Back to Learn & Grow Hub

Core Foundation

THE HEART OF 
CHRISTIANITY

Understand who Jesus is, what it means to belong to Him, and the foundational truths at the centre of the Christian faith.

Explore the Core Foundation

Move through the foundations in order, or choose the area you would like to understand first.

Christian identity

What is a Christian?

Before we ask what it means to be a Christian today, it helps to begin with how the Bible uses the name.

The word “Christian” first appears in Acts 11:26, where we are told that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

At first, this name seems to have been given publicly to those who were clearly associated with Jesus. It may even have been used as a derogatory label or insult by outsiders to describe those who belonged to Christ.

But the earliest believers most often called themselves disciples.

A disciple is not simply someone who agrees with Christian teaching. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, learns from Him, and is slowly shaped by His life, His words, and His way.

Over time, believers did not run from the name Christian. They embraced it. What may have begun as a derogatory label or insult became a confession of belonging.

“Christian” described the association.

Disciple described the life.

What about the name “Nazarene”?

Believers were also called “Nazarenes” — people identified with Jesus of Nazareth. In Acts 24:5, Paul is described as a leader of the “sect of the Nazarenes.”

Some interpreters also see a possible connection between “Nazarene” and the Hebrew word netzer, meaning “branch,” echoing the promise of a coming Branch from the line of Jesse in Isaiah 11:1. That connection should be held carefully, but it carries a beautiful image.

A life traced back to Jesus

A Christian is someone whose life is traced back to Jesus.

  • His identity
  • His death
  • His resurrection
  • His way
Return to the foundation guide

Belonging and identity

Names Used for Christians in the New Testament

Before “Christian” became the name most widely used, followers of Jesus were described in several ways throughout the New Testament.

Each name gives us a glimpse into how the early believers understood their identity, relationship with Christ, and place within the people of God. These titles highlight different aspects of the Christian life, including faith, discipleship, holiness, family, service, and belonging.

01 Disciples mathētai Learners, followers, or apprentices.

This is one of the most common words used in the Gospels and Acts.

A disciple is someone who learns from Jesus, follows Him, and is shaped by His teaching and example.

Scripture examples

Matthew 5:1–2 · John 8:31 · Acts 6:1

02 Believers pisteuontes Those who trust in Christ.

The early Christians were also called believers — people who had placed their faith in Jesus.

Faith was not only something they claimed. It was the foundation of their lives.

Scripture examples

Acts 5:14 · 1 Timothy 4:12

03 Saints hagioi Holy ones; people set apart for God.

Paul often calls believers “saints.”

This does not mean they were perfect. It means they belonged to God and had been made holy through Christ.

Scripture examples

Romans 1:7 · 1 Corinthians 1:2 · Ephesians 1:1

04 Brothers and Sisters adelphoi Members of God’s family.

The church was not simply an organisation. It was a spiritual family.

Those who belonged to Christ now belonged to one another as brothers and sisters.

Scripture examples

Acts 1:15 · James 2:1

05 Followers of the Way The Way A way of life centred on Jesus.

In Acts, followers of Jesus were sometimes associated with “the Way.”

Christianity was understood not merely as a set of beliefs, but as a path to walk — a life shaped by Christ Himself.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Scripture examples

John 14:6 · Acts 9:2 · Acts 19:9 · Acts 24:14

06 Nazarenes Nazōraioi Followers of Jesus of Nazareth.

Believers were publicly identified with Jesus and His hometown.

In Acts 24:5, Paul is accused of being a leader among the Nazarenes. The name linked Christians to Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah whom many had rejected.

Scripture examples

Acts 24:5

07 The Church ekklesia The called-out assembly or gathered people of God.

The word church does not first refer to a building.

It refers to a people whom God has called together through Christ.

Scripture examples

Acts 8:1 · 1 Corinthians 1:2

08 Servants of Christ douloi Those who belong to and serve Christ.

Some New Testament writers describe themselves as servants, or bondservants, of Christ.

