YOU BEGAN AS A DREAM IN THE HEART OF GOD.
There is someone you were made to KNOW (God Himself – John 17:3). There is someone you were made to BE (like Jesus – Romans 8:28-29). There is something you were made to DO (your unique purpose – Ephesians 2:10). Discovering and experiencing the life you were made for begins with saying “yes” to God – becoming a follower of Jesus.
WHAT BEING A CHRISTIAN IS NOT:
1. Being a Christian is not primarily about missing hell or going to heaven when you die.
2. Being a Christian is not about something you once did but rather who you now are. If you did what you should have done, then you are becoming who you are supposed to be.
3. Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)
Five characteristics of every relationship:
1. You spend time together.
2. You communicate with that person.
3. That person communicates with you.
4. You do things for that person.
5. That person does things for you.
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN:
1. Being born in a Christian nation doesn’t make a person a Christian.
2. Being born in a Christian home doesn’t make a person a Christian.
3. Being born to Christian parents doesn’t make a person a Christian.
4. Going to church doesn’t make a person a Christian.
Christians should go to church, but going to church doesn’t make you a Christian.
5. Being a member of a church doesn’t make a person a Christian.
6. Being baptized or confirmed doesn’t make a person a Christian.
7. Believing in God doesn’t make a person a Christian.
The demons believe and shudder. (James 2:19)
8. Saying that you believe in the Bible doesn’t make a person a Christian.
You must believe the Bible to be a Christian, because the Bible tells us how to be a Christian. Most people who say they believe the Bible have not read it all.
9. Having “gone down front” during an invitation doesn’t make a person a Christian.
10. Having asked Jesus into my life, heart, or to be my Savior doesn’t make a person a Christian.
The Bible never tells us to ask Jesus to be or to make Jesus our Savior. Every time the word Savior is used in the Bible, it is referring to who Jesus is. Jesus never told anyone to ask Him into their hearts or to be their savior. He asked people to follow Him.
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN:
1. Each of us is born a sinner.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners.
2. Each of us stands condemned before a holy God.
He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed. (John 3:18)
For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)
3. Even though God is holy and we are sinners, He still loves us.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
4. Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way…no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)
Just as only 7 digits in a specific order will ring your cell phone, there is only one way to God = JESUS
5. Christ died on the cross in our place for our sin so that we could be forgiven by God and have a relationship with Him.
Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust. (1 Peter 3:18)
He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
6. Eternal life is a relationship with God, not something that we once did or now do.
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3)
We have a relationship with God, not a to-do list.
7. Knowing facts about God and Scripture does not make a person a Christian.
When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34)
8. Salvation is a gift of grace that we receive, not a reward that we earn.
For 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, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
9. We receive God’s gift by making Christ Lord of our lives.
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:34-36)
10. Many people are deceived about their faith.
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)
11. The proof of salvation is a changed life, not a past act or decision.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them. (John 10:27-28)
He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21)
By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6)
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
12. Christians belong to God.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
He [Jesus] died for all, so that they who live [those who are born again] might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
Acknowledge my sin.
Trust what Christ has done for me.
Give myself completely to Him.
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)
Biblical believing in God is more than agreeing with some facts. It is committing our lives to Him. We behave everything we really believe; the rest is just religious talk.
Are you ready to accept the gift of eternal life that Jesus is offering you right now? Review what this commitment involves:
- I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin.
- I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins.
- I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus.
- I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised
If it is your sincere desire to receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior, then talk to God from your heart.
Here's a Suggested Prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life."
If you have trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please let us know. We want to rejoice in what God has done in your life and help you to grow spiritually. If you have questions or concerns you would like help with, contact us below!