How to Become a
Christian
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| Just as physical laws govern the physical universe there are
spiritual laws which govern your relationship with God. |
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God loves
you, wants a personal relationship with you, and has a wonderful
plan for your life now and for all eternity. |
God's love
The central
theme of the Bible is God's love for you and all people. Jesus said, "For God
so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
God's plan
Jesus said, "I came that they might have life and might have it
abundantly (full and meaningful). This is eternal life: that they may know You
the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 10:10;
17:3). |
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| Why is
it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? What prevents us
from having a personal relationship with God? |
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Because we are
sinful and separated from God, we cannot know Him personally or
experience His love and plan for our lives. |
We
are all sinful
All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Man was created to have a
relationship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go
his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will,
characterized by an attitude of active rebellion (lying, stealing, murder,
drunkenness, adultery, fornication etc.) or passive indifference (disinterest;
preoccupation with possessions, career etc.), is evidence of what the Bible
calls sin.
We are separated from
God because of sin
For the result of
sin is death (spiritual separation from God) (Romans 6:23). Heaven and Hell are
real destinations and the ultimate choice is ours. The Good News is there is a
hell...but we don't have to go there! |
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| This diagram illustrates that God is Holy and we are sinful. A great
gulf separates the two. The arrows show that man is continually trying to reach
God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as living a good life,
doing good deeds, following philosophies, religions, cults etc. |
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| The Third Law explains the only way to bridge this gulf. |
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Jesus
Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can
know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. |
Jesus Christ died in our place
God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Jesus Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
Jesus Christ rose from the dead
Jesus Christ died for our sins... He was buried... He
was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures... He appeared to
Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred (I
Corinthians 15:3-6).
Jesus Christ
is the only way to God
Jesus said,
"I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except
through Me" (John 14:6). Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts
4:12). |
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| This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which
separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross in
our place to pay the penalty for our sins. |
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| It is not enough just to know these Three Laws. The Fourth Law is the
most important. |
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We
must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, so we can
know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. |
We must receive Jesus Christ by faith (i.e. by trusting or
believing)
But as many as received
Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who
believe in His Name (John 1:12). For by grace you have been saved, through
faith and not by yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no
one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We experience a new spiritual birth when we receive Jesus
Christ
Jesus said, "I tell you the
truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the
Spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born again. Flesh gives
birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John
3:1-8).
We can receive Jesus
Christ by personal invitation
Jesus
said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and
opens the door I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20).
Receiving Jesus Christ involves turning to God from self
(repentance) and trusting Jesus to come into our lives to forgive our sins and
to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually
that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not
enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We must receive Jesus
Christ by faith, as an act of will.
The two circles below represent two kinds of lives, the self-directed
life and the Christ-directed life: |
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Which circle best represents your life? Which circle would you like
to have represent your life? |
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The following explains how you can receive Jesus
Christ...
You can receive Jesus
Christ right now by faith through prayer
Prayer is talking with God. God knows your heart and is not so
concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your
heart.
The following is a
suggested prayer...
Dear God/Heavenly Father,
I know that I have sinned. I believe
You sent Jesus Christ to save me. I believe Jesus was crucified on the cross,
he was buried, raised from the dead, and He ascended into heaven and sat down
at Your right hand. I thank You Jesus for taking away my sins forever. I
believe Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I am now born again and will
have eternal life. Take control of my life and make me the person You want me
to be. Thank You God, for forgiving me and giving me everlasting
life.
In the
Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.
Does this prayer express the desire of your
heart?
If it does, pray this prayer
right now. If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your
heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:9). If we
confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us
from all wrong doing (1 John 1:9). Jesus said, "I say to you that likewise
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance" (Luke
15:7).
What can I
do to grow as a Christian? |
 Go to God in prayer daily and go to church regularly
(John 15:7) |
 Read God's Word, the Bible, daily (Acts 17:11) |
 Obey God always (John 14:21) |
 Witness and live for God by your life and words
(Matthew 4:19; John 15:8) |
 Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter
5:7) |
 Holy Spirit - trust Him to help you daily (Romans
8:14; Galatians 5:16-17; Acts 1:8) |
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