“What is a Christian?”…A dictionary definition of a Christian would be something similar to "a person professing belief in Jesus as the Christ or in the religion based on the teachings of Jesus." While this is a good starting point, like many dictionary definitions, it falls somewhat short of really communicating the biblical truth of what it means to be a Christian. The word "Christian" is used three times in the New Testament

Acts 11:26…26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers[a]were first called Christians.)

Acts 26:28

28 Agrippa interrupted him(Paul in Caesarea). "Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?"(Or "A little more, and your arguments would make me a Christian.")…1 Peter 4:16

16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

Followers of Jesus Christ were first called "Christians" in Antioch

because their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ.

Acts 11:26

26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers[a]were first called Christians.)

The word "Christian" literally means, "belonging to the party of Christ" or a "follower of Christ."……Unfortunately over time, the word "Christian" has lost a great deal of its significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values but who may or may not be a true follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who do not believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a "Christian" nation. But going to church, serving those less fortunate than you, or being a good person does not make you a Christian. Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to a garage makes you an automobile. Being a member of a church, attending services regularly, and giving to the work of the church does not make you a Christian.……The Bible teaches that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God.

Titus 3:5

5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

So, a Christian is someone who has been born again by God

John 3:3

3 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,( Or born from above; also in 3:7.)you cannot see the Kingdom of God."

John 3:7

7 So don't be surprised when I say, 'You[a] must be born again.'

1 Peter 1:23

23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

and has put faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8tells us that "8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God"……A true Christian is a person who has put faith and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection on the third day.

John 1:12tells us, "12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.."

The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God's Word

1 John 2:4, 10

4 If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth..10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer[a] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.

A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God's true family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ.