WHY BECOME A CHRISTIAN
THE FIRST REASON:
The inferior quality of life of the non-Christian.
"There is no peace says my God to the wicked" (Isaiah 57:21)
Peace can be defined as a tranquility of soul which is relaxed and free from inner chaos, doubt and confusion. Jesus taught that He offers a unique quality of "peace" which can not be found in the sphere of the "world." (see John 14:27)
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In Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks of a quality of life which is "wearisome"
All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not SATISFIED with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing. (Ecc. 1:8) This word wearisome speaks of "soul fatigue", which is simply the frustration of having no real peace in one's life.
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"vanity of vanities, ...all is vanity." (Ecc. 1:2)
This word indicates "emptiness" and indicates that the quality of life which does not relate to God on His terms will be filled with emptiness... no real purpose or fulfillment in one's existence.
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In Matthew 11:28, Jesus indicates that the quality of life of the unbeliever is weary and under a heavy burden.
Weary translates a Greek word which indicates an inner struggle to the point of soul fatigue (again, frustration). The heavy burden refers to that "inner need" which doesn't go away; it continually presses down on the soul with the ever-increasing pressure of life's futility. Together these add up to a ceaseless search for happiness, "going round in circles" looking for "something" and never really finding it.
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In John, Jesus speaks of the blindness of the soul.
"He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going." (John 12:35) Again, this communicates that "wandering" and aimlessness of the soul. Then, at 1 John 2:11, we find that the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going because spiritual darkness has blinded his eyes. Again, no direction in life.
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At Hebrews 2:15, the writer speaks of the non-Christian as one who is "in slavery all their lives" because of fear of death.
This refers to that "unknown quantity" which men fear when they have no answer that really "satisfies" the soul. Paul talks about the non-Christian's view of death: "...that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope." (1 Thes. 4:13) They have no knowledge and therefore no real confidence or even hope of what will happen when they die; which only contributes to the confusion and frustration of life.
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In Jeremiah 17:9, we discover that the heart is deceitful above all else and desperately "sick."
The non-Christian is stuck with the influence of this deceptive nature which can do nothing except contribute to the "insanity" of life - the weariness, emptiness, burden, and frustration of a life lacking a true relationship with the God of the Bible.
THE SECOND REASON:
The indictment of divine justice.
"...it is appointed for man to die once and after this comes judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)
Each person has been born in a condition of sin, which is basically the condition of having no alliance or relationship with God. Romans 3:23 explains, "for all have sinned and come short of God's glory." We are left with no capacity to relate to God, apart from God's own provision.
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Romans 5:6-10 actually describes this condition of the human race by using four words.
1. Mankind is UNGODLY: The Greek indicates this to be an attitude and way of life which will not give to God the worship, praise, and recognition that He merits as GOD.
2. Mankind is a group of SINNERS: We have expressed our independence from God by violating His righteous standards.
3. Mankind is an ENEMY of God: An animosity which God, because of His absolute nature, cannot tolerate.
4. Mankind is HELPLESS: We can do nothing in and of ourselves to resolve this problem..
Thus, we find that the wrath and judgment of our righteous God coming down on all humanity is justified.
"He who does not believe has been judged already." (John 3:18)
"He who does not obey the Son, shall not see life but the WRATH of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
"...those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the just verdict of eternal ruin away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
So we see that the painful, frustrating, futile quality of life that the non-Christian already has here on earth will be perpetuated forever.
THE THIRD REASON:
Jesus Christ is the only way to escape the indictment of God's justice.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Peter then says, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
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At John 1:13, John mentions three things that will not provide life with God.
1. Not of blood: You are not given life because of any hereditary merit...not Jews, not Gentiles.
2. Not of the will of the flesh: You cannot in and of your personal desire or abilities find life with God.
3. Not of the will of man: Men cannot "join forces" in some kind of philosophy or "religion" to find life with God.
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According to Acts 13:39, NO system of LAW can provide this life.
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Isaiah tells us of the inadequacy of idolatry:
"...who carry about their wooden idol and pray to a god who cannot save." (Isaiah 45:20-21)
Isaiah also tells of the inadequacy of the occult: "And you felt secure in your wickedness and said, 'No one sees me,' Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you; For you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me.' But evil will come on you which you will not know how to charm away; And disaster will fall on you for which you cannot atone, And destruction about which you do not know will come on you suddenly. Stand {fast} now in your spells and in your many sorceries with which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you may cause trembling. You are wearied with your many counsels; Let now the astrologers, those who prophesy by the stars, those who predict by the new moons, stand up and save you from what will come upon you. Behold, they have become like stubble, fire burns them; They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame; There will be no coal to warm by, {Nor} a fire to sit before! So have those become to you with whom you have labored, Who have trafficked with you from your youth; Each has wandered in his own way. There is none to save you." (Isaiah 47:10-15)
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But fortunately,
"...Jesus Christ is the savior of the world." (1 John 4:14)
"Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29)
"It is Jesus who carried our sins in his own body on the cross." (1 Peter 2:24)
And, it is Jesus who invites, "Come to me you who labor to weariness and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
THE FOURTH REASON:
The potential for true blessing and fulfillment in life through Christ.
