How Do I Become A Christian?

I’m often asked the question, “How do I become a Christian?” Additionally, I’m asked questions such as, “Don’t all religions lead to God?” Or, “As long as I am a good person, won’t I make it to heaven?” The bible answers all of these questions and makes it very clear that there is only one way to heaven and to God. You can’t work hard enough to get to heaven. You can never be good enough to get to heaven either.  The only way to heaven is to become a Christian – to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, gave His life for you by dying on a cross, and came back to life to offer you an amazing life with Him! Believing this and then choosing to give your life away for Him ensures you a spot in heaven.

The idea of “giving your life away” may seem a little weird to you. But the bible says that to become a Christian means that it is as though you have died to yourself (your wants, needs, desires, aspirations, goals – – everything!) in order to live your life for Jesus. There is a verse in the bible that reads, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Simply put: My life is God’s life – all of it!

Let me explain to you in greater detail what all of this means. I hope you will take a few minutes to read through the four steps you to need to take to become a Christian:

1. Recognize God’s plan.

God loves you and has a plan for your life. The Bible says, “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 3:16, niv). This is God’s plan for your life—that you spend an eternity with Him in heaven.

2. Realize the problem.

Every human chooses to disobey God and do his or her own thing. The result is that we are separated from God because He is perfect and we are sinners. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, niv).

3. Respond to God’s remedy.

Because God loves you so much, He sent His Son to bridge the gap between you and Him that exists because of your wrong choices. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for your sins when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. The Bible says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8, niv).

4. Receive Christ.

By asking Christ to come into your life, you cross the bridge into God’s family. God then offers you ultimate forgiveness. You then have a relationship with Him and the privilege of spending eternity with Him in heaven one day. This is the only way to heaven! The Bible says, “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12, niv).

Have you taken these steps to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? These steps are far greater and more meaningful than any other choice you will make in your life! You can stop right now, wherever you are, and pray a prayer such as this one:

Dear Jesus,

I realize that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for me. I want to give my life over to You by asking You to forgive me of all my past mistakes. I now invite You into my life to save me and change me and be the Lord of my life. Thank You for loving me. Amen.