How to Become a Christian
So now you know what a Christian isn’t, what is a Christian?
The bible teaches that God created everything. He created the earth, space, the universe, things seen, things unseen. Everything you see, hear, touch and taste. Every moment you experience, God has created.
The bible story of creation teaches that God did all this is six days, and that on the seventh day He rested.
God created everything. He created you.
Why did God create us? What was God’s purpose in creation? What’s it all about?
Imagine something of infinite value. People spend their lives trying to earn a fortune, men have given their lives in search of treasure and riches. We all want something. The problem is, all that stuff fades, decays, gets stolen, it doesn’t last. Even if we manage to keep hold of it, eventually we die, and it goes to someone else. A wise man called Solomon in the bible said that this pattern in life was meaningless. He was right. He said it was like chasing after the wind.
However, God’s purpose in creating you was that you could enjoy something infinitely valuable.This thing would never decay, it would never be taken from you, never fade, it would last for eternity, and it would be yours to enjoy forever. This treasure would even be yours after death, nothing could separate you from it.
The treasure which God wants you to enjoy is God Himself. What is more valuable than the one who created everything? He created us, and He knows the desires of our hearts. He is able to satisfy us completely.
So what’s the problem?
Sin is the problem. Sin is when we don’t live up to God’s perfect standard. When we do stuff wrong.
The first man and the first women, Adam and Eve were created perfect, but they disobeyed God. When they did that, something changed; Sin entered into the Human race. We became corrupt. Incapable of living up to God’s perfect standard.
We all have this problem. If you’re honest, no matter how good you are, you will have done or thought something which somewhere in your heart, you know is wrong. It feels wrong because it’s not the way we are designed to live. We were created to enjoy God, and reflect this Gloriousness.
That’s bad news, but it gets worse. God cannot tolerate sin. He’s perfect, Holy and righteous. For Him to be in the presence of sin would contradict who He is. That means that our connection, our relationship with Him is impossible. We can’t enjoy His infinite worth, and as a result, we are under His judgment.
What Hope is there then?
Yes, God has to punish sin. His righteousness demands justice. The bible talks about Hell more than it does about heaven. Hell is being eternally separated from God. That’s the result of our sin. An eternity without God, and everything good that He is. What is left is eternal suffering, torment and despair, with no end.
However, there is good news. God loves us, and because of that love, He has provided a way for us escape, a way for us to escape the judgment we deserve, and more than that, a way that we can enjoy Him forever after all.
This hope is because of Jesus. Jesus is God’s only Son and He has always existed with God the Father. Jesus is in fact God. The bible teaches that Jesus, became a man. He lived a human life, and came into the world to show us what God is like. Jesus never sinned, He lived a completely perfect life. After thirty three years on earth He was killed by man, but this was part of God’s plan, and it was through His death, that our sins can be forgiven. When He died, all the punishment we deserve because of our sinfulness was laid on Him. He took our place. He was the only one that could do it. He did it for you.
Three days later, He came back to life! Jesus has conquered death, and sin!
Every person must die. But the Christian can look forward to life after death. We will live with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Many people fear death, but Jesus also rescues us from eternal death.
So, what must I do?
Repent
This means that you must turn away from what is wrong in your life. You may be aware of things in your life that are wrong. Perhaps you feel guilty about some things that you have done. As you get to know Jesus, he will show you other things that are wrong. What should you do? As the Bible says:
“But if we tell God what we have done wrong then he will forgive us. He will take away from us all the wrong things, which we have done. God is true and fair. So, we can be sure that he will do what he promised and what is right.’ (1 John 1.9)
If you want to live a new life with Jesus, you must leave bad things behind. You cannot live the new life and continue to do bad things.
Believe
You must believe that the message about Jesus is God’s plan. He wants to rescue us, so we can enjoy Him forever. As the Bible says:
“Jesus gave some people the right to become the children of God. He gave this right to those who accepted him. They were the people who really put their trust in him.’ (John 1.12)
Declare
It says in the Bible:
“Tell others that Jesus is your Lord. Tell them that Jesus rose from death. Then he will save you’ (Romans 10.9)
You cannot be a private Christian. You need to tell other people that you are a Christian. You need to join with Christians in a local church.
If you want to know more, come and see us. Ask us about Jesus and about what you’ve read. We would love to help you to find God, and enjoy Him forever.
