Jesus is also called Jesus Christ.
Christian . oggˈkɹɪʃtʃən ] or [ ˈkɹɪstjən ] ) is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity , an Abrahamic , monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ . Common Era . In the later 20th century , the use of CE and BCE was popularized in academic and scientific publications , and more generally by authors and publishers wishing to emphasize secularism or sensitivity to non-Christians , by not explicitly referencing Jesus as `` Christ '' and Dominus ( `` Lord '' ) , shortened from anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi ( `` in the year of Our Lord Jesus Christ '' ) . Jesus ( [ ˈdʒiːzəs ] ; c. 4 BC -- c. AD 30/33 ) , also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ , was a Jewish preacher and religious leader who became the central figure of Christianity . Christian doctrines include the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit , was born of a virgin named Mary , performed miracles , founded the Church , died by crucifixion as a sacrifice to achieve atonement , rose from the dead , and ascended into Heaven , whence he will return .