How do I become a Christian? How may I be saved?
Jesus died for our sins, he rose from the grave. God is holy, perfect in every way. We are not. We have all done wrong things. The only way for us to be made right with God is by believing in Jesus. Jesus, who was and is God came to earth in the form of a baby and grew up fully man but still fully God. He died on the cross to pay for our sins. By believing in Jesus as Savior we are born again, we become children of God.
Our new birth and life in Jesus is a gift from God. There is nothing we can add to what Jesus has already done. To be born again you must put your faith in (trust, believe in Jesus as your Savior) and you will be saved.
As soon as we can we need to confess to the world that we have been born again in Jesus by submitting to Holy Baptism. The baptism does not save us nor does it add anything to our salvation. It is an act of obedience where all can see that we are publicly declaring what first took place in our hearts when we trusted in Jesus as our Savior and were born again.
Why should I become a Christian?
Jesus Christ declared that He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). The question then arises – why did we need to be ransomed? The idea of a ransom is a payment that must be made in exchange for the release of a person. The idea of a ransom is most frequently used in instances of kidnapping, when someone is kidnapped and held prisoner until a ransom is paid for the person’s release. Jesus paid our ransom to free us from bondage! Bondage from what? Bondage to sin and its consequences, physical death followed by eternal separation from God. Why did Jesus need to pay this ransom? Because we are all infected with sin (Romans 3:23), and are therefore worthy of judgment from God (Romans 6:23). How did Jesus pay our ransom? By dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21). How could Jesus’ death sufficiently pay for all of our sins? Jesus was God in human form, God come to earth to become one of us so He could identify with us and die for our sins (John 1:1,14). As God, Jesus’ death was infinite in value, sufficient to pay for the sins of the entire world (1 John 2:2). Jesus’ resurrection after His death demonstrated that His death was the sufficient sacrifice, that He had truly conquered sin and death.
How can I become a Christian?
This is the best part. Because of His love for us, God has made it exceedingly simple to become a Christian. All you have to do is receive Jesus as your Savior, fully accepting His death as the sufficient sacrifice for your sins (John 3:16), fully trusting Him alone as your Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Becoming a Christian is not all about rituals, going to church, or doing certain things while refraining from other things. Becoming a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ, through faith, is what makes a person a Christian.
Are you ready to become a Christian?
If you are ready to become a Christian by receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, all you have to do is believe. Do you understand and believe that you have sinned and are worthy of judgment from God? Do you understand and believe that Jesus took your punishment upon Himself, dying in your place? Do you understand and believe that His death was the sufficient sacrifice to pay for your sins? Jesus then rose from the grave on the third day and is alive forever more. If your answers to these questions are yes, then simply place your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Receive Him, by faith, fully trusting in Him alone. That is all it takes to become a Christian!
Have you made a decision to become a Christian because of what you have read here? If so, please click on the “I have accepted Christ today” button below. While you become a Christian by faith, the story does not end there. Please read our “Questions about the Christian Life” section for the next “steps” you should take after you become a Christian.
Please use the question form on our Bible Questions Answered page if you have any questions.
A way I like to express the scriptures above which is completely true to those scriptures is this;
Salvation is by grace alone (grace is a gift)
Through faith alone (believing in Jesus as Savior)
In Jesus Christ alone.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, ESV)
Jesus says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6