WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
It is easy to look at the huge variety of people who call themselves Christians and be confused about exactly what a Christian is.
Sometimes people use "Christian" just to mean a moral person or as a word to describe someone who goes to church. Some people think "Christian" refers to a political view.
A LOOK AT HISTORY
The first time anyone was called a Christian is recorded in the Bible. "It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians" (Acts 11:26, New Living Translation).
The people who believed that Jesus was God also chose to live like Him. As a result, a group of people in Antioch teasingly applied Jesus' title of Christ as a label for His followers.
WHAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE
The word "Christian" is less important than the spiritual reality it illustrates.
Christians know God loves them.
They recognize their rebellion separates them from God. This is what the Bible calls sin.
They know Jesus came to earth, died and came to life again to offer forgiveness.
Christians have responded to God's offer of forgiveness by making a choice to stop living for themselves and allow God to make them who He wants them to be.
NOT BASED ON BEHAVIOR
Many people think they must behave a certain way to become a Christian. The Bible explains that becoming a Christian is not about behavior, but about responding to Jesus' offer of forgiveness.
"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8,9, NLT).
LIFE CHANGE
However, people behave differently after becoming a Christian because their relationship with God changes them. People do good things for many reasons, but a Christian is motivated to do good things because they love God.
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, THEN:
God's Spirit lives in you.
Revelation 3:20 (A picture of your new relationship with Jesus if you've placed your faith in Him), Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 1:13,14.
You are forgiven.
Colossians 2:13,14, Romans 6:6, 11-13,14, 1 Corinthians 10:13
God changes you.
As you get to know God better and continue to follow His plan, God will change your life and character through the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Galatians 5:22,23,
Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 4:13
You live for Christ.
Living for Christ is a lifelong process. God will give you the ability to follow Him as you trust in His promises and obey Him.
Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 2:20,
Matthew 10:38,39
2 Corinthians 5:14,15, John 15:9-11
Your faith and trust in God will continually develop.
This process of knowing God better and experiencing His love and plan is developed by:
Studying the Bible
Praying
Talking to others about Christ
Obeying God Spending time with other Christians
Think About:
In light of these truths from the Bible, are you a Christian?
What would keep you from committing your life to Jesus Christ?
HOW TO KNOW GOD PERSONALLY
What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better person so that God will accept you?
You may be surprised that none of those things will work. But God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can know Him.
The following principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ...
Principle 1:
God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
God's Love:
"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." John 3:16God's Plan:
[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." [that it might be full and meaningful]. John 10:10Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because...
Principle 2:
All of us sin, and our sin has separated us from God.
We Are Sinful:
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
We were created to have fellowship with God; but, because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
We Are Separated:
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God] Romans 6:23.God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. We are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion -- but we inevitably fail.
The third principle explains the only way to bridge this gulf...
Principle 3:
Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life.
He Died in Our Place:
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
He Rose From the Dead:
"Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
He Is the Only Way to God:
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me,'" John 14:6.
God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
It is not enough just to know these three principles...
Principle 4:
We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ:
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1:12
We Receive Christ Through Faith:
" By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth.
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation:
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
HOW YOU CAN RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE:
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer.
Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If you prayed this prayer, be sure to tell someone about it. Perhaps a Christian friend or a pastor. Also, be sure to find a church that can encourage you in your journey with Christ.
If you still have some questions, or are stil not sure about praying, check out some of the following links. God bless.
