“How to become a Christian”
If you want to become a Christian, read on...
Our source of information on this subject is the Holy Bible,
which we understand to be the inspired word of God. A Bible isn't just one
book - it's a library of 66 books written at different times and places,
between about 3,500 and 2,000 years ago. We accept that people hear God, and that those
many authors who wrote the 66 different books of the Bible were inspired
by God to write the words we read today. You will find it helpful to have
your own Bible (I recommend the 'New International Version' (NIV), as the
most popular translation), and to
look up the references for yourself. How to become a Christian
To become a Christian is a spiritual thing. We must accept
that there is a spiritual side to our nature, to our being: we are body, mind
and spirit; some would say body, soul and spirit, but the distinction is
hard to define. We need the spirit of God within us in order to understand
the scriptures, otherwise they can be meaningless, or merely a historical
record of events. We need to ask God in prayer to reveal His meaning
behind the words, because the scriptures attempt to convey concepts
that have a deep spiritual meaning behind them. 1. How to have Faith in Jesus
Christ, the Son of God
'Christ' isn't Jesus' surname, it is his title. It
comes from the Greek word, Christos, meaning “anointed one” or “chosen
one”. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word 'Mashiach' or Messiah.
“Christ” is His title, and tells us that Jesus was sent specially from
God. “Jesus Christ” means “Jesus the Anointed One” or “Jesus the Messiah”.
So what do Christians believe?
-
We accept that Jesus is the only Son of God, as explained in
the Bible. See Matthew 3:17; Matthew 10:40; Matthew 11:27.
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We accept that Jesus was born of a virgin, conceived by the
Holy Spirit of God. If God can create the universe and life itself, then
conceiving a baby in a virgin is not a problem. See Matthew 1 vs 18-25;
Luke 2 vs 1-20.
-
We accept that Jesus died on a cross (see See Matthew 27;
Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19; also Crucifixion).
-
We accept that sin separates us from God; that we can never
come into His presence based on our own efforts to do good or be good. See Romans 6:23;
and also What
is Sin?.
-
We accept that Jesus pleaded Guilty to our sins and took our punishment on himself; a
substitution and a sacrifice, to pay the penalty for our own sins. See 1
Corinthians 15:2-4; Ephesians 1:7. The shedding of blood is essential as
payment for sin. See Hebrews 9:22.
-
In prayer, we must confess our sins to God. We 'repent' (we say we
are sorry and try our very best to do a U-turn away from our wrong
attitudes and behaviour) and ask God's
forgiveness. See Acts
2:38; Acts 10:43.
-
We need to believe that the death of Jesus paid the price of
our sins, and that by his death we are set free of God's judgment.
-
We accept that, by faith in God and Jesus Christ, we are put
right with God, justified, "just-as-if-I'd" never sinned. See Matthew 6:12; Matthew 26:28; Mark 2:5; Luke
24:47; Acts 13:19; Romans 3:24, 28; Romans 5:1, 9; 1 Corinthians 6:11
-
We need to know, deep within us, that our sins are then
forgiven. See Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 9:28; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 1:6.
The slate is wiped clean, and God says, "You are clean: come on in!"
2. How to make Jesus Lord of your life
-
In prayer, ask Jesus to become Lord of your life. Invite Him
into your life, give him your life, and tell him that you choose to follow
Him.
See John 13:3; Romans 10:9; Romans 15:5; 1 Corinthians 8:6;
Philippians 2:11.
-
Know that God loves you, that Jesus loves you, more than you
can imagine. Trust in His love - for He will never leave you, never turn
his back on you, never forget you.
See John 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39.
3. Eternal Life is yours
-
By accepting these things, we will one day meet Jesus, and
He will say, (I paraphrase):
"Do I know you? Did you say sorry for your
sins? Did you accept that I died on the cross for your sins, so that you
might have eternal life? Did you invite me to be Lord of your life? Did
you give your life to me? Because if so, come in! Come into heaven and
join the party for eternity! A place of love and compassion and joy.
"But if I don't know you, then you are banished from heaven; you will go
to hell, a place of punishment and pain and total absence of love, until
one day, at the end of the age, you will be cast into a lake of fire; and
this will be your second death."
Sorry everybody, but that's what
the Bible tells us.
Heaven/eternal life: See Mark 10:16-18, 30; Luke 16:9; John
3:14-16, 36; 5:23-25; 6:40; 17:2-3; Romans 2:7; 6:23; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2
Peter 1:10-12;
Hell: See Matthew 5:29-30; 18:19; 25:45-46; Mark 9:42-48; Luke
12:5; Luke 16:22-24; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:7; Revelation 20:14-15.
4. Now pray a prayer that acknowledges the above.
See What to Pray.
If you prayed that prayer, and mean it in your heart, then you are
now a Christian. Welcome to the
family of millions and millions of Christians worldwide.
-
Now try and find a Christian church that feeds you;
somewhere you feel you belong; somewhere the gospel of Jesus Christ is
preached.
-
If you can find an Alpha course near you, then you can learn
more about the life as a Christian. Look on the internet for a course near
you...
-
Read the Bible; try to read something every day, even if it
is only a few verses. See Reading the
Bible. I suggest you start with the New Testament, the book of
Mark.
Amen!
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