The title expresses devotion, obedience, and wholehearted commitment to the Lord.

Scripture examples

Romans 1:1 · James 1:1

09 Children of God tekna Theou Those adopted into God’s family through Christ.

Believers are also called children of God.

Through Jesus, we are not only forgiven but welcomed into a relationship with God as our Father.

Scripture examples

John 1:12 · Romans 8:16

10 The Elect / Chosen eklektoi Those whom God has graciously chosen for Himself.

The New Testament speaks of believers as chosen by God.

This reminds us that Christian identity begins with God’s grace and initiative, not our own efforts.

Scripture examples

Colossians 3:12 · 1 Peter 1:1

Known by belonging

Before buildings, institutions, or denominations knew Christians, they were known as people who belonged to Jesus.

They followed Him.

They learned from Him.

They trusted Him.

They walked in His way.

Return to the foundation guide

The answer in one sentence

Put simply

A Christian is someone who has turned to God, trusted in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, and is now learning to follow Him as a disciple.

01

They belong to Him.

02

They are being made new by His Spirit.

03

They live for God’s glory and the good of others.

A helpful place to begin

Read the Gospel of John

Read the Gospel of John and pay attention to what Jesus says, what He does, and what people discover about Him.

The heart of the gospel

Why the Cross Matters

A common question is: Why would forgiveness require death?

Christians believe the cross shows us both the seriousness of sin and the depth of God’s mercy.

Holiness and mercy

At the cross, the holiness of God and the love of God meet.

Sin is not small. It wounds what is good, separates us from God, and brings death into the world. But God does not stand far away from the cost of forgiveness.

In Jesus, He comes near.

At the cross, Christians see the holiness of God and the love of God meeting together. Evil is not ignored. Sin is not excused. But through Christ, it is carried, judged, and overcome.

This is why Christians believe forgiveness is not cheap. It is grace — but grace came at a cost.

Grace is freely given, but it was not cheaply won.

Sin is not ignored

God does not call evil good or treat the damage of sin as insignificant.

The wrong is named. The harm is acknowledged. Justice is required.

Mercy is not withheld

God comes near in Jesus and offers forgiveness that could never be earned.

The cost is carried. Forgiveness is given.

Restoration is offered

Through Christ, sinners are not only pardoned but brought back into life with God.

The separation is overcome. Belonging is restored.

Forgiven and restored

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, disciples are not only forgiven. They are restored.

The cross is not the end of the story. Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming sin and death and opening the way to new life with God.

Return to the foundation guide

What Christians believe

Foundations of the Faith

Christian belief is not built around one isolated idea. It is formed by connected truths about who God is, what He has done through Jesus, how He speaks through Scripture, and the hope He gives to His people.

These foundations help Christians understand the faith they confess and the life they are called to live.

God

Christians believe in one eternal God: Creator, holy, loving, just, and good.

Jesus Christ

Jesus is fully God and fully human, the promised Saviour and Lord.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit gives life, reveals truth, forms believers, and empowers the Church.

Scripture

The Bible is the written witness through which God makes His truth known.

Sin and Salvation

Humanity is separated from God by sin, but salvation is offered through Jesus Christ.

The Church

The Church is the people of God gathered around Jesus and sent into the world.

Resurrection and New Creation

Christian hope rests in resurrection, Christ’s return, and the renewal of all things.

Belief that shapes life

Christian faith is not merely agreement with a list of ideas.

These truths shape who Christians worship, how they understand the world, how they treat others, and how they live with hope. Christian belief is meant to be known, trusted, and lived.

Return to the foundation guide
An open Bible in a quiet setting

Your next step

Begin where you are

You do not need to understand everything before taking the next step. Begin with Jesus, read His words, consider His life, and continue learning what it means to follow Him.

Start with Jesus

Questions are not a barrier to beginning. Bring them with you as you read, learn, and seek to understand.

Return to the foundation guide

Continue your journey