There are two things I would like to stress before talking about how one
becomes a Christian, and they deal with why one becomes a Christian. First, it
would be irresponsible of me to try and "scare" you into becoming a Christian.
Yes, Hell is very real, and it is the destination for those who die in their
sins, but the better reason to come to Jesus is because you love him, not
because you are scared what will happen if you don't. The reason to love him is
because he first loved us. Before we were even born, he knew we would be, he
knew we would need his sacrifice, and he died a very painful and humiliating
death for our sins. OUR sins - not his own. But not just OUR sins - make it very
personal - he died for MY sins. Because you see, if I never sinned, then he
would not have had to die. So when anyone sins, they become personally
responsible for his death.
Second, it would be irresponsible of me to let you believe that the Christian
life is easy to live. It isn't. It is hard to try and do the right thing. It is
hard to admit when we have done wrong. It is hard when others make fun of you
for being a Christian or for not wanting to be involved in sinful activities.
Most of all, it is hard to avoid sin and beat temptation.
That said, it is the best possible lifestyle you can have. You have the Holy
Spirit indwelling you, the zeal to do the right thing and tell others, and the
"peace that passes understanding" because you know what lies ahead, after death.
The first step in obtaining salvation (which is just another way for saying,
making yourself acceptable before God) is to hear the Word. Romans 10:17 tells
us that faith comes by hearing the word of God. It is hearing not just with your
ears, but with an open mind and heart.
The next step is to have faith, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the
only way to salvation. In John 3:16, Jesus told Nicodemus, "For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life."
It is not simply a blind faith however. Faith is shown by our works (James
2:14). Simple works of obedience are found in the plan of salvation. This does
not constitute "works salvation" - the belief that one may work his way to
salvation. Make no mistake - just because a person does these things does not
mean he EARNS salvation - no one deserves it. It is a gift, but as with any gift
we must reach out to accept it.
That said, the Bible tells us we must repent of our sins. Repent means to turn
around - to stop doing the wrong thing and start doing the right thing. A lot of
people today who say, "Where did I go wrong?" are overlooking one simple point -
they were never "right" in the first place. Repenting is recognizing that, and
getting on the right path. In Luke 3:13, we read "Unless you repent, you shall
all likewise perish."
One must confess as well. Now, this does not mean you have to go up and tell the
preacher all the things you have done that are bad. Confessing literally means
to "say again", and in this case it is saying again that you believe that Jesus
is the Christ, and that you intend to follow him. It is verbal confirmation - a
communication that you believe in him. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, "With the lips
is confession made unto salvation."
Finally, one must be baptized. The word "baptize" means "immerse", and in no
place in the Bible do we find an example of a person being sprinkled, so the
only right form of baptism is to be fully immersed. When you do, the "old man of
sin" dies, he is "buried" beneath the water, and a new creature is "born" when
you come up out of the water. There is no magical property in the water in which
one is baptized - it is just that at that point you symbolically come into
contact with the blood of Christ which washes your sin away. Jesus said in Mark
16:16, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved," and Paul was told in
Acts 22:16, "And now why do you wait? Arise and be baptized and wash away your
sin!"
It is important to continue to walk in the light after you become a Christian.
It is a change of lifestyle. You are a new person. When you find yourself doing
the wrong thing, you must ask God to forgive you. 1 John 1:7 tells us that if we
ask him for forgiveness, "he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
And now, I ask you, why do YOU wait? If you believe Jesus is the son of God, and
know that you need him as your savior - if you are ready to repent and confess
and change your life, arise and be baptized and wash away your sins.