Who Are Christians and What Do They Believe About Other Religions?
In a world filled with different voices, beliefs, and opinions, the term “Christian” often gets used in ways that can be confusing. Many people claim to be Christians simply because they were raised in a Christian home, go to church occasionally, or live a moral life. But what does the Bible actually say about what it means to be a Christian? And how do Christians view other religions?
What Is A Christian?
The term Christian first appears in Acts 11:26, where the followers of Jesus were called Christians in Antioch. This wasn’t a label they chose for themselves. It was given to them because their lives, speech, and behavior reflected Christ. The word literally means “belonging to Christ” or “follower of Christ.”
A biblical Christian is not defined by good deeds, church attendance, or simply claiming the title. Scripture is clear that salvation is not something we earn. It is a gift from God. Titus 3:5 says, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
According to John 3:3, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” This idea of being born again, receiving new spiritual life through faith in Jesus, is central. Ephesians 2:8 explains it this way: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
A true Christian, then, is someone who:
Has put their full faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ
Believes in His death on the cross as payment for their sins
Believes in His resurrection on the third day
Has been spiritually reborn through the Holy Spirit
Is marked by a love for God, a love for others, and a desire to obey God’s Word
John 1:12 tells us, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This is what sets biblical Christianity apart, belonging to God’s family through faith, not through works or labels.
What Do Christians Believe About Other Religions?
Biblical Christians believe that Jesus is the only way to God. This belief comes directly from Jesus Himself, who said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This means that while Christians may share some surface-level beliefs with other religions, such as the idea that God is merciful or that Jesus was a prophet, there is a clear and non-negotiable distinction when it comes to salvation.
For example:
Islam teaches that Jesus was a great prophet, which Christians agree with. However, Islam rejects the idea that Jesus is God or that He died for our sins. Christians believe that without faith in Jesus as God and Savior, one cannot be saved.
Mormonism uses similar language to biblical Christianity, but redefines key doctrines. Mormons teach that God the Father was once a man, that Jesus is a god among many, and that humans can become gods themselves. These teachings are not found anywhere in the Bible and are rejected by historic Christianity.
Satan is called the “father of lies” and “the deceiver” in Scripture, and one of his most effective tactics is confusion. The most dangerous lies are often the ones closest to the truth. When religions or cults borrow biblical terms but change their meanings, it can lead people away from the true Gospel.
The Bible also speaks strongly against idolatry. In the Old Testament, people carved images of wood and stone and worshiped them, things the Bible says are either nothing or are demonic in origin (see Psalm 115, 1 Corinthians 10:19-20). A biblical Christian believes there is only one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and rejects all false gods, idols, and teachings that claim otherwise.
Why This Matters
To be a Christian isn’t about heritage, behavior, or even calling yourself one. It’s about being born again through faith in the biblical Jesus – fully God, fully man, crucified and risen, and the only way to eternal life.
And because of that belief, Christians hold firm that other religions, while they may contain partial truths, ultimately lead people away from salvation if they deny Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The Gospel is exclusive in its claim, but inclusive in its invitation “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). True Christians are those who have answered that call.
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