How can I become a Christian?
Date: February 26, 2019 - Time: 18:36 GMT
If you have been reading this website, but don't already have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, this is the most important question you need to ask right now.
If you want to be prepared for end time events, the most important step you can take is to become a Christian and sort out your relationship with God.
In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter explained how Jesus had died for our sins and then risen from the dead.
In response, the people asked him, "What should we do, brothers?" According to Acts 2:38-39, Peter replied, "Repent, and each one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself".
If you have come to understand and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is coming back soon, it is absolutely essential that you get yourself into a right relationship with God through him. There is no better time to do this than now. John 3:16-17 says, "For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him".
Jesus died for you because he loves you. He wants to save you from your sins and bring you into a new relationship with God. He wants you to know his love and his involvement in your life. When Jesus died on the cross, he took upon himself the punishment for your sins. But although your sins have been paid for, they are not automatically removed. You need to say sorry to God for the wrong things you have done and ask God to forgive you. This is what Peter meant when he said "Repent".
Becoming a Christian is as simple as praying a prayer to God and meaning it. I became a Christian when a Christian friend led me to pray a simple prayer, something like:
In Acts 2, the Apostle Peter explained how Jesus had died for our sins and then risen from the dead.
In response, the people asked him, "What should we do, brothers?" According to Acts 2:38-39, Peter replied, "Repent, and each one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself".
If you have come to understand and believe that Jesus is the Son of God and is coming back soon, it is absolutely essential that you get yourself into a right relationship with God through him. There is no better time to do this than now. John 3:16-17 says, "For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him".
Jesus died for you because he loves you. He wants to save you from your sins and bring you into a new relationship with God. He wants you to know his love and his involvement in your life. When Jesus died on the cross, he took upon himself the punishment for your sins. But although your sins have been paid for, they are not automatically removed. You need to say sorry to God for the wrong things you have done and ask God to forgive you. This is what Peter meant when he said "Repent".
Becoming a Christian is as simple as praying a prayer to God and meaning it. I became a Christian when a Christian friend led me to pray a simple prayer, something like:
"Dear Jesus, I do believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross and then rose from the dead. Thank you that you paid for my sins. Please forgive me for all the wrong things I have done and save me. Please come into my life and help me to know you. Help me to follow you for the rest of my life and to live in the way that you want me to".
Romans 10:9-11 promises, "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame".
You then need to follow through on your commitment. Find another Christian and tell them what you have done. Then try to find a local church that you can go to. Try to make a daily habit of reading the bible and asking God to speak to you through it. Read the New Testament first.
When Peter said you need to be baptised, he was talking about water baptism. This is a ceremony that represents your new beginning with Jesus. You are dipped under water as though burying the old life you used to live. As you rise out of the water, it signifies a clean start in life and that you will now follow Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. It is normal that the church leaders then pray for God to fill you with the power of his Holy Spirit, just as Peter spoke about. You need God's power in your life to help you live the way he wants you to.
Baptism is part of joining a local church. Most churches have a short course to help you understand your new commitment before you go through baptism. So baptism usually doesn't happen straight away. You can ask God to fill you with the power of his Holy Spirit right away. But baptism is an important milestone and in the bible it was most common for new Christians to be filled with his Holy Spirit at the time when they were baptised. Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn't necessarily something you will feel. But it will help you connect with God and empower you to follow Jesus and tell others about him.
In case you are interested in becoming a Christian but don't feel quite ready to make that commitment yet, many churches run courses to help you explore Christianity and learn more. Many churches use the popular Alpha course. Why not search for an Alpha course near you?
You then need to follow through on your commitment. Find another Christian and tell them what you have done. Then try to find a local church that you can go to. Try to make a daily habit of reading the bible and asking God to speak to you through it. Read the New Testament first.
When Peter said you need to be baptised, he was talking about water baptism. This is a ceremony that represents your new beginning with Jesus. You are dipped under water as though burying the old life you used to live. As you rise out of the water, it signifies a clean start in life and that you will now follow Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. It is normal that the church leaders then pray for God to fill you with the power of his Holy Spirit, just as Peter spoke about. You need God's power in your life to help you live the way he wants you to.
Baptism is part of joining a local church. Most churches have a short course to help you understand your new commitment before you go through baptism. So baptism usually doesn't happen straight away. You can ask God to fill you with the power of his Holy Spirit right away. But baptism is an important milestone and in the bible it was most common for new Christians to be filled with his Holy Spirit at the time when they were baptised. Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn't necessarily something you will feel. But it will help you connect with God and empower you to follow Jesus and tell others about him.
In case you are interested in becoming a Christian but don't feel quite ready to make that commitment yet, many churches run courses to help you explore Christianity and learn more. Many churches use the popular Alpha course. Why not search for an Alpha course near you?