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How to become a Christian

HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

Much confusion exists in the religious world today concerning how to become a Christian, and what is the true nature of the church. We must understand that these questions can only be answered correctly by going to God's Word, the Bible. We must accept the Bible as our only guide in spiritual matters. This page is not intended to be critical of others, but rather to be analytical and truthfull in seeking God's will. God's answers for us are revealed through one source--His Holy book, the Bible, which is God's road map for mankind that leads to eternal life in heaven.

TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, ONE MUST--

1.   HEAR the Gospel (the "Good News") that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and died as a payment for our sins ( Jn. 20:30,31; Rom. 10:17).

2.   BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, who died on the cross for our sins, was buried and was raised from the grave on the 3rd day, never to die again ( Jn. 3:16; Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6; Jn. 20:30,31).

3.   REPENT of your sins (die to the life, love and habit of sin, by a change of heart, mind and attitude toward sin)--( Acts 17:30,31; 2 Pet. 3:9; 2 Cor. 7:10; Luke 13:3, 5).

4.   CONFESS your faith in Jesus as God's Son ("I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God")--( Matt. 10:32,33; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:9,10).

5.   BE BAPTIZED for the forgiveness of your sins ( Acts 22:16; Acts 2:36-38, 41; Mk. 16:16; Jn. 3:3-5; Tit. 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:20,21).

WHAT IS BIBLE BAPTISM?

1.   It is in water ( Acts 8:36-39; Acts 10:47,48).

2.   It is a burial in water ( Rom. 6:3-7; Col. 2:12).

3.   It is in the name of the Father, the Son & Holy Spirit ( Matt. 28:18-20).

4.   It is to receive the forgiveness of sins, or to be saved, through the blood of Jesus Christ ( Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Jn. 3:3-5; Tit. 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:20,21). 

NOTE: Since baptism in the New Testament is a "burial", then it cannot be any of the following: sprinkling, pouring or making the sign of the cross (with water) on the forehead. The New Testament was written in Greek--the word for "baptism" is "baptizo", which means "to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to plunge beneath". ANY type of "baptism" that is not immersion, and not for the forgiveness of sins is NOT Bible baptism, and is not acceptable to God. Those who practice any type of unscriptural baptism--however sincere--are NOT SAVED, because the blood of Jesus has not washed away their sins! Baptism is the point of contact with the blood of Jesus that takes away our sins!

WHEN THESE COMMANDS ARE OBEYED, WHICH CHURCH ARE YOU A MEMBER OF?

 Jesus built only one church ( Matt. 16:18,19; Eph. 4:4-6; Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 12:12,13, 20; Rom. 12:4,5).

 Jesus prayed for unity of all those who believe in Him ( Jn. 17:20-23).

 The New Testament condemns division ( 1 Cor. 1:10-13).

 Jesus bought HIS church with His precious blood--it belongs to Him only ( Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25).

 All those who are saved are in Christ's church, for the church IS God's saved people ( Eph. 5:23; 1:22,23; Col. 1:18).

 Christ is the Savior of the body ( Eph. 5:23), and His body is the church ( Eph. 1:22,23; Col. 1:18).

 Those who obey God are added to His church, the one Jesus purchased with His blood. No one can join the Lord's church--God does the saving from sin through the blood of Jesus, and God does the adding to His church ( Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 2:36-38, 41, 47; 20:28; Rom. 5:6-9).

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT A DENOMINATION!

Christ's church--

 Existed hundreds of years before any denomination (man-made religious group or "church") was ever established.

 Is the only one Jesus built ( Matt. 16:18-19; Eph. 4:4-6).

 Is the only church mentioned in the Bible (nothing is mentioned about a Pentecostal Church, a Methodist Church, a Catholic Church, a Lutheran Church, a Baptist Church or any other church, except Christ's church!)

 Is simply God's saved people! Christ is the Savior of the body, which is His church ( 2 Tim. 1:10; Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23; 4:4).

 Is not a denomination, not a building, not a creed or church manual, not a set of rules, not a place, not a thing, not a man-made religious group, not a physical priesthood).

NOTE: Jesus built His church many hundreds of years before any man-made religious group ("church") came into existence. His church is a blood-bought institution ( Acts 20:28), & cannot, by its very nature, be a denomination or a fellowship consisting of many denominations. Christ's church is only the family of God, His saved people, called out from the world of sin to serve Him.

As in the times of Noah (when all those who were saved from the flood were inside that which God saved--the ark), today it is true that all those who are saved are all those people who are inside that which Christ is going to save--His church! The church is God's saved people; it is impossible to be saved without being a member of His church, because the church IS the saved! The blood of Christ is the link (connection) between the church and salvation from sin ( Eph. 1:7; 5:23, 25; Jn. 3:16; Heb. 9:22; Acts 20:28).

