Heidelberg Catechism

Question 32. Why are you called a Christian? (a)

Answer: Because I am a member of Christ by faith, (b) and thus am partaker of his anointing, (c) so that I may confess his name, (d) present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him, (e) and with a free and good conscience fight against sin and Satan in this life, (f) and afterwards reign with him eternally over all creatures. (g)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

a. Acts 11:26

and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

b. 1 Corinthians 6:15

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!

c. 1 John 2:27

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

      Acts 2:17

And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams …

d. Matthew 10:32

So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven … .

      Romans 10:9-10

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.     

      Mark 8:38

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

e. Romans 12:1

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

     1 Peter 2:5, 9

… you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

f. Galatians 5:16-17

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

     Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

     1 Timothy 1:18-19

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

g. 2 Timothy 2:12

… if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

     Matthew 25:34

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.