Becoming a Christian

• What is a Christian?
• Why should I become one?
• How does it work?
• Is Jesus the only way?
• How do I become a Christian?
• Now that I'm a Christian, what do I do next?

Q: What is a Christian?

A: Put simply, a Christian is someone who has put their trust in Jesus Christ to forgive and take away the effects of all the wrong things (sin) they have done and will do. This decision is proven by a change of lifestyle as a Christian turns from their old selfish ways and becomes a follower of Jesus. At the point of putting trust in Jesus, God begins the work of transforming the life of the believer. A follower of Jesus is one who takes on the values, ideals and actions of Jesus as laid out in the Bible. This is known as accepting Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

Q: Why should I become one?

A: First and foremost because God deserves to have us worship Him. Worship is demonstrating the value of someone or something by committing our lives to them. Everyone worships, some of us worship ourselves or our career, education, car, boyfriend or girlfriend and the like. As Christians we think it's foolish to worship created things and prefer to worship the creator of all things. Secondly becoming a Christian ensures that we will have eternal life in relationship with God. This life doesn't start when you die but rather begins the moment you believe and are born again. Being born again means that you are given a brand new second chance in life to live it as you were intended to by the God who made you. You literally become what the bible calls a new creation. Everything changes because you begin to change.

Q: How does it work?

A: Christianity is a faith that works! Basically, all people everywhere have a leaning toward rebelling against God. The very first people were deceived into believing that they didn't need to worship God, infact they acted as if they could be their own gods. This rebellion against God resulted in humanity being forced to live outside of a perfect relationship with God who created and sustains life. This first act of disobedience has spread like cancer through all people everywhere amounting to treason on a cosmic scale! As a result of us choosing to become God's enemies, God's judgment was handed out and this resulted in harder work, difficult relationships, sickness, death and separation from knowing God. If God is love then living away from God means never experiencing love as it should really be?

Because God's standard is perfection, we can do nothing to save ourselves from the mess we created and so God in His compassion decided to clean up for us. He allowed His only son to come to earth and live the life we should have lived (perfect and obedient to God the Father) and to die the death that we deserve to die in our place. Because of Jesus' sacrifice in our place, God's sense of justice is satisfied, the penalty is paid and you and I can be set free to live the life we always should have. Jesus then rose from the dead ensuring our resurrection when we die if we trust in Him.

Q: Is Jesus the only way?

A: The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is the only way for us to restore our relationship with God. While this does make Christianity and exclusive faith' it does not make Christianity an intolerant faith, quite the reverse, every person everywhere is welcome to accept Jesus as saviour and Lord regardless of sexuality, colour, race or even mistakes of the past however terrible. There are no second class citizens in the kingdom of God!

Jesus is the only way because He is the only way that works. No other religion has a satisfactory way of dealing with the wrong things we have done and will do.

When it comes to dealing with the causes of death in our world what you don't want is a load of answers that make people feel good but don't help- you need a true answer that is going to deal with the issue. Jesus Christ is that answer.

Q: How do I become a Christian?

A: The bible says that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved and that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved. Becoming a Christian can start with a simple prayer along the lines of:

Lord God, I've done a lot in my life to offend you and to rebel against you and the people I live with, I'm sorry for those things and ask that you forgive me and take away the effects of what I've done. I want instead to follow you, to be the person you made me to be and ask that you give me a second start in life where I can follow you as the leader of my life and where I can worship you as the source of all things.

Thank you for allowing your son to die in my place to make all this possible! Amen.

That's the beginning, the best is yet to come though as you discover the life that comes from living right, following Jesus where he leads you and becoming the person you we're always intended to be.

Q: Now that I'm a Christian, what do I do next?

A: The most important thing to do is to let a Christian know the decision you've made; they should be able to help you find a good church to connect with. It's important to find a good church so that you can join the rest of God's family in worshipping and serving Jesus. Christianity is not an individualistic faith. A good church will guide you on your journey following Jesus and becoming more like him as well as being there for you in the difficult times that go hand in hand with following Jesus.

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