How to become a Christian?

Joy and peace be unto you all from God and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope that this article would prove to be a blessing to all who read it, especially those who are not Christians. And yes, without a doubt, this study also serves as a reminder to all who claim to be Christians, to examine themselves whether or not they are truly in the faith, if Christ truly lives in them or not. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

The majority of the people living in the Khasi hills consider themselves dishonourable if they are not part of the Christian community. On the surface, it does not seem necessary to teach our people about how to become a Christian but judging from the signs of the times unfolding in the Khasi hills, we find that there has never been a better time during which this subject has to be preached once again, even unto those who identify themselves as Christians. O that my fellow Christian believers would take time to search their hearts!

Who are Christians?

Most people take it that they are Christians merely from the fact that they were born into a Christian family, or that they are members of a Christian group, or because they happen to tie the knot with a Christian. Then there are those who consider themselves as Christians for the reason that they have fulfilled all the demands of religious rites and rituals. They reason that being a Christian means to attend services in a church, speak and pray as a Christian ought to, read and preach the Bible as a Christian should, or eat and drink and dress up like a Christian.

Is all this the accurate explanation of what a Christian is? I personally believe that this is a false concept. The Bible tells us that a Christian is one who is “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13). Just because we are in the field of God, it does not necessarily mean that we are all His wheat; the Bible tells us that there are the tares also which will be gathered together and be burnt when the harvest season comes. Furthermore, the Bible does not tell us that we should seek a life partner from among the Christian community in order to be a Christian, nor does it tell us that we can become Christians by our good works or by imitating Christ. (Ephesians 2:8,9). Please note that it is not wrong to perform good works or to fulfil the demands of God’s law (Romans 7:12). Good works and righteous deeds are but the image of a Christian but what makes a person a Christian is a new spirit and a new heart which God has promised to freely give to all who desires it. (Ezekiel 36:26).

So, what does it mean to be a Christian? To be a Christian means to be ‘the Sons of God’ (John 1:12). It means that “Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” (Ephesians 3:16,17). To be a Christian means to be holy, righteous and perfect in the sight of God. (1 Peter 1:16; Romans 5:19; Matthew 5:48). Being a Christian means to know God and to fear God. (Hosea 6:6; Ecclesiastes 12:13). Being a Christian means to be Christlike in character, that is, to have “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22,23). To be a Christian means to deny self, risk one’s own life and follow Jesus Christ. (Luke 9:23; Luke 14:33; John 12:26). Christians possess everlasting life, and they are no longer under the yoke of condemnation but they are ‘passed from death unto life’. (John 5:24). The privilege that Christians have is beyond our imaginations. It has been declared, “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) There are many things that we can talk about a Christian, but I believe that this is sufficient to show you the value of being a Christian.

Do you really need to become a Christian? Perhaps you may be thieves, drug addicts, alcoholics, mockers, licentious, corrupt, murderers, or maybe you are short-tempered, without love, spiteful, envious, proud and selfish. In other words, perhaps you have been considered an outcast, or perhaps you may even be the most decent people in the society, yet occasionally, you tell lies or act imprudently, smoke and consume alcohol, or you become angry and lose your temper. My brothers and sisters, regardless of whether or not you are “great sinner”, the truth remains that you are ungodly and without God in your life. (Jude 1:15; Ephesians 2:12). You are separated from God and ‘a servant of sin’. (Isaiah 59:2; John 8:34). You are devoid of life eternal and liberty, and what remains in you is nothing but death. (1 John 5:12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 John 3:14; John 3:36). Therefore, you need to be reconciled to God and free yourself from the chain of sin. Christ truly longs to save you. No matter who you are, you can never save yourself; you need Christ. God calls you today to be His sons and daughters and He patiently waits for your response.

The foundation of the faith:

So how can you become a Christian? What are the conditions or the steps that you need to take? But before reading these steps the question is - From where then can you know the right steps? Paul in his letter to Timothy writes thus– “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Without a doubt, steps to Christ can be known only from the Bible. We must believe the Bible as the word that perpetually speaks the truth (John 17:17) - all the teachings and doctrines about God and Jesus Christ that Christians have held on to for a long time as per the Bible only. It is the foundation upon which Christians have based their faith. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). For one to believe in Christ, one has to “hear the word of God”. (Romans 10:17). For this reason, listen to the Bible, read the Bible, believe in the Bible, and obey the words of the Bible, and when you have done this, you will have a close connection with the Nucleus of the Bible – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

In summing up the ways and means to become a Christian, I have presented here before you the important steps that a person needs to take in giving his life to Christ:

STEP NUMBER ONE:

The first step is to accept that you are a sinner and that you are lost without Christ. Do not be alarmed that you are a sinner and that your life is not pleasing in God’s eyes, for all of us are in this same condition. All of us have grieved God, all have sinned, and we have transgressed His holy law. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12).

