Shady Grove: His Path

His Path: (for a printable PDF version of this page click here)

What Does It Take to Become A Christian?

Regardless of what you currently believe, if you died today and found yourself standing before God, what do you think it would take to enter heaven?

If you are like most every other person, you would say that you have to be a “good person.” Do you consider yourself to be a good person? The Encarta Dictionary defines good as “having or showing an upright and virtuous character.” Does this describe you? Let’s test and see…

Personal Questions?

Have you ever told a lie, even a little white lie? Yeah, me too! Everyone I have ever met has told a lie and if you say you don’t lie, you probably just did. Lying is not a character quality of a good person.

Have you ever hated someone? Me too! The Bible says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” (1 John 3:15) Did you know that God would consider you a murderer for hating someone? That is not a quality of a good person either.

Finally, have you ever lusted after someone? This is a little personal, but guess what… everyone else has done it too! You are not alone. Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) This is not a quality of a good person either.

So by your own admission in answering these questions, you are a liar, a murderer, and an adulterer. Do you still feel confident about being a good person?

The Truth!

The truth is “there is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12) Becoming a Christian isn’t about becoming a good person; it is about faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that sin separates us from a holy God. “But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) All the bad things that we do are sin, but God sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to live a perfect life and to die on a cross for our sins. Sin is expensive; “the wages of sin is death,” but Jesus paid the price for our sin on the cross. Therefore, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Jesus died to pay the price for our sins, but He also defeated death itself when he rose from the dead three days later.

How to Become a Christian?

So what does it take to be saved or to become a Christian? Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” This is what every true Christian believes and confesses. Can you make that same confession? When you do confess and believe, you enter into a relationship with God that lasts a lifetime and even into eternity. But anyone who rejects Jesus and does not believe in the resurrection will spend life and eternity separated from God. The choice is yours, but it requires faith in Jesus.

A Prayer to Him!

There is not a magic prayer that saves you, but you can pray something like this to God:

God,

I’m sorry for my sins. I want your forgiveness in my life. Thank you for sending Jesus to the cross to pay for my sins. I believe that He has died for me and I believe that you raised Jesus from the dead. I want to make Jesus that Lord of my life now and forever. Thank you for saving me.

Amen.

The Next Step!

If you have accepted Jesus, there are a few things that you can do to help get your new relationship with God started. (1) Pray. Talk to God often. (2) Get a Bible and study God’s Word. (3) Get involved in a local church. The church is a place where Christians worship God together and grow in their faith. I would love for you to join us at Shady Grove, but as long as you find a good Bible-believing church, you will be in good hands. (4) Email us at webmaster@shadygroveonline.net so that we can pray for you, help you get a Bible, and help you find a church. We are excited that you are now part of the family of God.

Sincerely,

Rev. Michael Horton

Pastor, Shady Grove Baptist Church