Christianity Defined: 

First of all, Christianity is Jewish in its roots and heritage. It is actually the culmination of Judaism.  Jesus (Yeshua) was Jewish; He was brought up as a Jew and observed Torah perfectly. The Apostles, the first disciples of Yeshua, were Jews. After His resurrection, in Luke 24:25-27, Jesus explained how all the Hebrew prophets of former times pointed to Him, saying, "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

The central message of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is God the Son who came to earth to rescue sinners not only from a life of sin but also from eternal damnation in hell. Therefore, the only way to know God and have a right relationship with God is by faith in Christ. Faith assumes that one turns away from sin and submits to Jesus Christ as the ruler of every aspect of one's life (calling Him "Lord," see Romans 10:9-10). Mere intellectual assent to the truths about God, according to Scripture, is what characterizes demons, not children of God (James 2:19).

Believing that the 66 books of the Bible comprise the error-free Word of God, Christians read it, love its truth, come to know God more deeply by it, and live by its counsel.

Who Can Be a Christian?

John 1:12 says that "...as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." So, not everyone is automatically a child of God just because he or she is born. Rather, every person who humbly agrees with God about his sin (breaking God's law), confesses it and trusts in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness based on what He did (His life of perfect law keeping, His death, resurrection and ascension) enters into a right relationship with God. Galatians 3:26  says we become children of God "through faith in Christ Jesus."

This new family relationship creates a new allegiance to God as Father. Such allegiance results in a radically changed life that is characterized by loving what God loves and hating what God hates. Comprehensive life change proves that one has been "born again" by the Spirit of God who now dwells in the believer (see John 3:1-20; Ephesians 1:13-14). 

One of Christ's closest followers while on earth, the Apostle John, wrote these inspired words of Scripture: "And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true ; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)