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How do I become a Christian?

The main theme of the Bible is God’s love for you and all people. This love was shown when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He rose from the dead you can have eternal life. You can know for sure what will become of you after you die.

This gift of forgiveness and eternal life cannot be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God’s part and yours in this process:

God’s love
“For 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

God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it complete. He also wants to give you a life, which will last forever, even after death.

We are sinful
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

You may have heard someone say, “I’m only human – nobody’s perfect.” Yes, we all sin and do things that we know are wrong. And that’s why we feel estranged from God – because God is holy and good, and we are not.

Sin has penalty
“For the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23

Just as a criminal must pay the penalty for his crime, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. You pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you’re separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell.

Christ has paid our penalty!
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.

Salvation is a free gift
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9

The word grace means “undeserved favor.” It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God’s gift to you is free. All you have to do is joyfully receive it. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you!

Christ is at the door of your heart
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” Revelation 3:20

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you. Picture Him standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life.

You must receive Him
“Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12

When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God. You can talk to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ.

One other way to look at this...

#1 - God loves you and wants you to have an abundant life.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Why don’t most people have what God has planned for us to have?

#2 - We are separated from God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

God has given us freedom of choice. He did not make us into robots to automatically love and obey Him. We chose to disobey God and go our own way. This results in separation from God.

People have tried to bridge this gap between themselves and God with good works, religion, philosophy and morality.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

No bridge reaches God… except one.

#3 - God’s Answer: The Cross

Jesus Christ is the only answer to the separation between humans and God. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. He paid the penalty for our sin and bridged the gap between God and people.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” 1 Timothy 2:5

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” John 14:6

#4 – Our Response: Receive Christ

We must trust Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life and receive Him by personal invitation.

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right be come children of God” John 1:12

“That is you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Would you like to receive Jesus Christ right now?

You need to:

• Admit your need – “I am a sinner.”
• Be willing to repent and turn away from sin.
• Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
• Through prayer, invite and receive Him into your life as Savior and Lord.

A sample prayer:

Dear God,

I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior and Lord of my life.

In Jesus name, Amen.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

If you sincerely prayed that prayer - Congratulations! This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ.  If you would be so bold, please send us a praise request and share the good news.  The next step in your walk with the Lord is to join in fellowship with other believers.  We hope to see you this Sunday at Simi Valley Community Church.