What I believe the Bible requires of us to become a Christian
Here I am posting yet another controversial topic. Yet this was something I was searching for before becoming a Christian. This was my problem with denominations. How do you become a Christian? Is it once saved, always saved (a topic of which I was considering discussing as well)? Or do you have to be baptized? What kind of baptism? Did I need to say anything special? So many people said sooooo many things. But I didn't know who was right. I thought surely the Bible tells us what is required, but I didn't know where to look. I firmly believe if you try to study the Bible on your own you will miss out on a lot. However, if you do decide to study the Bible on your own before making a decision about what you think is required, I encourage you to follow a Bible reading plan that is laid out in chronological order. I personally think that God didn't lay the plan of salvation out on one page all together because he wants people who are willing to work for it. I think that is one of the things Matthew 7:7-8 (. . . seek, and you will find. . .) is telling us. Seek the answers and you will find them.
Well that was definitely what I was doing when I walked in to my church last year on March 15. I was seeking the Truth, and I was blessed to find it, praise God. I will be honest, I don't remember exactly what the morning sermon was about (except that I just looked it up on our website, and it was about Love). But I do remember agreeing with everything that was said. Afterwards, our preacher came to talk to me, and asked me what I was looking for. I told him I wanted to be baptized! (I was pretty sure that was an important component of becoming a Christian because of multiple scriptures including Matthew 28:19--commissioning the 12 to make disciples of the nation; especially Mark 16:16--"he who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved"--Jesus' own words; Acts 2:38--"Repent, and each of you be baptized"; and many others). He invited me over for a Bible study and lunch, which I eagerly agreed to despite my natural shyness. So we went over straight from church and we studied a variety of things, what actually sticks out was the countless (ok, not literally countless, but there is a lot) verses that tell us not to add to or take away from God's word. It all made perfect sense to me. I mean it is all right there in the Bible. My preacher suggested we study once more before I get baptized and I reluctantly agreed. I was looking forward to the evening sermon though.
That night I do remember the topic (without looking at it :)). It was titled "What is a Christian." My preacher had decided to preach this sermon instead of his original sermon. Everything he preached was basically what we would have studied. Afterwards, my preacher asked if I wanted to be baptized still and I said, "Yes!" I was baptized. I distinctly remembered afterwards my preacher asking me if I felt like the Ethiopian eunuch, ready to go on my way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Unfortunately all I could do was nod. I was kind of in a mild state of shock and was processing the events that had occurred. My preacher and his wife were probably disappointed by my reaction, but little did they know my heart was soaring on the inside, I was so happy!
So now I am going to go over what I was taught that night (with the help of the slide show that he used--which I am looking at through the churches website--www.princestreet.org--the PM slide show on 3/15/2009--in case you would like to look too, you can also listen to his sermon).
We go over the plan of salvation after every service, during the invitation. I am sure the children can recite the supporting verses, I unfortunately have yet to memorize them, but me blogging about them will definitely help me learn them better.
The first step for a person to become a Christian is to hear the gospel--Romans 10:17--faith comes from what is heard. ... Hopefully when you hear these words they land in your heart, like a seed landing in nice nutrient rich dirt with plenty of moisture content, so that they can take root and grow into wonderful healthy plants(Matthew 13:3-23--the parable of the sower).
The second step is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God--John 8:24--Jesus flat out says that if you do not believe he is the Son of God you will die in your sins, there is no debating this. Also see Acts 8:37 (Phillip tells the eunuch he must believe) and 1 John 3:23 (we have been commanded to believe).
The third step is to repent of your sins--Acts 17:30--Paul tells us that God commands everyone to repent. This also is supported by Acts 2:38 (repent and be baptized), Mark 1:15 (repent and believe the gospel) and others.
The fourth step is to confess Jesus as Lord--Romans 10:9-10--if you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved. Again see Acts 8:37, this is what the eunuch does.
The fifth step is to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins--Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, and the others I listed earlier.
