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What It Means to Be a Christian: The Truth About the Gospel and Real Faith
Many people think they are Christians.
But what if they’re mistaken?
Jesus once gave a warning that still unsettles readers
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’ and I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you.’”
In a culture where Christianity is familiar, it is easy to assume we understand what it means to follow Jesus. Church attendance, good morals, religious traditions, or simply believing in God can all feel like enough.
But the Bible tells a very different story.
In What It Means to Be a Christian, David Knight addresses some of the most common misunderstandings about faith and explains the message at the very heart of Christianity — the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This book
• what the Bible actually teaches about becoming a Christian
• why many people misunderstand the gospel
• the difference between religion and true faith
• what it really means to follow Jesus
With clarity, honesty, and compassion, Knight shows that Christianity is not about tradition, culture, or trying to be a good person. It is about something far being reconciled to God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If you have ever wondered whether you truly understand the Christian message—or whether you may have misunderstood it—this book invites you to examine the most important question anyone will ever face.
Your eternity is too important to leave to assumption.
"Since I have known David, he has had a wonderful way of communicating the truths of the glorious gospel with a sincere motivation of love. This book is more than just a good read; it’s 'truth in love' that steers the convo toward what matters the eternal. Purchase two. One for you and another for someone you have been praying for."
Flip Michaels -Associate Pastor & Author, Five Half-Truths
"In What It Means to Be a Christian, David Knight provides clear biblical teaching that addresses misunderstandings which often lead to false conversions. As a seasoned Bible teacher, he offers a valuable resource for apologetics and evangelism, faithfully pointing readers to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection."
Doreen Virtue - Author of “From Counterfeit to Christ” and “How to Avoid New Age and New Thought Deception
"What It Means to Be a Christian is exactly the kind of writing we need in our present cultural Accessible, pithy, and highly quotable. It gets us straight to the point without any forfeiture of rock solid truth. The thoughtful questions after each chapter make it an ideal tool for outreach, discipleship, or even family worship. I am grateful to David for writing it!"
Allen S. Nelson IV - Pastor, Providence Baptist Church, Perryville, AR
"No issue more important, no better news. David Knight brings the good news with clarity, urgency, honesty and humility. He exhibits the grace of our Redeemer in telling us how we can be redeemed. One beggar telling other beggars where to find the feast that is Jesus. One to be read, cherished and shared."
R. C. Sproul Jr - Jesus Changes Everything
"In this concise book, David Knight offers a clear and helpful introduction to what it means to be a Christian. He addresses the essential questions every reader should ask and clarifies common misunderstandings about the gospel.
But what if they’re mistaken?
Jesus once gave a warning that still unsettles readers
“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord…’ and I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you.’”
In a culture where Christianity is familiar, it is easy to assume we understand what it means to follow Jesus. Church attendance, good morals, religious traditions, or simply believing in God can all feel like enough.
But the Bible tells a very different story.
In What It Means to Be a Christian, David Knight addresses some of the most common misunderstandings about faith and explains the message at the very heart of Christianity — the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This book
• what the Bible actually teaches about becoming a Christian
• why many people misunderstand the gospel
• the difference between religion and true faith
• what it really means to follow Jesus
With clarity, honesty, and compassion, Knight shows that Christianity is not about tradition, culture, or trying to be a good person. It is about something far being reconciled to God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
If you have ever wondered whether you truly understand the Christian message—or whether you may have misunderstood it—this book invites you to examine the most important question anyone will ever face.
Your eternity is too important to leave to assumption.
"Since I have known David, he has had a wonderful way of communicating the truths of the glorious gospel with a sincere motivation of love. This book is more than just a good read; it’s 'truth in love' that steers the convo toward what matters the eternal. Purchase two. One for you and another for someone you have been praying for."
Flip Michaels -Associate Pastor & Author, Five Half-Truths
"In What It Means to Be a Christian, David Knight provides clear biblical teaching that addresses misunderstandings which often lead to false conversions. As a seasoned Bible teacher, he offers a valuable resource for apologetics and evangelism, faithfully pointing readers to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection."
