must be with “absolute purity” (1 Tim 5:2; Heb 10:25).

We are to serve fellow believers in love, building them up in the faith; this includes encouraging and holding them accountable to the Christian principles as we invest our lives in them and they in turn help us to mature in our walk with God (Gal 5:15,16). Love for one another should be a distinguishing characteristic (Jn 13:35; 1 Cor 13:1-13; 1 Pet 3:8). Unfortunately, often there is division and conflict between fellow believers, who focus on small differences of doctrine rather than the major areas of commonality of belief in Christ.

Living as Christ’s Representatives

Our trust in Jesus is outworked in obedience to the Bible’s message and any subsequent guidance, resulting in a life devoted to Christ through whom we touch the world around us. Believers are Christ’s representatives to the lost and may be the only ‘Bible’ these non-Christians will read. Although we are not to form binding relationships such as marriage or business partnerships with non-believers, we should not isolate ourselves from them, but rather live out the Christian life as salt and light by being an influence for good (Mt 5:13-16; 2 Cor 6:14). We are in the world yet not of it (Jn 17:15,16).

Does my lifestyle show I am a believer?

A secret believer is one who, because of the hostile nature of government, society, or family, is liable for intense harassment, persecution, and maybe death if they will not recant their faith in Christ. They do not openly publicize the fact they are a believer to avoid drawing attention to themselves, but rather seek to win others to Christ through deep friendship and meet secretly with other believers in ‘underground’ churches. The ‘freedom of religion,’ whereby people are at liberty to practice their beliefs, is permitted by many nations; however, this is not the case in others.

Jesus said, “Whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Mt 10:32,33). We need to pray for the persecuted believers—that they will have wisdom in living for Christ and how they share Him with others, to be kept safe from betrayal, or if they are caught, they will remain true to Christ even when it results in martyrdom.

Reflection and Application

Am I living in a way that clearly identifies me as a follower of Christ, both in private and public?
Do I treat all believers as equal brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of background or status?
How am I actively building up other believers in love and holding them accountable in grace?
In what ways am I being salt and light to non-believers in my daily life?