Becoming a Christian

We need to be clear about this.

It is important to build our lives on a very strong and firm foundation.

We need to distinguish between a nominal Christian and a real Christian. i.e. between being a Christian in name and a Christian in heart.

People are often confused about the meaning of “Christian” because they were brought up in a country which has a Christian tradition, or they were brought up in a Christian home or had a Christian education. So they mistakenly think they are automatically Christians.

What Christianity is not

Being a Christian is not just believing the Christian creed, (i.e. believing certain facts, however important, about Jesus with our minds), or merely following the Christian code (living a decent life – after all some atheists do that), or simply attending or serving in a Christian church every Sunday, or going through certain ceremonies (many people have done this and suddenly realized that they have missed the heart of the matter.)

So what is a Christian?

“Christianity is Christ”. He is the foundation on which the building must rest. (See John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Corinthians 3:11). He is the jewel in the centre of the Christian casket. Christianity without Christ is like a skeleton without life. Put Him in the centre and then right belief and living, the Church, its ordinances will have real meaning and purpose.

Jesus Christ is God’s Eternal Son, who died for our sins, is now alive for evermore (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and He can be known, trusted, loved and obeyed.

A Christian is someone who is personally and decisively committed to Jesus Christ as his/her Saviour and Lord.

He has turned away from an old way of life where self was in the centre, trusted Jesus Christ, who died for him, to save him and surrendered himself and all he has to Him as his master.

Commitment to Christ

A. ADMIT We must admit that we are sinners and in the wrong with God (Romans 3:23). We have all repeatedly broken His law in what we have done, said and thought.

Sin has separated us from God who is perfect and holy (Isaiah 59:2).

We are cut off from Him and are in danger (Matthew 7:13, Romans 6:23).

Our bridges (doing our best, attending church etc.) cannot reach to God.

God has given us a bridge to reach Him when in His love He sent His Son into the world to be our Saviour (John 3:16, 1 John 4:14).

Till we admit we have sinned and we cannot save ourselves – we shall never understand the Gospel and the real importance of Jesus Christ.

B. BELIEVE Jesus Christ is God’s only and eternal Son who became man and died on the cross to save us. He took our place, bearing our sins and their penalty. (Mark 10:45, Galatians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:24). “He died that we might be forgiven” and to give us eternal life (John 3:16, Romans 6:23). Salvation is a gift. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it.

C. CONSIDER If we are going to belong to Jesus Christ, from this point on He must be our Lord and Master as well as our Saviour. He warned those who followed Him to count the cost (Luke 14:33).

We need to turn from all we know is wrong in our lives (i.e. in repentance) and then come completely under His control. “Under new management”. He now must be master of our whole lives, including our possessions and our ambitions. “The entrance fee into God’s Kingdom is nothing. The annual subscription is everything.” We need not be afraid of fully giving ourselves to the Lord because this is the secret of life, peace and joy (Romans 15:13).

D. DO By God’s grace we must personally trust Jesus Christ, receive Him into our lives and give ourselves unreservedly to Him. Only we can take this step. No one else can do it for us. This is absolutely essential, but many people miss this personal act of commitment.

Many people have found Revelation 3:20 to be a helpful verse at this point. Is Christ on the outside or inside of our lives?

Not sure? Then go over in ink what you may have written in pencil.

Some results that follow

We have a new life and become new people (John 20:31, 2 Corinthians 5:17). We are justified – forgiven and declared righteous before God’s Law (Romans 5:1). We are redeemed – set free from our slavery to sin (Galatians 4:5). We are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18). We enter a new Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25) in which God promises to be our God and we become His people.