Doreen Virtue - Author of “From Counterfeit to Christ” and “How to Avoid New Age and New Thought Deception
"What It Means to Be a Christian is exactly the kind of writing we need in our present cultural Accessible, pithy, and highly quotable. It gets us straight to the point without any forfeiture of rock solid truth. The thoughtful questions after each chapter make it an ideal tool for outreach, discipleship, or even family worship. I am grateful to David for writing it!"
Allen S. Nelson IV - Pastor, Providence Baptist Church, Perryville, AR
"No issue more important, no better news. David Knight brings the good news with clarity, urgency, honesty and humility. He exhibits the grace of our Redeemer in telling us how we can be redeemed. One beggar telling other beggars where to find the feast that is Jesus. One to be read, cherished and shared."
R. C. Sproul Jr - Jesus Changes Everything
"In this concise book, David Knight offers a clear and helpful introduction to what it means to be a Christian. He addresses the essential questions every reader should ask and clarifies common misunderstandings about the gospel.
- GenresReligion
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2026
About the author
David J. Knight
5 books2 followersDavid Knight is the founder of the Bible teaching ministry Exposit The Word. Based in the United Kingdom, he is a regular preacher and Bible teacher who hosts a daily Bible study focused on teaching Scripture verse by verse, book by book.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 7, 2026
easy to understand
This book was really informational and easy to understand. It’s not pushy, it just gives you knowledge you may have not known before. I love the discussion questions in the back that make you dig deep and think about the relationship you have with God. I would recommend this book to others
This book was really informational and easy to understand. It’s not pushy, it just gives you knowledge you may have not known before. I love the discussion questions in the back that make you dig deep and think about the relationship you have with God. I would recommend this book to others
May 17, 2026
This primer book captures the cornucopia of beliefs and false assurances that so many people put their confidence in. I have witnessed this firsthand as a street evangelist for six years. The book also includes great discussion questions that prompt us individually and collectively to think deeper and is a practical way to heed Paul’s warning in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?”
Sadly, we are seeing firsthand the spread of secularism. As an evangelist, I have inwardly groaned because today the word “Christian” is empty of its meaning. I reached this conclusion by using John 3 where many who profess faith can not explain why Jesus said, “you must be born again” and this book addresses this in detail.
Knight’s writing clearly shows he understands biblical evangelism! In Chapter 5, he illustrates that universally we do not like to think about death. Many churches and individuals minimize sin and repentance and have compromised by using pragmatic means to get decisions and report numbers, often putting emphasis on walking an aisle, repeating a sinner’s prayer or resting in a ceremony. When we step-over the problem of sin, the gospel is changed, and the individual is left confused by why Jesus Christ died. The use of the Law in evangelism is biblical because it is a mirror to all men that only grace through faith in Christ alone saves.
In Misunderstanding #9 Knight briefly addressed a vital doctrine that often is neglected within the church- Regeneration. The verse that immediately came to mind for Regeneration was Philippians 2:12-13. I was thankful Knight focused on Regeneration to remind us that the gospel is a message of grace. That God alone gives man the ability to repent and believe.
The latter half of the book helps a reborn believer understand the life-long Sanctification process and how the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word. A believer will stop chasing experiences and will submit to the truth of God’s Word. Knight also helps a believer to know the criteria of a biblical church. In the times we live, I would add to his list to look for a shepherd leader and not a CEO.
Lastly, Knight stresses the importance of discernment. The gospel message has been lost when we focus on self-improvement, success, comfort or personal fulfillment where the focus is on self and not God. Knight’s key discernment question is spot on, “The question is not: Am I enjoying this? The question is: Is this faithful to God’s Word?”
Krista Miller
Sadly, we are seeing firsthand the spread of secularism. As an evangelist, I have inwardly groaned because today the word “Christian” is empty of its meaning. I reached this conclusion by using John 3 where many who profess faith can not explain why Jesus said, “you must be born again” and this book addresses this in detail.
