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There is no greater question than this. In its answer you will find the purpose for your
existence and the way of true happiness, in this life and in the life to come. One
is not born a Christian; one is not a Christian because they have done enough good
things to earn it. There is only one way you become a Christian:
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Acknowledge God's Supremacy. As our Creator, God alone is supremely worthy and deserving
of our loving devotion and whole-hearted adoration. Jesus said that the greatest
commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). But tragically, all of us have failed
in this area.
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Realize your total inability to love and adore God as you ought. Sin has devastated
all of us to such an extant that the Bible says we are "dead in our trespasses and
sins" (Ephesians 2:1). What we need is not rehabilitation, nor resuscitation, but
resurrection! We need life!
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Agree that the only thing you deserve is God's judgment. The penalty God requires
for our sin is death, the ultimate death being eternal separation from God and eternal
suffering in hell (Matthew 25:41). "For the wages of sin is death, but the free
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
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Repent of your sin. The Bible is clear in that "there is none righteous, not even
one" (Romans 3:10) and that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). Turn from your sin and turn to God who is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness. "God is now declaring to men that
all people everywhere should repent (Acts 17:30).
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Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great mercy, God the Father sent
His one and only Son, who Himself is God, into the world to save sinners. "It is
a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Jesus Christ has come into
the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus died in our place and bore our
sin upon the cross to save us from sin and from its horrific consequences. Salvation
is a free gift of God to all who trust in Christ as their Lord and Savior. "For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8,
9). Having raised Jesus from the dead, God is now commanding all people to believe
in His Son. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31).*
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If you have done these five things, based upon the authority of God's Word, you are
a Christian; you are saved; you have eternal and abundant life! But this is just
the beginning. In order to grow in your Christian life, you need to be part of a
local church. If you have just become a Christian, please let us know. Our heart's
desire is to be used of God to help you grow in your newfound life in Christ. Contact
the church at
cbcspringfield@sbcglobal.net or telephone us at (937) 399-4024 and ask to
speak to one of our pastors.
There is an entire book of the New Testament devoted to the issue of how to become
a Christian. It is the Gospel According to John. John himself said "these
things I have written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
and that by believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31).
You can read the Gospel According to John online at Bible Gateway.com.
Click Here to start reading!
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