How do I become a Christian?

This is the most important decision that a person can make.  You see, the Lord God has made you for Himself and you will be incomplete and empty until you are in a right relationship with Him (I Corinthians 8:6).  However, people are not in a right relationship with Him because of sin.  Romans 3:23 sets things straight when it declares “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

We sin against God and others in our thoughts, attitudes, words and actions as well as failing to do the things that we should do.  This is a serious problem because God is holy, righteous and just and He must punish sin. The prophet Habakkuk wrote of God “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor.” (Habakkuk 1:13).  For God to over look our sins would mean that He could no longer remain just and thus the perfect God that He is.  Therefore as judge He declares us guilty and our punishment is eternal separation from Him in hell.  Romans 6:23 describes this when it declares “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. 

On our own we really are helpless to do anything about our sin condition.  If there is going to be a manner of forgiveness in order to be in a right relationship with God, it will have to be by His undeserved kindness.  Consider the words of Ephesians 2:8,9 “For by grace you have been save through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Until now this is a pretty much bad news.  If a person does not accept the bad news that he/she is a sinner that deserves God’s wrath in judgment and is unable to do anything about it, there is no good news. 

It is much like a doctor saying you have a deadly form of cancer, but that he also has a cure for it.  If you refuse to accept the bad news that you have a deadly form of cancer, the doctor cannot do anything for you even though there is a cure. 

Now here is the good news and cure for our cancer of sin that plagues our soul and life.  God sent His Son Jesus, Who is Himself God, to become a man.  He lived a perfect life without any sin and died as a perfect sacrifice on a cross to provide a substitute sacrifice for our sins. He bore upon Himself the punishment of the wrath of God that you and I deserve.

 Romans 5:6,8 says “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I Peter 2:24 declares it this way, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” And I Peter 3:18 adds “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” 

Imagine the Judge declaring every individual in the world guilty of sin and deserving His eternal punishment, but then His Son entered the court room and volunteered to take the punishment that all of us deserve.  This is truly amazing love! 

Then Christ’s resurrection from the dead on the third day showed that God the Father accepted Christ the Son’s sacrifice for our sins on the cross.  Christ’s resurrection conquered death and sin.

This is wonderful news but it still will not do anything for you unless you respond by faith to the Lord Jesus for Who He is and what He has done for you.  John 1:12 describes this response in this way “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”  Romans 10:9,10 describes our faith response in this way “that if you confess with you mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Why not talk to the Lord today and receive, confess and believe in His Son and all that He has done for you?  You will be forgiven, receive the gift of eternal life and be adopted into the family of God as a child of God.  Romans 10:13 makes this sure promise “for whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

You can pray to God in your own words or pray something similar to this:

Dear God,  I agree with you that I am a sinner and that I deserve your judgment.  I acknowledge that there is nothing that I can do to cover or take away my sins.  I see now that you sent your Son to die on a cross for my sins and then raised Him from the dead showing that you accepted His sacrifice.  I repent of my sins and turn by faith to Christ alone.  Please forgive me, make me one of your children and give me the gift of eternal life.  Do this based on what Jesus has done for me.  In His Name and Authority, Amen.

If you do receive Christ by faith, 
let us know so that we can give you some resources to help you grow as a Christian.