How to Become a Christian

[Chad]

How to Become a Christian

The central theme of the Bible is God's love for you and for all people. This love was revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.

You have probably heard the story of God's love referred to as the "Gospel." The word Gospel simply means "Good News." The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever.

But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God's part and yours in this process:

God's Love Is Revealed in the Bible
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." —John 3:16 (NIV)

God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death.

We Are Sinful
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." —Romans 3:23 (NIV)

You may have heard someone say, "I'm only human—nobody's perfect." This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that's why we feel estranged from God—because God is holy and good, and we are not.

Sin Has a Penalty
"For the wages of sin is death." —Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.

Christ Has Paid Our Penalty!
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —Romans 5:8 (NIV)

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.

Salvation Is a Free Gift
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." —Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

The word grace means "undeserved favor." It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God's gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it, Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!

Christ Is at Your Heart's Door
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." —Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.

You Must Receive Him
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." —John 1:12 (NIV)

When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.

If you are making this commitment to Christ today, please let us know. We would like to send you Bible study materials to help you grow in your faith. (note to forum members: this will take you to the Billy Graham website).

 

[wade.hinkle]

We Are Sinful
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." —Romans 3:23 (NIV)

You may have heard someone say, "I'm only human—nobody's perfect." This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that's why we feel estranged from God—because God is holy and good, and we are not.

Though this does not give us an excuse to continue in sin, that we must be perfect.

In Matthew 5:48 KJV - "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The only way we can be perfect is to ask forgiveness and be washed by the blood of Jesus. We are going to fall and sin, but when we ask forgivness then we are than made perfect again. Its when we continue in sin, we are no longer perfect.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

In Matthew 5:48 KJV - "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The only way we can be perfect is to ask forgiveness and be washed by the blood of Jesus.

People who are new to the Bible often see the word "perfect" in that citation as meaning "flawless". Not so. In the Greek, the word is teleios which means "mature". We need to get involved in individual and group Bible Study (I advise using a study Bible, not a pew Bible) and sit at the feet of qualified teachers and preachers.

SLE

 

[wade.hinkle]

People who are new to the Bible often see the word "perfect" in that citation as meaning "flawless". Not so. In the Greek, the word is teleios which means "mature". We need to get involved in individual and group Bible Study (I advise using a study Bible, not a pew Bible) and sit at the feet of qualified teachers and preachers.

SLE

I have and my teachers and God has revealed to me that perfect is flawless. We are to be like Christ, and he was perfect (without blemish) one.
Ephesians 5:27 and 1 Peter 1:19

PS Just because Ive posted that Ive been committed to Christ since late 2007 doesnt mean, I dont know anything. I was involved with church for over 18 years before I walked away. Thankfully God has called me again, and I answered the call.

I love these forums, and I always thought this was to create dialogue and learn from each other, but it seems that everyone has their own opinion. Isnt God's children suppose to be of one mind and one body?? We can all learn from each other, I think it sad that Ive seen many responses that seem to be more to feed the flesh than to actually teach or help someone.

I was always taught, if Im wrong, prove it with God's word and Ill move to it, but it has to be God's word that used not man's

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Wade:

I took my information on the Bible's use of "perfect" in Mt 5:48 from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, which says that in the Greek, the word is teleios or "complete" (as used in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character). I believe that the word "mature" is synonymous with "complete".

Flawlessness is never implied in Strong's. The completeness referred to in Strong's has to refer to maturity, since no human being is capable of flawlessness.

SLE

 

[Chad]

I have and my teachers and God has revealed to me that perfect is flawless. We are to be like Christ, and he was perfect (without blemish) one.
Ephesians 5:27 and 1 Peter 1:19

PS Just because Ive posted that Ive been committed to Christ since late 2007 doesnt mean, I dont know anything. I was involved with church for over 18 years before I walked away. Thankfully God has called me again, and I answered the call.

I love these forums, and I always thought this was to create dialogue and learn from each other, but it seems that everyone has their own opinion. Isnt God's children suppose to be of one mind and one body?? We can all learn from each other, I think it sad that Ive seen many responses that seem to be more to feed the flesh than to actually teach or help someone.

I was always taught, if Im wrong, prove it with God's word and Ill move to it, but it has to be God's word that used not man's

Study before claiming anything brother. If you think the word perfect is meant in the literal sense to us, then you are wrong. I'll tell you what, name one "perfect" Christian in Christ from any point of history, from Adam up until now. Do you know of any? So do not be deceived.

Wade:

I took my information on the Bible's use of "perfect" in Mt 5:48 from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, which says that in the Greek, the word is teleios or "complete" (as used in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character). I believe that the word "mature" is synonymous with "complete".

Flawlessness is never implied in Strong's. The completeness referred to in Strong's has to refer to maturity, since no human being is capable of flawlessness.

SLE

In agreement brother Ed. It is impossible for us to be perfect "sinners" in a sinful world. That is so unfathomable and absurd to think we can be that way. Its equivalent to thinking we'll be sinless one day on earth, before we die the first death.

 

[redfox]

And BECAUSE we cannot be perfect we FOREVER stand in a position of grace before God, which is Amazing! If we ever sorted ourselves out and attained perfection, then Jesus' sacrifice on the cross would no longer apply. I love Psalm 51 because it is David telling God how imperfect he is and how in spite of that God is willing to forgive. We should seek perfection but always recognise that it cannot be achieved and therefore rely on Christ and his sacrifice to sustain our lives and our relationship with God.

I agree that man cannot be perfect but we can be mature.

 

[eagles12]

John 3:16 says it all...

Ever since I got saved in May 1977 I have come to love John 3:16 as the Gospel encased in a nutshell. Most of us know and quote the "For God so loved the world..." part, but we sometimes forget "...that He gave His only begotten Son..." We remember God's love, and we also need to remember His holiness. That is why He had to give His Son because of our sins! Thankfully, "...that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." shows that God's holiness was satisfied.

God bless you all,
Mark
Isaiah 40:31