How To Become A Christian
(a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church)
God's Love and Purpose
Becoming a
Christian means entering into a relationship with God. You are
important to God and God wants you to have an abundant life,
full of love and purpose. You can know God's love and purpose
for your life when you understand and accept what the Bible
says about God, people, and Jesus Christ.
God's Love
"For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life" (The Bible - John
3:16).
God's Purpose
Jesus says, " I have
come that they may have life, and have it to the full " (The
Bible - John 10:10).
People's Problem
Most people
do not experience God's love and purpose for their lives. This
is because there is a great gap between God and people. People
have a sin problem that keeps them from closing the gap
between themselves and a holy God.
People sense their inadequacy and try to bridge the gap. They try to reach God through good deeds, going to church, and being a good person. But they cannot do it. No person can successfully deal with their sin problem. Even good deeds are contaminated with a concern for self that makes them unworthy in the eyes of God. This sin causes frustration, worry, emptiness, guilt, and it stands in the way of relationship with God.
"For all have sinned and
fall short of the glory of God" (The Bible - Romans
3:23).
"The wages of sin is death" (The Bible - Romans
6:23).
"All our righteous acts are as filthy rags" (The
Bible - Isaiah 64:6).
God's Solution
God has
provided a solution, the only way that this problem can be
solved. Jesus Christ through his perfect life and his death
and resurrection has bridged the gap between God and people.
"For Christ died for our sins once for all, the
righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (The Bible
- I Peter 3:18). "For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as
a ransom for all" (The Bible - I Timothy 2:5).
Jesus
said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me" (The Bible - John
14:6).
Crossing the Bridge
Come to
God and have a relationship with him by "crossing the
bridge."In other words, personally receive Jesus Christ as
your Savior and Lord. Tell God your are truly sorry for your
sin and want to change (repentance). Trust in Jesus alone to
make you right in God's eyes (faith). Welcome his Holy Spirit
to live in your heart and guide your life. You can do this by
praying a simple prayer.
This is a suggested prayer. If you pray this
prayer sincerely,
Jesus will become your Savior and Lord,
your bridge to God.
Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving me and for dying on the cross so that I can live an abundant life and become a child of God. I am a sinner. Please forgive me. Live in me by your Holy Spirit and be the leader of my life. On the basis of your promises in the Bible, I thank you for this new life. Amen.
Repentance
"If we confess our sins, God
is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify
us from all unrighteousness"
(The Bible -
1 John 1:9).
Faith
"Believe on
the Lord Jesus and you will be saved"
(The Bible - Acts
16:31).
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God"
(The Bible - Ephesians 2:8)
Life on God's Side
Now that you have crossed the
bridge through faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, you have
a new life in relationship with God. God enters your life
through the Holy Spirit to give you confidence of God's love
for you and the power to live the life God has called you to
live. Several things characterize this new life.
Read
your Bible every day.
Pray to God every day.
Join a Bible
believing church.
Serve others.
Tell others about
Jesus.
Obey God's directions for your life.
Trust God to
lead you.
Rejoice in God's gift.
The Christian Life
" But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control?
(The Bible - Galatians 5:22-23).
How to Contact Us:
You can reach us by e-mail at: Trinity United Reformed ChurchYou can e-mail our pastor at: Rev. Adrian Dieleman
You can e-mail our pastor at: Rev. Robert Godfrey