How Can I Become a Christian?

1. First, you must realize that God loves you and has a special plan for your life. You do not exist by chance -- God desires for you to know Him personally and to live with Him forever.

   (Jesus said) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

2. Next, you need to admit to God that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness. The Bible says that our sin separates us from God, and that we are all sinners -- we all fall short of the expectations or requirements for getting into heaven.

   As the Scriptures say, "No one is good-- not even one. No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:10-12, 23)

3. In spite of your sin, God loved you so much that He paid the penalty for your sin by sacrificing His own Son on a cross that you might live. What greater proof is there of someone's love than they lay their life down for you?

   But God demonstrated His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

4. Eternal life in heaven is a FREE gift of God to you. You can never be good enough to deserve it. You can never earn it on your own through hard work. But just like a gift, you must receive it before it is yours. To refuse this gift is to accept nothing less than eternal separation from God in hell.

   For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

5. How can you receive this free gift? The Bibles says that you must admit that Jesus Christ is Lord. That means that you let Him be in control of your life. Then, believe with your whole being that Jesus is the risen Son of God (Yes, He died on a cross, but He arose again 3 days later from the tomb). His promise is to rescue you from your old way of life with the same power that brought Him back from the dead, and give you a brand new life.

   If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (Romans 10:9)

6. Receiving Jesus into your life is not about having religion -- it's about having a relationship with the One who created you, the Almighty God. In fact, He wants you to have a great time as a Christian (abundant life) while you walk this earth.

   I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

   It is also about living with Him forever in a place called Heaven when your physical body dies.

   If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:3)

7. Is there any other way to get to Heaven or to know God? What about all the other religions? Jesus answered that Himself when He told His followers:

   Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father (God) except through me. (John 14:6)

As a new Christian, you will want to do the following to help establish you in your new faith:

• Go to a Bible-believing church and let them know that you are a new Christian (Luke 12:8).
• Be baptized in obedience to Christ's command. Being baptized means being totally immersed under the water like Jesus did (Mark 16:16).
• Regularly attend worship services so that you can grow in your faith (Hebrews 10:25).
• Start praying daily to God. You can carry on a normal conversation with Him -- He hears you. But even better, he knows your thoughts and heart (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Begin reading God's Word, the Bible. This is your instruction book for life and living (2 Timothy 3:16).
• You will never be perfect, but try to live a God-honoring life (Philippians 4:8).
• Tell other people how Jesus changed your life so that they too might be changed forever (Matthew 28:19-20).