WHERE DID DENOMINATIONS COME FROM?

Time Place Founder Denomination
606 AD Rome Boniface II (1st pope) Roman Catholic
1521 AD Germany Martin Luther Lutheran
1534 AD England King Henry VIII Anglican
1536 AD Switzerland John Calvin Presbyterian
1550 AD England Robert Browne Congregational
1607 AD Holland John Smythe Baptist
1739 AD England John Wesley Methodist
1830 AD USA Joseph Smith Mormon
1830 AD USA William Miller Adventist
1862 AD Germany Bishop Schwarz New Apostolic Faith
1866 AD USA Mary Baker Eddy Christian Scientist
1872 AD USA Charles T. Russell Jehovah's Witnesses

COMPARE THESE MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS GROUPS WITH THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT

Jesus Christ is the:

   Founder ( Matt. 16:18,19; 1 Cor. 3:11).

   Foundation ( Eph. 2:20-22).

   Head ( Eph. 1:22,23; 1 Col. 1:18).

   Savior ( Eph. 5:23).

   Owner ( Acts 20:28).

   Builder ( Matt. 16:18,19).

NOTE: Christ's church began on the Day of Pentecost, after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in Acts 2 (approximately A.D. 33), and in the city of Jerusalem ( Acts 2:1-5; also read Acts 1:2-8; Lk. 24:44-49).

WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT CALL THE CHURCH?

   Church of God ( 1 Cor. 15:9).

   Churches of Christ ( Rom. 16:16).

   Body of Christ ( Eph. 1:22).

   Kingdom of God ( Lk. 4:43).

   Kingdom of Christ ( Jn. 18:36).

   Church ( Acts 2:47).

   Kingdom of Heaven ( Matt. 16:19).

   Church of the Lord ( Acts 20:28).

   Church of the firstborn   (Heb. 12:23).

   Household (family) of God ( 1 Tim. 3:15).

   Household of faith ( Gal. 6:10).

 

NOTE: No names of men, religious doctrines, theories or religious practices are mentioned in the New Testament. All "names" for the church of the New Testament are simply descriptive terms that give glory, and honor to God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S CHURCH ARE CALLED--

   Saints ( Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:12).

   Brethren ( 2 John 2:7; 1 Thess. 2:1).

   Disciples ( Acts 20:7; 21:4).

   Sons of God ( Gal. 3:26-27; 4:6-7).

   Heirs of God ( Eph. 3:6; Rom. 8:17).

   Children of God ( Rom. 8:16; 1 Jn. 3:10).

   Most of all, they are called Christians
( Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16; also read Acts 4:12).

 

HOW DOES CHRIST'S CHURCH WORSHIP?

1.   Study of God's Word, through preaching and teaching ( Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 2:15).

2.   Prayer ( 1 Thess. 5:17; Acts 12:12).

3.   Giving ( 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; 8:8,24).

4.   Singing ( Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16, Jas. 5:13; Heb. 2:12; Heb. 13:15; 1 Cor. 14:15).  NOTE: The only kind of music God has authorized in worship in the New Testament is vocal music (singing).

5.   The Lord's Supper, or communion ( Matt. 26:27-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:17-20; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-29).

WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY FOR THE LORD'S CHURCH?

Only the Word of God! The Bible is--

   Inspired by God ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3, 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

   To be studied for guidance ( 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15).

   Complete--we do not need any other guide ( Jude 3; 2 Jn. 9; 1 Pet. 4:11; Rev. 22:18,19; Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Cor. 4:6).

NOTE: This means that any man-made creeds, church manuals, church laws, doctrines or theories of uninspired men are additions to God's Word, and thus are unacceptable to God ( Jude 3; Rev. 22:18,19).

THIS WORD WAS GIVEN BY GOD--

   To His Son--and thus we are to listen to Him ( Heb. 1:1-2; Jn. 12:44-49; Matt. 17:1-5).

   Through the Holy Spirit, by inspiration ( 2 Pet. 1:3, 20,21; 1 Cor. 2:11-13; 2 Tim. 3:16,17).

   To Christ's apostles, who were led by the Holy Spirit ( Jn. 14:15-18, 26; 15:26,27; 16:7-15).

   And was written so that we can know God's will for us today ( 2 Tim. 3:15-17, Jn. 20:30,31; 21:24,25).

GOD'S WORD IS--

   Everlasting ( Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:23-25).

   God's seed that will reproduce only after its own kind (that is, when we believe and obey only God's Word, His seed, we will be Christians only) ( Lk. 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:23-25).

   Powerful ( Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12).

    Truth ( Jn. 17:17).The Bible is the Word of God. To be saved eternally, we must study it, believe it, treasure it (in our hearts), obey it (from the heart), make it part of our lives, and live it daily!