So here's what I think it means, in my grad school terms

What does it mean to be a Christian?
If one were to derive the definition of Christian merely from the word, they would describe a Christian as a “little Christ” or someone who is like Christ. However, to stop here I feel is to do a great disservice both to the grace of God and to believers. When a person calls themselves a Christian, they are including herself in a story of God’s gracious dealings with humanity.
A Christian is one who has had a life-changing encounter with the grace of God. Prior to this encounter with grace, all humans are sinful in their hearts and actions to some degree, even if there is good in them. They are created by God to live in relationship with Him, reflect His image, look after His creation and inhabit His earth, which He so graciously created for humankind (Gen. 1). However due to their own sinful choices, they continually distort God’s image and reflect merely a hint of their Creator, thus neglecting their intended purpose as humans and children of God.
In order to redeem humanity and restore the image of God in humankind, God sent His Son Jesus to live a perfect life and be the human that all humans are supposed to be, and then to die and pay the penalty for the ugly distortion of humanity that humankind had created through their sins (2 Cor. 5:18-21). This sacrifice made it possible for humans to receive limitless forgiveness from God for deviating from His purpose for them and to start over as His children, this time with the help of His Holy Spirit (Gal. 4:6). Through the Holy Spirit, Christians enter into process of becoming more and more like Jesus, the perfect model of true humanity and the perfect reflection of God’s character.
The point in one’s life at which they realize their own need for forgiveness and restoration of the image of God in them is pivotal. It is at this point that they must make a choice to put their faith in person of Christ, thus restoring pure humanity in them and starting over as children of God (Rom. 10:9-10, John 1:12). If they make this choice and believe, this is the life-changing encounter with grace that makes one a child of God, that is, a Christian.
Faith in the person of Christ involves more than praying a prayer and accepting the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice. Putting one’s faith in Christ means believing that He is who He says He is and responding to Him accordingly. Throughout Scripture, Jesus is described as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14; 19:16, 1 Tim. 6:15). Therefore, if Christians respond to Him according to this description, they give Him control of their lives and strive to live in obedience to His commands. Obedience to Christ and His commands is the evidence of true faith and a life-changing encounter with grace, and it is how Christians show God they love Him (John 14:21, 1 John 2:5-6)
Christians are included in the family of God as His children (John 1:12-13). Their purpose is then to resemble Christ in this world in their interactions with each other and with those outside the family of God (Eph. 2:10; 4:16, Matt. 5:14-16, 1 Pet. 2:12). As His children, God has promised Christians an eternal inheritance, which will involve everlasting fellowship with Him on a new and redeemed earth that is free of sin and that reflects His own beauty and holiness (Rev 21:1-4).
Therefore, to be a Christian involves so much more than being like Christ or trying to resemble His perfect example. To be a Christian is to be one whose humanity has been redeemed, through the grace of Christ, so that they might become part of the family of God and fulfill their intended purpose of having a relationship with God and reflecting His image in this world. It is to put one’s faith in Christ as the Son of God, sacrifice for sin, and Lord of their life and to respond to Him in obedience. It is complete submission of one’s will to God and to His Word. At the end of this life, Christians will then receive their eternal inheritance and live in eternal communion with God.