Become a Christian

How do I become a Christian?
God is broken-hearted by what sin has done to the relationship between Himself and mankind. Whenever we do something that is contrary to His revealed plan we commit sin. It doesn't have to be a horrible act like a murder but even a "bad" thought about someone else is a sin. He wants us to enjoy His plan for us but sin has separated us from God. However, God has also established a way for us to be re-united with Him. The first step is to acknowledge that we are not perfect. Everyone sins! God's Word says:
The Message	New King James Version	New International Version
^{Romans 3:23} Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, ²⁴God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.	²³ for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, ²⁴being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.	²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God is a Holy, Pure and Just God and can't bear to have sin near Him. Sin requires punishment, which is eternal separation from God and His love. However, he has planned an incredible reward for us, one with eternal blessing.
^{Romans 6:23} Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.	²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.	²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The punishment for sin is eternal separation from God but God still desires a close relationship with each of us. Therefore, for us to be re-united with God required a very special act. God loves us so much that He was willing to allow His only son to suffer OUR punishment as a ransom for us.
^{John 3:16} "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. ¹⁷God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.	¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.	¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
All have sinned. It doesn't matter how good a life we think we have led. We can't even compare ourselves to others because we can always find someone who we think is "worse than us". God only compares us to His standard and we fall short on our own. However, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our penalty and save us from our fate. There is absolutely nothing we can do to avoid the punishment on our own. Otherwise, we would think we rescued ourselves and once again ignore God.
^{Ephesians 2:8} Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! ⁹We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!	⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.	⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.
So, how does one become a Christian? It is actually quite simple (for us) because Jesus Christ has done everything for us. He had to suffer the cruel punishment of crucifixion and was buried in a cold tomb. But it didn't end there! Three days later He rose from the dead, having conquered death and providing a means of rescue (salvation) for all who believe in Him.
^{Romans 10:9} Say the welcoming word to God--"Jesus is my Master"--embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. ¹⁰With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"	⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.	⁹That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
When you acknowledge that you are a sinner and that Christ is the Son of God, God welcomes you into His family with open arms. In fact He considers you as His own child, with all the rights and privileges of belonging to His family.
^{John 1:12} But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.	¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:	¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
You see, the only way to receive a gift is to accept it from the Giver. But don't delay. We don't know when we will lose the opportunity to accept this gift of salvation.
^{2 Corinthians 6:2b} Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped.	^2b Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped.	^2b I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
If God has touched your heart and you want to accept this gift, here is a simple prayer that you can say: Lord of all creation. I confess that Your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. I admit that I am a sinner, totally unable to reconcile my spirit with Yours without Christ. Father, forgive me for all the wrongs I have done. I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and I welcome Your Holy Spirit into my heart to begin a cleansing work in me. If you prayed this prayer, please contact a local Christian church near you or contact us and we will try to help you find a church that can help you grow in your new life in Christ. éTop