HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

Friend, one of the reasons Grace Chapel exists is to be a witness to the glory and praise of the salvation work of Jesus Christ. The truths expressed in being a Christian are eternally profound, yet simple in their proclamation.

You see, God in Christ created and continues to sustain all things, including you and me. We are His by creation, and He maintains creative rights over each and every one of us. (Gen. 1 ,2; Col. 1:16,17). Man was created to worship Him and to experience fellowship with Him as well as enjoy a relationship with the rest of His creation. Out of no obligation to anyone, but because of His loving-kindness, He called man into being out of nothing (Isa. 45:12; Heb.11:1, 2), and created male and female to live together under the pleasant authority of God.

But according to the Bible, worship, fellowship, and relationship with God was horribly marred by sin when disobedience and rebellion against God was introduced by the first man and woman, Adam and Eve (Gen 3). God has ordained that as Adam’s offspring, we are counted in him, at birth, as being disobedient rebels against God (Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Isa. 48:8; Rom. 3:10-12, 23; Rom. 5:12,19). Scripture calls this condition as being "lost" in sin (Luke 19:10), under the wrath of God (Jn. 3:36; Eph.2:3), condemned (Jn. 3:18, 5:24) and deserving eternal punishment (Matt. 25:31-46). Making matters worse, we are not only sinners by birth, but by choice (Rom. 1:18, 28-32; 2:12- 16). Scripture tells us that all have sinned and the result of that is physical and spiritual death forever (Rom.3:23; 6:23).

But there is a remedy. You and I can have hope. Because of who Jesus Christ is, we do not have to suffer eternally. We can have everlasting life with God in Heaven instead of a place in Hell. Christ, who is God come to earth (Luke 1, 2; Jn. 1:14), was perfect in every way. From His birth until He returned to His Father, He lived a totally sinless life as a man. He faced temptation, experienced grief, heartache, loneliness and abandonment, all without sinning (II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; I Pet. 2:22; I Jn. 3:5). He did so in order to present Himself a perfect sacrifice to His Father. As that sacrifice, He willingly died on the cross to be a substitute for sinners as His Father poured out an eternity of wrath on Him. He died on that cross to pay the price that would redeem sinners for God, but He did not remain dead. The Bible teaches us that He powerfully rose from the grave after three days and gives resurrection life to those who trust in Him. (Rom. 5:8, 19; II Cor. 5:21; Phil. 2:8; I Pet. 2:24; 3:18).

How does God want you to respond to this message? By believing in Him and receiving Him as the Savior and Lord of your life. He commands that you confess your sins to Him, turning away from them in repentant faith to live for and serve Him with all of your life. Believing that He died on the cross to pay for all of your sin forever, will you bow before Him, seeking His forgiveness and purposing in your heart to stop trusting in what you think you can do to gain heaven, and trust only in Him for eternal life? (Jn. 1:12; Rom. 10:9,10; Prov. 28:13; Acts 3:19,17:30; I Thess. 1:9). He promises to give you new life in Him (Jn. 5:24; 6:37; 10:10; 14:6; I Cor. 15:1-23).