No one was ever a Christian without becoming one. So “How
does one become a Christian?” is a crucial question. Sadly, honest
inquirers aren’t always given a good answer these days, and the result
is that some may think they have “accepted” Jesus Christ when they have
not really done so.
All of us, this writer included, should be willing to reexamine our
convictions in the light of the New Testament. No matter what we’ve
believed in the past, the question should be: is our practice really consistent with the Scriptures?
We must be willing to do what Paul said when he exhorted the
Corinthians: “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.
Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
So let’s “examine ourselves” in regard to how a person should respond to the gospel.
Faith. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Few deny that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary, but it’s worth asking ourselves whether we really do believe what we say we believe. When the stakes are high and all that we love the most is at risk, to what extent are we willing — really and truly — to trust God?
Confession. Jesus taught that we must not only believe in Him privately but be willing to confess openly what we believe about Him (Matthew 10:32-33), and Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). To verbally acknowledge that we believe Jesus to be the Son of God is to make what Paul called “the good confession” (1 Timothy 6:12-13).
Repentance. Those who teach that we are saved by “faith only” have trouble with the question of repentance. Clearly repentance (turning away from our sins) is an action that is in addition to faith, so if salvation were by faith only, then repentance would not be essential. However, the New Testament affirms that it is essential. Preaching in the city of Athens, Paul declared that God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). And during His own ministry, Jesus had said to some who thought they had no sins they needed to repent of, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Baptism. If repentance from our sins is required, so is baptism for the forgiveness of those sins. Peter said it simply on the Day of Pentecost. When his hearers asked what they must do, he told them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). What could be clearer? Until we have been baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, we are still unforgiven — we have not yet become Christians.
As we repent of our sins and confess our faith, we are taking steps in the direction of forgiveness, but it is not until we submit to the Lord’s command to be baptized that we are forgiven. That being true, it should not surprise us that Paul described those who were “in Christ” as having been baptized into that relationship with Him: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
In another place, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).
So baptism is as essential to our salvation as faith and repentance. Without baptism, we’re not yet “in Christ.” It’s the turning point in the process, the defining moment at which we pass from our unforgiven past to our forgiven future. And that’s why in the New Testament, we find people being baptized with a sense of urgency — even “in the same hour of the night” (Acts 16:33).
The teaching of the New Testament on this point is not hard to understand, but nowadays, it will take a bit of courage to stand up for that teaching.
So let’s make it personal: what’s your answer to the question of how one becomes a Christian? Does your answer take into account all that the New Testament teaches on the subject?
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com
How to be Saved
The greatest truth is this, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The Son of God wrapped Himself in human flesh, suffered, bled, and died that man might be reconciled to the Father through Him. He conquered death through His resurrection, and gave man the hope of eternal life. It is truly Good News!
But how does one receive the salvation that is offered in Christ Jesus? There is too much confusion over this all important subject. So, try and forget all you’ve ever heard about how to be saved, and just listen to the Word of God:
1. Sin is the Reason Salvation is Needed – We have all committed sin (Romans 3:23). Sin is literally “missing the mark” that God has set for us. We weren’t born with sins (Ezekiel 18:20), we chose to sin. And the sin we chose to do separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). The consequences of sin is death (Romans 6:23); it is what each of us deserves. We deserve to die and spend eternity in hell, separated from God. That’s the bad news.
2. Man is Saved by Grace – Man is incapable of saving himself. Since man’s problem is sin, he must be saved from his sin problem. He must be forgiven of his sins. The bottom line is this, you cannot do anything to deserve the forgiveness of sins. You cannot merit your salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9) says that good works don’t earn salvation. You could do a million good things for others and for God, and those good works would never wash away sin. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away sins (Hebrews 9:22). That’s why salvation is by grace. Salvation is something you are given in spite of what you deserve.
3. Man is Saved through Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9 says that man is saved “by grace through faith.” We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please [God].” God is spiritual, invisible, and unseen (John 4:24; Colossians 1:15). Therefore, since you cannot see God, faith is defined as being sure and convicted of things you cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). God, and the salvation He offers, is unseen. You must have faith that He is real and salvation is real. Receiving the salvation of God is not a matter of seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling something. It is received “through faith.”
4. Faith Includes Belief – At the core of faith is a belief that God is who He says He is (Hebrews 11:6). Real faith believes that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and is present everywhere, because that is what Scripture says about Him. Real faith believes that Jesus is God’s Son, because that is what Scripture says about Him (Acts 8:37). Real faith believes Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), because that is what Scripture says about Him.
5. Faith Includes Trust – Belief is not the full extent of faith. After all, even the demons believe God is who He says He is (James 2:19). Faith also includes a profound trust in God. In order to receive salvation man must trust that God will do what He says He will do. In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, multiple examples are given of men and women who were saved from peril when they trusted in God to keep His promises. Man cannot be saved from his sins if he does not trust God to forgive him.
6. Faith Includes Obedience – This is where some misunderstand “faith” and “grace.” Receiving grace through faith does not mean that obedience isn’t necessary. In fact, James says that without obedience, there really is no faith (James 2). As you read through the examples of faith in Hebrews 11, you will find they all obeyed whatever God told them to do in order to be saved. “By faith Noah…in reverent fear constructed an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). Therefore, if man is to receive God’s gift of salvation by faith, he must do whatever he is told to do to receive it.
Here is what God tells man to do to receive salvation:
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
So let’s “examine ourselves” in regard to how a person should respond to the gospel.
Faith. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Few deny that faith in Jesus Christ is necessary, but it’s worth asking ourselves whether we really do believe what we say we believe. When the stakes are high and all that we love the most is at risk, to what extent are we willing — really and truly — to trust God?