The Bible tells us that this evil condition was brought about by one man. It is written, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.” (Rom 5:12). Adam has separated himself from God because of his unbelief and disobedience, and the decision he made has affected us all who are his children for he is our representative and the father of the entire human race; and this life that is separated from God, Adam has handed it down from one generation to another through the natural law of inheritance, and this life is without the Spirit of God in the heart. Without a doubt, there is something lacking in our first birth. It is written, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” (John 3:6). We cannot be otherwise apart from the flesh which possesses a “carnal mind” or “sin that dwelleth” in us to control us. (Romans 7:14,17; 8:7). It is because of this state that we are counted as sinners and unworthy in the kingdom of God.

But not only that, one day you and I will have to stand before the judgement seat of God to be judged. On that day, there will be but two groups, one that will be justified unto eternal life, and the other will be condemned to eternal death. Which side do you choose to cast your lot with? To the one group, Christ would say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” But to the other group, He would say, “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 24:34,41).

So, the question to you is – Do you know Jesus Christ? Without a relationship with Him, you will be without hope and wretched. Do not think that death will make you free and it will give you peace if you have rejected life that is being offered to you by God. Remember that you will be resurrected in the “resurrection of damnation” and you will not be able to escape from the judgement that awaits you. (John 5:29). Hence, look to the Lamb of God and be ye saved. (John 1:29)

STEP NUMBER TWO:

The next step is to know that God loves you with an everlasting love and He wants to save you even if it demands that He should give “His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16). Know that God wants you to know Him, and that you can have a relationship with Him. He is your true Father and He desires to give you all His love and to give you the very best.

From the time you were in your mother’s womb till today, there has never been a day nor an hour when He has forgotten and forsaken you. He is the one who created you and sustains your life today. He is the one who has taken care of you and provided for your needs. It is He who admonishes you through your parents, your friends and through other people whom He has chosen. But the most wonderful thing of all is that God loves a sinner like you and I. He loves us who do not deserve to be loved; he has searched for us who deserve to be left unattended in sin; He has put His arms around us who are not worthy to be held by His loving arms; He is our hope when we are not deserving to receive hope and He has saved us who are dead in sin. What a privilege it is that a sinner can receive eternal life and to once again have a living connection with the heavenly Father in whom is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever! (Matthew 6:13)

Know that it is the God of the Christians who have called you from a degenerate state and has brought you from sin to a place where you are now a child clothed in honour and glory. It is He who has worked in your heart from time to time to draw and lead you to the way of life and happiness. He has sustained your life even though you are not worthy to live, just so that you may come to the knowledge of the truth and choose Jesus Christ and therefore be able to partake of the joy of eternal life. (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:3-5). He has given you the precious Bible. And at the right time, He has handed you the message of salvation.

STEP NUMBER THREE:

The third step entails that you should repent from your sins. The Bible says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out”. (Acts 3:19). To repent means to grieve because of your sin and turn your back against it. Repentance should be made to God for we have sinned against Him and we have done that which is evil in His sight. (Acts 20:21; Psalms 51:4). All of us are under God’s government and once we transgress His laws, we commit sin. Have you spent time to ponder on the sins that have wounded God? If you have not done this, it is time that you do so.

Ask yourself, “Is my life well-pleasing in God’s eyes?” Think about your life and at the same time behold the great and marvelous love of God that is manifested in the life of Christ, especially, on mount Calvary, where His beloved Son was hanged on the cross for your sins. Ask yourself, “Is not my sin so great that it demands the blood of the Son of God to reconcile me to God?” The death and suffering of Christ on the cross did not make God to love us but God gave His Son because He loves us. If God does not love you, do you think that He would risk sending Jesus to this world? You may feel that He does not love you but the truth is that He loves you and He wants to save you. Do you not feel any remorse for hurting the One who has loved you with an everlasting love?

We may feel sorry that we have somehow committed a wrong act but it is only ‘godly sorrow’ that leads to true repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10). Without the desire to change, the sorrow for sin is only an excuse and it is utterly empty. The Lord isn’t interested in hearing how sorry you are! But the Lord loves to know what you will do with that sorrow. This is what the Lord wants to know and hear from you. This is what the Lord is waiting from you. Yes! We ought to feel sorry when we hurt others, especially, when we hurt the Lord our God. But sorrow alone is not enough. We need to get to the point where we will stop hurting and injuring our God and those around us. Request God to help you forsake the sins forever. Choose now to turn away from them and He will give you the power that you need. Do not regret to take this step. The life that God promises you is filled with the peace and happiness that is beyond our imagination.

STEP NUMBER FOUR:

The fourth step that you need to take is to come to Christ just as you are, sinful and helpless. Many individuals reason that they should first become better people before they can come to Jesus Christ. It is in this point that many make the mistake, and because of this, they miss out on the help that Christ is willing to give them. They think that they can never come to Christ without first repenting. This is how they make repentance as an obstacle that gets in the way between them and Christ.

