Become a Christian
Becoming a Christian is the single most important decision you could ever make. While it may not be an easy process, it will be completely worth it.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-25, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” So it will definitely be difficult at times! But take heart! In John 10:10, Jesus also said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Jesus has come to save the world and help us experience life to the fullest degree. Here is how to begin the eternal joy of following Jesus and being saved from your sins.
BELIEVE:
Believing is the first step in becoming a follower of Jesus. You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross and physically rose from the grave. But you must also believe that you are a sinner whose sin is the reason Jesus had to go to the cross, to pay for your sin with His blood. Since Jesus is the only perfect person who has ever lived, Jesus is the only one who could have saved you. This idea of belief is more than intellectual, though. It is also an allegiance, a trusting that Jesus really is the savior of the world.
John 3:16, “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.”
Ephesians 2:8-9, “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.”
CONFESS:
Confession is an outward declaration that you believe Jesus really is God, the King and Savior of the world, and you are choosing to follow him. This confession can be done in your heart, but most of the time it is done out loud. You recognize that you have sinned, and Jesus is the only way to salvation. But you confess to the world that Jesus is your Savior and your Lord. Jesus has saved you and now you are deciding to follow him.
Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
REPENT:
Repentance is being so sorry for your sin that you change your mind on how you are going to live your life. You cannot become a Christian and stay living the same sinful life. Instead, this is a choice to begin following Jesus and what he says. This is becoming a life-long disciple of Jesus, learning from him and putting into practice what he says.
Acts 2:38, “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 3:19, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Matthew 4:17, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
BE BAPTIZED:
This step is the declaration to the world that your allegiance is fully with Jesus. You are no longer going to continue in your life of sin, but instead are going to follow him. You are a part of his family now. This is an outward declaration to the world of what the Holy Spirit is doing inside of you, destroying your old self and creating a new you.
Acts 2:37-38, “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.
1 Peter 3:20-21, “To those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
NOW WHAT?
Begin a daily routine of Bible reading and prayer. A good place to start is by reading a small passage out of one of the gospels daily (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), thinking about who Jesus is and asking him to change you.
A good place to start in prayer is Matthew 6:1-15, it gives instruction on prayer and contains the Lord’s Prayer. As you pray through each little section of this prayer, pray about whatever and whoever comes to mind. However, this is just a beginning point. The ultimate goal is to “pray without ceasing,” being aware that Jesus is with you at all times and conversing with Him throughout your day.
Get connected to a local church and begin spending time regularly with other Christians. Allow God’s word, God’s Spirit, and God’s people to begin forming you into becoming more like Jesus.
Some of the blessings God has given you in Jesus Christ his Son (see Ephesians 1)
You are:
Adopted: Into God’s family.
Redeemed: He paid for your sins by his blood poured out on the cross.
Forgiven: You now have access to the Father and can approach him boldly in prayer.
Chosen: God wanted you to be on his team.
Sealed by the Holy Spirit: The power of the Holy Spirit is available to you. His Holy Spirit is God living inside of you, guiding, molding, and teaching you. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is inside you! (Romans 8:11)