Confession. Jesus taught that we must not only believe in Him privately but be willing to confess openly what we believe about Him (Matthew 10:32-33), and Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10). To verbally acknowledge that we believe Jesus to be the Son of God is to make what Paul called “the good confession” (1 Timothy 6:12-13).
Repentance. Those who teach that we are saved by “faith only” have trouble with the question of repentance. Clearly repentance (turning away from our sins) is an action that is in addition to faith, so if salvation were by faith only, then repentance would not be essential. However, the New Testament affirms that it is essential. Preaching in the city of Athens, Paul declared that God “commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). And during His own ministry, Jesus had said to some who thought they had no sins they needed to repent of, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Baptism. If repentance from our sins is required, so is baptism for the forgiveness of those sins. Peter said it simply on the Day of Pentecost. When his hearers asked what they must do, he told them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). What could be clearer? Until we have been baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, we are still unforgiven — we have not yet become Christians.
As we repent of our sins and confess our faith, we are taking steps in the direction of forgiveness, but it is not until we submit to the Lord’s command to be baptized that we are forgiven. That being true, it should not surprise us that Paul described those who were “in Christ” as having been baptized into that relationship with Him: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).
In another place, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).
So baptism is as essential to our salvation as faith and repentance. Without baptism, we’re not yet “in Christ.” It’s the turning point in the process, the defining moment at which we pass from our unforgiven past to our forgiven future. And that’s why in the New Testament, we find people being baptized with a sense of urgency — even “in the same hour of the night” (Acts 16:33).
The teaching of the New Testament on this point is not hard to understand, but nowadays, it will take a bit of courage to stand up for that teaching.
So let’s make it personal: what’s your answer to the question of how one becomes a Christian? Does your answer take into account all that the New Testament teaches on the subject?
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com
How to be Saved
The greatest truth is this, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The Son of God wrapped Himself in human flesh, suffered, bled, and died that man might be reconciled to the Father through Him. He conquered death through His resurrection, and gave man the hope of eternal life. It is truly Good News!
But how does one receive the salvation that is offered in Christ Jesus? There is too much confusion over this all important subject. So, try and forget all you’ve ever heard about how to be saved, and just listen to the Word of God:
1. Sin is the Reason Salvation is Needed – We have all committed sin (Romans 3:23). Sin is literally “missing the mark” that God has set for us. We weren’t born with sins (Ezekiel 18:20), we chose to sin. And the sin we chose to do separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). The consequences of sin is death (Romans 6:23); it is what each of us deserves. We deserve to die and spend eternity in hell, separated from God. That’s the bad news.
2. Man is Saved by Grace – Man is incapable of saving himself. Since man’s problem is sin, he must be saved from his sin problem. He must be forgiven of his sins. The bottom line is this, you cannot do anything to deserve the forgiveness of sins. You cannot merit your salvation. (Ephesians 2:8-9) says that good works don’t earn salvation. You could do a million good things for others and for God, and those good works would never wash away sin. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away sins (Hebrews 9:22). That’s why salvation is by grace. Salvation is something you are given in spite of what you deserve.
3. Man is Saved through Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9 says that man is saved “by grace through faith.” We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please [God].” God is spiritual, invisible, and unseen (John 4:24; Colossians 1:15). Therefore, since you cannot see God, faith is defined as being sure and convicted of things you cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). God, and the salvation He offers, is unseen. You must have faith that He is real and salvation is real. Receiving the salvation of God is not a matter of seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling something. It is received “through faith.”
4. Faith Includes Belief – At the core of faith is a belief that God is who He says He is (Hebrews 11:6). Real faith believes that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and is present everywhere, because that is what Scripture says about Him. Real faith believes that Jesus is God’s Son, because that is what Scripture says about Him (Acts 8:37). Real faith believes Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), because that is what Scripture says about Him.
5. Faith Includes Trust – Belief is not the full extent of faith. After all, even the demons believe God is who He says He is (James 2:19). Faith also includes a profound trust in God. In order to receive salvation man must trust that God will do what He says He will do. In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, multiple examples are given of men and women who were saved from peril when they trusted in God to keep His promises. Man cannot be saved from his sins if he does not trust God to forgive him.
6. Faith Includes Obedience – This is where some misunderstand “faith” and “grace.” Receiving grace through faith does not mean that obedience isn’t necessary. In fact, James says that without obedience, there really is no faith (James 2). As you read through the examples of faith in Hebrews 11, you will find they all obeyed whatever God told them to do in order to be saved. “By faith Noah…in reverent fear constructed an ark” (Hebrews 11:7). Therefore, if man is to receive God’s gift of salvation by faith, he must do whatever he is told to do to receive it.
Here is what God tells man to do to receive salvation:
- Hear the Gospel – Since man is saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and faith comes from hearing God’s word (Romans 10:17), the first thing man must do is really listen to the Good News about Jesus Christ!
- Believe – Believing God, as already discussed is a part of having faith. In fact, it is called a “work” by Jesus (John 6:29). Man must be obedient to God by believing Him.
- Repent – Sin was the problem that brought about the situation where people need saving. In order to receive grace, you must die to sin (Romans 6:1-7). Repentance is about changing your mind, your heart, and your life from sin and turning fully toward God.
- Confess – Scripture says that man’s faith in Him must be so great that he is willing to confess that faith, even if it were to cost him his life (Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10).
- Be Baptized – Baptism is not something that a Christian does in order to be obedient. Baptism is something a sinner does to become a Christian. We are told that it’s at the moment of baptism a person’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Romans 6:1-7; Acts 22:16), his sins are forgiven (Acts 2:38), he is clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:26-28), he is saved (1 Peter 3:21), he receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), and he is added to the church (Acts 2:47).
“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).
