Becoming a Christian

Act 2: 37  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Act 2: 38  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2: 39  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
Act 2: 40  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."
Act 2: 41  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Act 2: 42  And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Act 2: 43  And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Act 2: 44  And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Act 2: 45  And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Act 2: 46  And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
Act 2: 47  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

At some point in your spiritual journey, you’re going to ask, “What must I do to become a Christian?” In His wisdom, God has given us a very simple, five-step plan. Everyone in the New Testament became a member of Christ’s church after taking these five steps.

Before you decided to choose a career or a college, for example, you probably did some research. Before becoming a life-long Christian, you will need to (1) Hear or “research” God’s word so you can make the best decision possible (Romans 10:17). This can be done by attending services, participating in public Bible study, and/or reading the Bible privately.

While reading Jesus’ words for yourself, you will decide whether you (2) Believe in God (John 20:31), and if you believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
 
When we become Christians, we have to make some changes in our lives to turn away from those thoughts and actions that separate us from God. Jesus called this (3) Repentance (Luke 13:5). These changes can be uncomfortable and sometimes very difficult, but they will change your life for the better and help you on the path towards Heaven. Thankfully, you don’t have to go this alone. God has said as we draw close to Him, He draws close to us (James 4:8).

We make important commitments, such as marriage, by announcing them to witnesses. When we become Christians, we all must (4) Confess our belief to others (Luke 12:8-9). This confirms to others, and yourself, that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. You also become blessed by the most powerful support system known to man, God’s church.

When you are ready to be saved, God commanded a specificaction. Jesus taught that this is the moment at which a person is “born again” and is on his or her way to Heaven. This is (5) Baptism (1 Peter 3:21). In Romans 6, God depicted it as a funeral for the “old man of sin.” It is His process for completely burying your former life with all of its trouble, cares, and problems, and becoming “born again” into a new life through burial in water. When you come up out of the water, you will start your new life as a Christian!

This 2,000-year-old plan is simple and very powerful: hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized for forgiveness of sins. 

God’s plan of salvation is freeing. We invite you to take that first step towards a greater fulfillment of your purpose in life here on earth, as well as taking hold of the promise of Heaven, where we will get to spend our eternity with God. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you in your spiritual journey.

Joh 3: 1  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Joh 3: 2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."
Joh 3: 3  Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Joh 3: 4  Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
Joh 3: 5  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Joh 3: 6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3: 7  Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
Joh 3: 8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Tit 3: 3  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Tit 3: 4  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
Tit 3: 5  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Tit 3: 6  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3: 7  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.