The question is, do you look forward to forsake your sins and to become better by your own efforts? “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil?” (Jeremiah 13:23). If you try to do good by your own efforts, you will eventually end up in defeat and hopelessness. You cannot do anything on your own. There is but one hope for you and that is, that you come to Christ just as you are and to receive Him into your heart.

It does not matter how great a sinner you are, Jesus loves you and He invites you. He says, “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” (Matthew 11:28; John 6:37).It is only in Christ that we can receive the power to repent. (Acts 5:31) He goes on to say, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32). Paul also states, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1:15).

Jesus emphatically states that you do not need to be counted worthy to come to Him. So then, if you see yourself as the greatest sinner, do not lose hope, but rejoice and be glad for it is for your sake that Christ came to this world. And at the same time, go to Him with a broken and a contrite spirit and He will heal you. Those who need the Saviour are the ones who cannot save themselves. You who are poor and empty in the spirit, do not delay to go to Christ as long as the doors of heaven are still opened for you.

STEP NUMBER FIVE:

Another important step involves receiving Christ in your heart. The Bible says, “But as many as receive Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name.” (John 1:12). To receive Christ means to believe in His name or in His authority. It is written, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:7-12).

To receive Christ means to accept that He is the true Son of God and who possesses divinity. (2 John 3; Colossians 2:9). And when you come to Him, you also have to accept Him as your Saviour, Redeemer, Comforter, Mediator and divine Shepherd. You have to receive Him as the ‘last Adam’ or as your Father and your new Representative, and that He is your life and your righteousness. (1 Corinthians 15:45). Apart from these, you also need to receive Him in your heart so that He can live within you and He will work in you both to will and to do God’s good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13). But you may ask, how can I receive Jesus? It is by faith. The Bible says, “Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” (Ephesians 3:17) By the hands you receive the gifts bestowed unto you by your parents, even so by faith you must receive the grace of God. (Mark 11:24)

If you are not willing to completely surrender yourself to Christ, your life, though it may be acceptable in the eyes of men, is not acceptable in the eyes of God. May you, therefore, humble yourself in the sight of God, and implore Him to forgive you of your sins and to create a new heart within you, and He will give you the Spirit of His Son. (1 Peter 5:6; Psalms 51:2,10; Galatians 4:6). Surrender yourself unto Him with all your heart, thoughts and your body and trust that He will take good care of that which you have surrendered unto Him. Turn away from your “idols” and live to fulfil the only purpose which is to be a servant of the living God. (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Tell Him that you are willing to accept Jesus Christ and become His follower. Once you take this step, you will no longer be in Adam but in Christ. In Christ, you will be a new creature or a born again of the Spirit, for the “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). In Christ, there will no longer be anymore condemnation instead you will find righteousness, and sanctification and redemption and eternal life. (1 Corinthians 1:30). In Christ you will be blessed.

STEP NUMBER SIX:

Last but not the least, you have to remain steadfast in Christ. Jesus says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Even as the branch extracts water from the vine so that it can stay alive, even so, in order to remain in Christ, it means to keep on receiving His Spirit without ceasing; it means to be connected and joined to Him on a daily basis through the complete surrender of self and self-denial that comes from the heart. Without abiding in Him, you can never expect to grow as a true Christian.

Choosing to be a Christian is not a choice and a decision that should last only for a day, but it is meant to last a lifetime. If you are willing to accept Christ, you also have to be willing to accept Him all the days of your life. You ought to be willing to surrender all to Him and to follow Him for all eternity. Do you wish to choose Him forever? Christ is willing to dwell in you through all eternity. He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20) On that day “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3) O where can we find such a Saviour as Christ! My dear friends, take this step as well and do not cease to believe in this, “that He which have begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

DO NOT DELAY:

My brothers and sisters the word of God says, “Choose you THIS DAY whom ye will serve”, “TODAY if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts”, “behold, NOW is the day of salvation”. (Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:2). Do you see that Jesus wants to save you at this very moment and He is only waiting for you? Therefore, do not delay to accept Him. Why should you die because of your negligence? There is a great danger if we delay to come to Christ. Let it be NOW and not tomorrow. Come to Him now, and do not wait till you repent or till you have become perfect; come just as you are. Seek and look for salvation on this very day, hour, and second! Certainly, you can look for it right now if you believe that it is by faith. It is by these signs that you can be sure whether you seek it by faith or by works. If it is by works, you would wish to do something first before you can be justified and sanctified. If you think that you have to be a certain way or do certain things before salvation can be attained, then you are seeking salvation through works even to this day. But if you look at it by faith, you can behold it just as you are, even at this very moment. Therefore, it is important that you know that there is an inseparable connection between these three things – expecting salvation by faith; expecting it as you are; and expecting it right now. To deny one of them, is to deny them all; to accept one, is to accept them all. So, if you seek for it just as you are, then go to Christ now as a poor sinner who does not have anything to offer. Christ is ready, and He is all you want. He is waiting for you: He stands at the door of your heart!

******