What does it mean to be a Christian?
It means you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus Christ are called disciples. We are people who believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins, who rose from the grave, and is one day coming again.
Disciples love God, serve God, worship God, and attempt to live out his instructions (the Bible).
The Bible says that those who have placed their faith in Jesus are born again (born of the Spirit). We are forgiven of our sins and become a new creation. As believers we know that the Spirit of God lives in our heart and that our eternal destiny is in Heaven with God.
How do you become a Christian?
The Bible says we are saved by Grace through faith. The Grace is what God supplies. Faith is up to us. God has given us a free will and each individual must decide for themselves whether or not to follow Jesus.
We can NOT become a Christian just by doing good, or by joining the right church, or by being baptized or performing some other religious ritual. God gave His only begotten Son so that whoever chooses to BELIEVE (have faith) in him will not perish but have everlasting life.
You become a Christian by sincerely believing in Jesus, and repenting of your sins (Romans 3:23, 6:23). The Jesus who was born of a virgin, who was nailed to a cross, and who rose from the grave. God looks into our heart to judge our faith. He wants to see that it is a real, sincere and committed faith. If it is, the “fruit” (or results) of that faith will show in our life.
If you decide that you want to become a Christian, it is important that you tell someone. It is important that you are baptized. It is important that you begin to grow in your new-found faith.
There is not a more important decision that you will ever make in your life. If you have made the decision or are wanting to make the decision to become a Christian, we strongly encourage you to contact a local church and pastor who can answer your questions, give you instructions from the Bible, and help you formally make that decision and then begin to follow up and follow through as God’s Word calls us to do.
We would encourage you to read and study the following verses from God’s Word (the Bible):
John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:23, 6:23,5:8, 10:8-13)
How do I live the Christian life?
There are a few simple steps that are key in living out your faith. The first is baptism. Baptism is a ritual designed and demanded by God. It does not make you a Christian, but as a Christian it is the first step of obedience as you learn to follow God’s will.
The second key is in finding a good church and getting involved in it. Church is where you go to meet other Christians, to be equipped for ministry, and where you are spiritually nurtured and fed. Try living your life without ever going to a restaurant or grocery store. You would not stay healthy very long. Try to live the Christian life without going to church. Spiritually you will not stay healthy very long.
Third, start a regular routine of talking to God. Prayer is an important aspect of the Christian life. Faith is not an intellectual belief in a set of facts. It is a relational commitment to the person of Jesus Christ. If you are going to get close to God you are going to have to learn to talk to him in prayer.
Fourth, study the Bible. The Bible is our instruction manual for life. It gives us the truth that we need to make wise decisions and to know God’s will. It gives us spiritual power over sin and Satan. It is living manna (food) for our soul.
Even if you go to church and/or listen regularly to great Bible teachers and preachers, nothing replaces time spent alone in God’s word. Get a good Bible and learn how to study it. Below is a link to some wonderful materials we have created to help you do just that.
If you have any questions or if we may help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact any of the ministers here at Northwest Hills Baptist Church.