And finally, live faithfully until you die--Revelation 2:10--Jesus tells the church of Smyrna to be faithful unto death and He will give them the crown of life. This is opposed to the second death as described in Revelation 20:6,14.
I believe all of these steps are of equal importance. I believe that once we follow these steps we will be "in Christ."
I started to write more, but I have decided it goes in a new blog. It is your lucky day! Two posts at once :P
Well that was definitely what I was doing when I walked in to my church last year on March 15. I was seeking the Truth, and I was blessed to find it, praise God. I will be honest, I don't remember exactly what the morning sermon was about (except that I just looked it up on our website, and it was about Love). But I do remember agreeing with everything that was said. Afterwards, our preacher came to talk to me, and asked me what I was looking for. I told him I wanted to be baptized! (I was pretty sure that was an important component of becoming a Christian because of multiple scriptures including Matthew 28:19--commissioning the 12 to make disciples of the nation; especially Mark 16:16--"he who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved"--Jesus' own words; Acts 2:38--"Repent, and each of you be baptized"; and many others). He invited me over for a Bible study and lunch, which I eagerly agreed to despite my natural shyness. So we went over straight from church and we studied a variety of things, what actually sticks out was the countless (ok, not literally countless, but there is a lot) verses that tell us not to add to or take away from God's word. It all made perfect sense to me. I mean it is all right there in the Bible. My preacher suggested we study once more before I get baptized and I reluctantly agreed. I was looking forward to the evening sermon though.
That night I do remember the topic (without looking at it :)). It was titled "What is a Christian." My preacher had decided to preach this sermon instead of his original sermon. Everything he preached was basically what we would have studied. Afterwards, my preacher asked if I wanted to be baptized still and I said, "Yes!" I was baptized. I distinctly remembered afterwards my preacher asking me if I felt like the Ethiopian eunuch, ready to go on my way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Unfortunately all I could do was nod. I was kind of in a mild state of shock and was processing the events that had occurred. My preacher and his wife were probably disappointed by my reaction, but little did they know my heart was soaring on the inside, I was so happy!
So now I am going to go over what I was taught that night (with the help of the slide show that he used--which I am looking at through the churches website--www.princestreet.org--the PM slide show on 3/15/2009--in case you would like to look too, you can also listen to his sermon).
We go over the plan of salvation after every service, during the invitation. I am sure the children can recite the supporting verses, I unfortunately have yet to memorize them, but me blogging about them will definitely help me learn them better.
The first step for a person to become a Christian is to hear the gospel--Romans 10:17--faith comes from what is heard. ... Hopefully when you hear these words they land in your heart, like a seed landing in nice nutrient rich dirt with plenty of moisture content, so that they can take root and grow into wonderful healthy plants(Matthew 13:3-23--the parable of the sower).
The second step is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God--John 8:24--Jesus flat out says that if you do not believe he is the Son of God you will die in your sins, there is no debating this. Also see Acts 8:37 (Phillip tells the eunuch he must believe) and 1 John 3:23 (we have been commanded to believe).
The third step is to repent of your sins--Acts 17:30--Paul tells us that God commands everyone to repent. This also is supported by Acts 2:38 (repent and be baptized), Mark 1:15 (repent and believe the gospel) and others.
The fourth step is to confess Jesus as Lord--Romans 10:9-10--if you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth you will be saved. Again see Acts 8:37, this is what the eunuch does.
The fifth step is to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins--Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, and the others I listed earlier.
And finally, live faithfully until you die--Revelation 2:10--Jesus tells the church of Smyrna to be faithful unto death and He will give them the crown of life. This is opposed to the second death as described in Revelation 20:6,14.
I believe all of these steps are of equal importance. I believe that once we follow these steps we will be "in Christ."
I started to write more, but I have decided it goes in a new blog. It is your lucky day! Two posts at once :P
Labels: baptism, biblical authority, salvation
Posted by: Nichole | 8:44 PM
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