What Is a Christian? — The Love Series, Lesson 1
Preached Sunday morning, June 28, 2026 • Dardanelle Missionary Baptist Church • Pastor Chuck Trusty • The Love Series
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?
John 13:34 • John 15:12 • John 15:17 • 1 Peter 1:22
INTRODUCTION — THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
We believe that loving one another — the way Jesus loves us — does three things:
It shows that we are disciples of Jesus.
It proves that we love God.
It symbolizes our authority as a New Testament church.
Jesus said:
“Love one another… as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)
“This is My commandment, that ye love one another.” Jn 15:12
“These things I command you, that ye love one another.” Jn 15:17
Peter said:
“See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Pt 1:22
So today - we ask a simple question:
WHAT DOES IT actually MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?
1. BEING “SAVED” AND BEING “A CHRISTIAN” ARE NOT THE SAME THING
To be saved means you belong to God — you are His child
(John 1:12)… But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
To be a Christian means you behave like God’s Son — you follow Jesus and walk as He walked
(1 John 2:6)… He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
A Christian is someone who lives a Christ-like life. This does NOT mean that loving others is what saves us — salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8–9)… For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But love is what identifies a saved person AS A Christian, because Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)
A person can “be saved” and still not “behave” like a Christian
(1 Corinthians 3:1–3)… And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
But no one can be a Christian — a true follower of Christ — without love
(1 John 4:7–8)… ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Clarifying 1 John 4:8
When John says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God,” he is not saying that a person who fails to love is not saved.
The Greek word for “knoweth” is ginōskō, which means:
to know by experience
to know through fellowship
to know intimately
John is saying:
“If we do not love, then we are not walking in close fellowship with God.”
He is talking about relationship, not talking about salvation.
A saved person can still fail to love — but when he does, he is out of fellowship, not out of the family.
1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Fellowship – not salvation – depends upon walking in the light
1Jo 2:3 ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Knowing God in the type of “fellowship” being referred to there – is tied to OBEDIENCE – it is not tied to salvation…
1Co 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Saved people can be carnal and unloving…
1Jo 4:7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Love is the evidence of fellowship – not the requirement for salvation.
“1 John 4:8 is not about salvation — it is about fellowship. A believer who does not love is still saved, but he is not walking closely with God.”
2. A CHRISTIAN LOVES GOD BY OBEYING JESUS’ COMMANDMENTS
A Christian is someone who loves God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength
(Mark 12:30)… And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Jesus said:
“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15
This means that love comes first, and obedience “grows” out of love.
Scripture to reinforce this:
1 John 5:3 — “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
— Love and obedience are inseparable.
The FIRST commandment Jesus gave His church was to love one another
When we obey this commandment:
we protect the unity of the church
we guard the other commandments
we behave properly in God’s house
we treat one another the way Jesus treats us
Scripture to reinforce this:
John 13:34–35… A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
— Love is the identifying mark of discipleship.
Ephesians 4:2–3… ¶ With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
— Love keeps unity.
1 Peter 1:22… Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
— Love must be pure and fervent.
Love is the foundation of Christian behavior
If we love God, then we will obey Him.
If we love one another, we will treat each other with kindness, patience, and respect.
Love is not a feeling — it is a choice to act like Jesus.
Scripture to reinforce this:
1 Corinthians 13:4–7… ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
— Love is patient, kind, humble, and unselfish.
Galatians 5:13–14… ¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
— Love fulfills the whole law.
“Love is the foundation of Christian living. Love for God leads to obedience. Love for one another leads to unity. This is what it means to be a Christian.”
This lesson is part of The Love Series on yes.areyousaved.net — the full series list is coming to THE BOOKSHELF.
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