How do I become a Christian?
How do you become a Christian? First of all, you don't become a Christian by joining a church, adopting a creed, or by believing in God. There are lots of false churches, false creeds, and even the devil believes in God. Becoming a Christian means you need to understand what the real issues are. Let's take a look.
Jesus
Hopefully, you've already read the page on Jesus. But by way of review, Jesus is the most important figure in all of human history. He is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; Col. 2:9), physically risen from the dead, Lord (Luke 24:34; John 2:19-21) and Savior (Acts 5:30-32). He came to die for sinners (Rom. 5:8) to deliver people from the righteous wrath of God upon us.
Are you a sinner?
I ask you, are you a sinner? Have you ever lied, stolen, lusted, coveted,
or been angry with someone unjustly? If so, then you have broken the
Law of God. God has said "You shall not steal; You shall not lie;
You shall have no other gods before Me; You shall not murder, etc.,"
(Exodus 20). He has given the standard of righteousness and if you have
broken any of God's commandments then you have fallen short of that
standard and are under the inevitable judgment of God. When you die
you will face Him and on the Day of Judgment He will punish all sinners.
If you do not like this teaching, then throw away your Bible and turn
from Christ, for this is the message of God's word -- that Jesus came
to die for sinners and to save them from the wrath to come. God is holy
and righteous and He must deal with those who sin against Him.
Jesus is the One you need. He alone. Not your works (Rom. 3:10-12; Isaiah
64:6). Not your sincerity. Not your goodness. You have nothing to offer
God except your sinfulness. It is only by the love and grace of God
found in Jesus and His sacrifice that you can be delivered from the
righteous wrath of God upon all who have broken His law. Jesus saves
you from God.
God's wrath on the Day of Judgment is upon sinners
On the Day of Judgment God will judge all people for their sins against
Him. He will judge all who have lied, stolen, cheated, lusted, dishonored
their parents, etc. He will do this because He is holy and righteous.
God must punish the sinner. God cannot and will not ignore the person
who has broken His righteous law. The Law is a reflection of the character
of God. Therefore, to break God's law is to offend God and deny the
holiness of His character. He will be vindicated. He will judge.
The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God (Rom. 3:23). That means that your sins have caused a separation
between you and God (Isaiah 59:2) and the result is death (Rom. 6:23)
and wrath (Eph. 2:3). The only way to be saved from the wrath of God,
is to be saved from it by faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 5:1). You
must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins
and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity or works. It
is Jesus and only Jesus who can turn away the righteous judgment of
God upon the sinner.
The Gospel
The gospel is that Jesus died for sinners on the cross, was buried,
and rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-4). His death was a sacrifice that
turns away the wrath of God (1 John 2:2). This is the only way to be
saved.
Jesus is the one who died for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). He
is the only way to the God the Father (John 14;6). He alone reveals
God (Matt. 11:27). He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18).
It is only through Him that you can be saved from God's wrath (Eph.
2:3). He can forgive you of your sin (Luke 5:20; Matt. 9:2). He can
remove the guilt that is upon your soul. Jesus can set you free from
the bondage of sin that blinds your eyes, weakens your soul, and brings
you to despair. He can do this because He bore sin in His body on the
cross (1 Peter. 2:24) that those who trust in Him would be saved.
If you are not a Christian, and want to be delivered from the righteous
judgment of God upon you due to your sin against Him, then come to the
One who died for the sins of the world. Come to the One who died for
sinners (Matt. 11:28). Turn from your sins. Believe and trust in Jesus.
Receive Jesus, who is God in flesh, who died and rose from the dead
(1 Cor. 15:1-4) as your Lord and Savior. Ask Jesus to forgive you of
your sins. Receive Christ (John 1:12). Only He can wash you clean from
your sins and only Jesus can deliver you from the righteous judgment
of a holy and infinite God. Pray to Jesus. Seek Him. Ask Him to save
you.
He will.
Here is a sample prayer you can offer to Jesus. It does not have to
be exact, but you will get the idea.
Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know that I am
not perfect and that I cannot please you through my own efforts. I know
that I deserve to be judged according to my sins. And, I know that I
have nothing to offer you.
Lord Jesus, I ask you to forgive me of my sins. Please cleanse me and
make me right before you. I trust in what you have done on the cross.
I do not rely on myself but only on you and I receive you as Lord of
my life and as savior of my soul. Lord Jesus, save me. I look to you
alone.
I would like to note, that the Jesus of Mormonism (the brother of the devil), the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses (an angel made into a man), the Jesus of the New Age (a man in tune with the divine consciousness), etc., cannot save you from your sins. Faith is only as good as who you put it in. Only the Jesus of the Bible can do that. Jesus is God in flesh, the creator. God is a trinity and Jesus is the second person of the trinity.
If you have prayed and asked Jesus to deliver you from your sins and save you from God's wrath, then please email us at contact@thebareessentials.org and let us know.