Knight’s writing clearly shows he understands biblical evangelism! In Chapter 5, he illustrates that universally we do not like to think about death. Many churches and individuals minimize sin and repentance and have compromised by using pragmatic means to get decisions and report numbers, often putting emphasis on walking an aisle, repeating a sinner’s prayer or resting in a ceremony. When we step-over the problem of sin, the gospel is changed, and the individual is left confused by why Jesus Christ died. The use of the Law in evangelism is biblical because it is a mirror to all men that only grace through faith in Christ alone saves.
In Misunderstanding #9 Knight briefly addressed a vital doctrine that often is neglected within the church- Regeneration. The verse that immediately came to mind for Regeneration was Philippians 2:12-13. I was thankful Knight focused on Regeneration to remind us that the gospel is a message of grace. That God alone gives man the ability to repent and believe.
The latter half of the book helps a reborn believer understand the life-long Sanctification process and how the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word. A believer will stop chasing experiences and will submit to the truth of God’s Word. Knight also helps a believer to know the criteria of a biblical church. In the times we live, I would add to his list to look for a shepherd leader and not a CEO.
Lastly, Knight stresses the importance of discernment. The gospel message has been lost when we focus on self-improvement, success, comfort or personal fulfillment where the focus is on self and not God. Knight’s key discernment question is spot on, “The question is not: Am I enjoying this? The question is: Is this faithful to God’s Word?”
Krista Miller
May 2, 2026
What it Means to Be a Christian
I devoured this book. I am Christian, taught as a young man at University /College (Engineering) to go to the fundamental knowledge because THAT is where you will see the Truth of any problem. This book is exactly in that vein, it is for everyone, the concise, fundamental knowledge that all of us needs reinforcing and checking, especially nowadays in this World that displays so much fear, anger, division, greed and growing violence.
David writes in a way that draws you in and leaves the message very clear. This is a gift, a simple and at the same time a joyful, helpful, wondrous message of the Gospel of our Lord Saviour, Jesus Christ and how to really be a Christian. I bought hard copy for others. God Bless you all.
I devoured this book. I am Christian, taught as a young man at University /College (Engineering) to go to the fundamental knowledge because THAT is where you will see the Truth of any problem. This book is exactly in that vein, it is for everyone, the concise, fundamental knowledge that all of us needs reinforcing and checking, especially nowadays in this World that displays so much fear, anger, division, greed and growing violence.
David writes in a way that draws you in and leaves the message very clear. This is a gift, a simple and at the same time a joyful, helpful, wondrous message of the Gospel of our Lord Saviour, Jesus Christ and how to really be a Christian. I bought hard copy for others. God Bless you all.
May 2, 2026
This is a wonderful book for believers and nonbelievers
This is a very helpful book for everyone I have been a believed for about 60 years and this book as been one of the most helpful
Books I have ever read God bless you Back
This is a very helpful book for everyone I have been a believed for about 60 years and this book as been one of the most helpful
Books I have ever read God bless you Back
April 24, 2026
Straight forward and clear introduction to the essentials of the Christian message. Great for those enquiring or new to church.
May 27, 2026
A great book to share with others.
After reading this book, I think I will place a bulk order to pass out to members or visitors of the church I pastor. I think this would make a great curriculum for a youth group or summer camp.
After reading this book, I think I will place a bulk order to pass out to members or visitors of the church I pastor. I think this would make a great curriculum for a youth group or summer camp.
May 9, 2026
"I am not going to hell; I'm a Catholic!" These were the words of a fellow student in my college anatomy lab as we dissected a starfish. His statement has echoed in my mind for forty-four years. At that time, I was beginning to hear traces of the gospel for the first time. I didn't know much about the Bible, but the idea that one's denomination guarantees salvation did not sit well with me. David Knight patiently reasons through God's Word, demonstrating a clear understanding of what it means to be a Christian. He gently dispels common misconceptions lacking biblical awareness by carefully weaving Scripture into the discussion. It would have been a wonderful blessing to have had Knight's book back at Antelope Valley Community College; I would have certainly given it to my classmate.
April 24, 2026
Excellent short book on what it means to be a Christian - explaining how one becomes a Christian and what a Christian believes and how a Christian lives out his faith. Clear, concise and yet also a comprehensive overview of what it means to be a Christian.
April 11, 2026
A true eye opener!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews