How To Become A Christian
A Christian Living Article from All-Creatures.org Guide to Kingdom Living

True Christian living requires us to live according to Kingdom standards which bring Heaven to earth.

FROM Pastor Frank Hoffman, all-creatures

There are many denominations within Christianity, but there is a common foundation that ties us together.  This foundation is built upon God and His Word as contained in the Bible and the fact that we need a Savior to save of from this corrupted world.  In this regard, we need to recognize ourselves as sinners, we need to confess our sins, and to believe that Jesus Christ is faithful to forgive us.  This is confirmed in John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (KJV)

This passage tells of God's love for the whole of creation, and that He doesn't want us to perish in our sins, but to have everlasting life in and through Jesus Christ, His Son.  Thus, we each need to recognize that without Jesus Christ in our lives, we are unsaved, and that we each need Him as our personal Lord and Savior.   Note what we are told in John 3:17-18:

17    For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18    He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV)

Note also what we are told in Romans 3:23:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (KJV)

Even if we think we are living a "good" life, the Bible is confirming to us that when compared to the righteousness of God, we are all sinners, and thus, we are in need of salvation, which God will freely give us if we seek Him, for without the Lord's salvation we will die in our sins, as confirmed in Romans 6:23:

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (KJV)

So what do we do?

Each of us must recognize that we cannot save ourselves.  Thus, as individuals, we must:

a) Repent (turn away from) our sins.  This is confirmed in Luke 13:3: "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (KJV)

b) Believe and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.   This is confirmed in Acts 16:30-31: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?   And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (KJV)

c) Confess Jesus Christ before others. This is confirmed in Romans 10:9-10:

9    That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10    For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)

This is also confirmed in Matthew 10:32-33, as Jesus tells us:

32    Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33    But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

We should also note what we are told in John 20:31:

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." (KJV)

If you have done this, then believe in your heart that you are saved, for the Lord is faithful to accomplish it.

We also need to come to the realization that we cannot work our way into heaven.  We are saved by grace alone, but once saved we are to do the good works that God desires us to do, because we desire to do them, as confirmed in Ephesians 2:8-10:

8    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9    Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)

If you would like to discuss this or any other matter with the pastor, write to [email protected]

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