Becoming A Christian
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, turn your life over to Him, and receive the free gift of His forgiveness and eternal life, the Bible…God’s Word tells you how.
First, you need to know that ”God so loved the world” (God so loved YOU) “that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV
We are all in the same condition. The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 NIV Our sins have separated us from the Holy God! There is nothing that we can do to bridge that gap. To justify their behavior, many say, “Times have changed!” But, do not be deceived. God has not changed nor has His blueprint for our lives!
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV There is nothing that we can do to bridge that gap, so Jesus came to us! Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for all of our sins. He rose from the dead so He could give His life to us and live His life through us! Only He can forgive us and remove the guilt of our past! “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 NIV Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
So, how do I get this forgiveness and this eternal life? Do I inherit it from my parents who always went to church? No. Is there any way I can earn it? No. Is there any way I can pay for it? No. It is a free gift. So, how do you receive this great gift of God?
The Bible says, “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.” Romans 10:9-10 NIV
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, all you have to do is ask Him. You could pray a prayer something like this: “Dear Jesus, please forgive me for all of my sins and for doing my own thing and going my own way all of my life. Thank You for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for all of my sins! I want You to be my Savior and my Lord! I invite You into my heart and my life! I want to know You and live for You! Thank You for the gift of Your Life that You want to live in me and through me. Please help me hear Your voice and be quick to respond to You! I want to be available to You! I am dependent upon You! I want to demonstrate my love to You by obeying You! I love You! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.”
The Bible tells us “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12 NIV If you just prayed that prayer, you are now God’s child and you are a brand new creation! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” II Corinthians 5:17 NIV God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Corinthians 5:21 NIV Thank You, Lord! “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 NIV
We will go through many difficult times in our lives, but by His Holy Spirit, Jesus our Savior will always be there with us! When we feel abandoned by another, God promises us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b NIV When we have lost our way, He will be our Way and our Good Shepherd to lead us. When we have hungers too deep for words, He will be our Bread of Life. When we have a thirst nothing can quench, He will be our Living Water. When we need answers, He will be our Wise Counselor. When we feel like darkness is closing in around us, He will be our Light. When we feel we have lost everything, we realize that nothing…no one can take Him from us, and He is really all we need.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” These works we do…not to earn our salvation but as a result of it!
Anticipate…the LORD! Let this be our prayer, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” I Samuel 3:9 NIV
I encourage you to read the Bible. The book of John is a great place to start. Get involved in a local church where God’s Word is taught. Get involved in a small group Bible study. Learning God’s Word and Christian fellowship are vital!
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
