Becoming A Christian
It is all about having a relationship with the God who created us in Christianity. You must be a Christian in order to live like one. That may seem self-evident, but many individuals attempt to "live a Christian life" without fully comprehending what Christianity entails.
The steps to Christ are brief, straightforward, and simple to comprehend, so we'll just rely on God's Guidebook for now. First and foremost, what must a person who wishes to approach God do? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
God knows everything there is to know about us and loves us completely. Nothing we've done or could do would change God's mind about us.
A Prayer Is The First Step In Becoming A Christian
The first goal is to mend your connection with God by relying on what Jesus has done. By begging God to forgive them, a person becomes a Christian. All that is necessary is a passionate act of returning to God.
COPYRIGHT_FELW: Published on https://www.fellowshipbcwaco.org/christian/ by Bernard Horne on 2022-03-05T14:23:33.168Z
Dear God,
I am quite aware that I have not lived up to your expectations. I haven't loved you or the people around me as much as I should have. I apologize and would like to make a change.
Thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you that he lived, died, and rose again for me, and that he is now the Lord.
Please forgive me and assist me in living the life you desire for me.
Amen.
You have become a Christian by reciting this prayer, and your connection with God has been renewed, and you have been reconciled to God.
You also agreed to begin living like a Christian, loving God and loving your neighbor.
Admit That You Are A Sinner
All human beings have sinned, have lost the will to serve God, and have no power to save themselves, according to the Bible. This reality may be seen in the knowledge that human failings, poor choices, and tenacious self-will leave us feeling guilty and helpless, and that habits can easily turn into addictions that are nearly hard to quit. Not only that, but human sin has an impact on our whole society, causing injustice, greed, oppression, pornography, pollution, and bloodshed.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23
Despite our wickedness, God continues to love and want connection with us. Accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior will be the most significant decision you make in your life. You must make the decision to forgive and have a connection with God. Repentance and turning away from your sins and old life to a new life in Christ are the first steps.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance - 2 Peter 3:9
You may believe that before coming to Christ, you need to mend or make things right in your life. Many people believe this, yet it is untrue!
You will be rescued by God's grace, not because you strive to make your life right. Only because He loves you does He want you to embrace this salvation! It's not something you have to work for; it's a free gift.
God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast - Ephesians 2:8-9
As strange as this may seem to us, John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." We have the right to become God's daughters and sons through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and we have the firm faith that this new life will last beyond death, bringing us into paradise.
Acknowledge Your Sins
It's not enough to confess you've made a mistake. You must repent and then move away from your misdeeds.
A sincere response to the gospel message is described in numerous ways in the New Testament. The first term is "repentance," which literally means "to turn around" or "to alter one's mind" in Greek. It is said to be an important aspect of reacting to God's good news of grace.
You could think of feeling or being regretful when you hear the term "repentance." Although apologizing is necessary, it is not the core meaning of the word "repentance." Repentance entails a "turning around," or a change of course in one's life. Repentance entails a shift in your ideas and behaviors, in addition to a shift in your emotions.
Your willpower and conduct will shift as well. True repentance is defined as a desire to please God rather than oneself. You learn to appreciate what is excellent rather than what is wrong. Instead of being inwardly focused on oneself, you live a life that is directed externally to connect with others.
Now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:9
Repentance and faith are the arms of the bridge that enables us to pass from earth to heaven. They unite to make our salvation possible. Neither of itself is sufficient. We must believe in God and we must repent. It is useless, friends, to try to be Christians if we do not repent of our sins. We cannot change ourselves from sinners to believers in any other way.
Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil - Jeremiah 13:23
Repentance is absolutely necessary. One reason why we have such unhappy lives is that we do not repent. Many who carry on a form of Christianity have never truly repented, and therefore have never been happy in their Christian experience.
Commit Your Life To Christ And Live A Life Of Thanksgiving To God
Another crucial term used in the New Testament to indicate a true reaction to the good news is faith. Accept God's work as a gift and accept salvation as a gift. As a result, make a commitment to follow Christ and develop a relationship with him via prayer, Bible reading, and worship.
The Holy Spirit, who comes into our hearts when we devote our lives to Christ, helps us to know and love God better. The Holy Spirit continues to dwell and operate inside us after we have given our lives to Christ, molding us into God's daughters and sons. "When the Spirit of truth comes," said Jesus in John 16:13-14, "he will guide you into all the truth…he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
Out of thankfulness to God, Christian living entails a transformation of our entire existence. Obedience to God's law in the Ten Commandments is considered in Reformed churches as a way to offer gratitude to God for what he has done. This obedience is considered as a way of offering God love and respect rather than gaining approbation. Jesus taught his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" - John 14:15.
We give God thanks for all of our efforts to spread God's love and compassion across the world. We express gratitude by inviting others to church, working for justice, providing hospitality, donating blood, tutoring a child, welcoming a newcomer, or volunteering overseas or in our local communities. As Christians, we demonstrate our love for God by how we interact with people.
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another - 1 John 4:11
