OUR MESSAGE

How to become a Christian:

While an estimated 4,200 different religions exist in the world, only one claims a resurrected Saviour. The fact that Jesus Christ, Who was God in the flesh, came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day sets Christianity apart from all other religions of the world.

Consider the exclusive claims of Christianity (meaning, truths that must be accepted by faith in order to be a Christian):

• There is no possible way to God apart from Jesus Christ - “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

• There is no god or savior by some other name that can save the sinner from His sins - “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

• There are only two spiritual positions, no more and no less. A person is either saved or lost - “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

What must a person know to understand what it means to become a Christian?

To answer this question, let us examine some of the fundamental truths in scripture. The first point we find in one of the most popular and well-known verses in the Bible, John 3:16, which says:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD

The One God of scripture (“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord” - Deuteronomy 6:4), is characterized by holiness. The Bible tells us that God is holy.  

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 20:7).

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 1:16).

That God is holy means that He is separate from all His creation. He is set apart from all that is common, all that defiles, all that is sinful or unclean. God is not “one with nature,” He made nature.

LAW

God has communicated His will to us through the law. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). The apostle Paul describes God’s law as “good” (1 Timothy 1:8) and “holy” (Romans 7:12). God’s perfect, holy law declares that man is guilty and demonstrates that fact clearly because no man can possibly keep the commandments. If we break one commandment we are guilty of all. James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

SIN

Sin is the result of breaking God’s law. 1 John 3:4 tells us that “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” In other words, when we fail to do what God requires, that is sin. When we do that which God forbids, that is sin; thus, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). According to the scripture, all men are sinners, guilty before God; and there is not one thing that man can do to save himself.

JUDGMENT

God is perfectly and completely holy. His law makes it clear what He requires for man to be righteous. Since man falls short of what God requires, there are eternal consequences. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The death that is mentioned here is eternal, just like it’s opposite existence, eternal life. Those who have “eternal life” spend eternity with God in heaven. Those who “die in their sins” spend eternity in hell, separated from God.

Revelation 20:14 describes this awful reality - “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”

JESUS

Yes, man is a sinner and utterly incapable of saving himself; however, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…” meaning that Jesus died in our place. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” The word commendeth means that God proved or made known His love by giving His Son to die in our place. That is what Jesus did for us!

In conclusion, Romans 10:9-13 says:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Do you need to be saved, for certain, forever? If you believe what the scripture says about God, about your sin and about the sacrifice of Christ on your behalf, then all that is left is to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The Lord will save you if you believe on Him to do so.

What do you do? You just read Romans 10:13 which says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I will not give you a script to recite. In your own words, believing what God has said, call out to God. Confess that you are a sinner, that you need forgiveness and that you are trusting Him alone to save you. He will do it! Did you hear that? God. Will. Save. You.