"I am come that you might have life (salvation) and have abundance (an abundant life on earth)" (John 10:10)
Matthew 11:29 speaks of TRUE rest for the soul.
John 15:10-11 tells about TRUE inner joy.
In John 16:1 we find TRUE inner stability.
And in John 16:33 there is TRUE inner peace,
(which surpasses all human comprehension - Philippians 4:6-7)..
This quality of life is available ONLY to the one who has entered into the family of God by trusting in Christ as personal savior.
So, How does one become a Christian?
A. Recognize the need that you are a sinner under the indictment of divine judgment.
B. In humility accept God's verdict concerning your sinful status and accept the fact that He is the only one who determines the proper policy for reversing that verdict.
C. Accept the fact that Jesus died in your place, taking your sins upon Himself in order that He might bring us to God the Father and give us eternal life.
D. And then in that humility acceptance, simply express yourself to God the Father in the privacy of your own soul, in your own words that you are in fact conciously and completely trusting in Christ as the one who saves you.
E. And at that very moment of time, you will be born again into the family of God and given eternal life which God will never ever take away from you.Once a person becomes a Christian...
...the most important thing for him to do is to learn God's Word, the Bible. There are several basic doctrines that are essential in order for the new believer to come to an understanding of the new quality of life he has entered. Without a basic orientation to the Christian way of life, (and to the wonderful provisions God has given us in order to live above the still present and powerful pull of our sin nature), the new believer will very quickly revert back to old habits and character flaws and will not be able to experience the promised peace and joy of the abundant life.
If you want to know Jesus personally, have him come into your life,and save you from a certain fate of eternal death in hell, and experience the POWER of the ETERNAL GOD, in your life, all you have to do is ask him. You can pray a simple prayer like this one and Jesus will come into your heart and life.
"Lord Jesus, I want you to come in and take over my life right now. I am a sinner. I have been trusting in myself and my own good works, and in other things. But, now I place my trust in you. I accept You as my own personal Savior. I believe You died for me. I receive You as Lord and Master of my life. Help me to turn from my sins and follow You. I accept Your offer of the FREE gift of eternal life. I am not worthy of it, but I thank You for it. Amen."
You have just prayed the most important prayer you have ever prayed in your life. If you were sincere in this prayer, I want you to see what Jesus says about what you have just done. In John 6:47, Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me has everlasting life." In your prayer, you didn't hear any angel choirs or see any visions; however, by a simple act of faith, you have placed your trust for your eternal salvation in Jesus Christ. Saving Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ ALONE for your salvation. If you meant with your heart what you just said with your lips, you have the promise of Jesus Christ that He has forgiven your sins, and has adopted you into the kingdom, and has given you eternal life in Heaven with Him. If this sounds so simple you have trouble believing that it could be true, the Bible assures you that it is most definitely true. Over the centuries, man has deliberately complicated this simple Plan of Salvation that most people simply do not know how simple and uncomplicated God has planned Salvation through Jesus Christ to be!! If you were genuine in your prayer, you now have eternal life, and are as assured of it as if you were already there!! This is why Jesus said, that no person can ever take any of His who are Born Again out of the Father's hand. You are now in the Father's hand, and no power on Earth or in Heaven can take you back out!! But, He has done much more!! In Revelation 3:20, Jesus promised, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock He has been knocking at the door of your heart, and you have just opened that door to let Him in]; if anyone hears and listens and heeds My voice, and opens the door I WILL come in to him and will eat with him, and he will eat with Me." Jesus Christ has just entered INTO YOUR HEART through the work of the Holy Spirit, to live in your heart for the rest of your life!! What great news, for now we have the same Holy Spirit power within us that raised Jesus from the dead [Romans 8:11]. In fact, I encourage you to read Romans 8 to see all the advantages we have because the Holy Spirit indwells us daily. Salvation through Jesus shed blood on Calvary gives you a deep, abiding Personal Relationship with His Holy Spirit while you live on this Earth!! As you read the New Testament, you will come to understand the wonderful depth you can reach between you and your Creator!! Salvation produces a relationship that will deeply enrich your life daily!! You will never have believed, prior to becoming Born Again, what kind of life you have been missing out on for so long!
Please write to me if you are interested in learning more about the Christian life or have questions about anything pertaining to Christianity and the Bible.
