
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
Becoming a Christian 1. Believe that Jesus is God's Son and put your faith in Him.
The Bible tells us that God loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on a Roman cross as atonement for our sins. This sacrifice is God's gift to everyone - that we will enjoy eternal life with Him.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
To
become a Christian, and receive the gift of eternal life from our
Father in heaven, we must follow four simple steps that are outlined
below.
And
without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes
to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice
of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his
justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed
beforehand unpunished– he did it to demonstrate his justice at the
present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have
faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:22-26)
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)
2. Repent of our sins and turn to God.
In
the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people
everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world
with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to
all men by raising him from the dead. (Acts 17:30-31)
"Therefore
let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were
cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers,
what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:36-38)
3. Confess our desire to have Jesus become our Lord and Savior.
That
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. For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who
trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference
between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses
all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)
"Whoever
acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father
in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before
my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)
4. Follow Jesus' example and His command to be baptized.
Then
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John
tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you
come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do
this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as
Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven
was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I
love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17)
Then
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew
28:18-20)
...and this water symbolizes baptism
that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the
pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ... (1 Peter 3:21)
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16)