How to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ
Have you ever wondered what people mean by those seemingly clever "buzzwords" that we all hear so often? Words like: "born again Christian" or "saved Christian". Did you want to ask what was meant by those words but you did not want to look foolish, uninformed or "out of the loop"? Well, you've come to the right place! Right now you can have some of your questions answered and if you still have more questions you can reach someone who who will answer the rest.
What do you think of when you go to a public event and you see people carrying those "John 3:16" signs? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Did you want to know more? John 3:17 continues,"For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him." This is the origin of the term "saved Christian". When people come to a personal faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son that came down from heaven to save man from his sins. They are then able to be called "Christians" or followers of Christ. When people ask the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Savior things begin to change in their lives... for the better!
Christians desire to live a life that is pleasing to God. They begin to turn away from the things of this world and begin to turn their focus on their home in heaven. They have become citizens of God's Kingdom and they have eternal life. Because of the realization that they now have the key to the meaning of life, they want to share this with others.
Imagine the best thing possible happening to you. You would, probably, want to share that with people. Well, salvation is like that magnified a hundred fold.
We would like to show you how you can become a Christian and have eternal life. How you can understand God's purpose and find real meaning to your life. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans 6:23).
We already know from John 3:16, that God sent His Son Jesus so that we can have eternal life. This is a free gift from God that we receive when we acknowledge in our hearts that we believe in God's Son Jesus.
We cannot earn this gift. Nothing that we can do, no work, or helpfulness is enough. Being a "good" person won't be enough either. It takes belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who lived, and died on the cross at Calvary... for every one of us.
Once you ask Jesus to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior no one can ever take your salvation away from you...not even yourself. "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, discount hotels in Katowicewhich is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) This means you will spend eternity with Jesus in heaven! "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3)
We are all sinners, by nature, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) We cannot save ourselves, we need a Savior, Jesus Christ is that Savior "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not by yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. " (John 14:6) God loves us so much that He has provided a way for us to have our sins forgiven. He provided His Son Jesus. Jesus is GodERROR MSG and yet He became man to save us. "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14)
Jesus died for us on the Cross, "For Christ also suffered for our sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus was resurrected from the dead. "But now Christ is risen from the dead..." (1 Corinthians 15:20) "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
Now the Choice is yours!
In order to receive ERROR MSGJesus as your Lord and Savior you must first acknowledge in your heart that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. This repentance simply means that you want to turn away from a life of sin. The only way that this can be done is through the power of our risen Savior.
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,.." (Acts 3:19)
We have to believe in the things we don't see. In other words, we must have faith. We must trust in Jesus Christ. This means you have to be willing to surrender your heart to Jesus so that He can be the Lord of your life. Not just saying that you give your life to Him but praying in your heart
that you will give all control of your life to Him. "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, voyage a Torquaybut he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness and with mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
If you have prayed these prayers in your heart you are now a Christian.
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."(Matthew 10:32-33)
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;..." (Acts 2:41)
Congratulations...and welcome to the family!
You have just made the most important decision of your life. You can now know that you have eternal life! God has recorded your name in the ERROR MSGLambs Book of Life.
"Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven". (Luke 10:20)
Your new life in Christ needs to be nurtured. The church is where that nurturing needs to take place. As a new Christian one of the next steps in beginning your growth(sanctification) is baptism.
Proclaim your new life in Christ publicly.
Remember to attend a local Christian church and share with another Christian that you recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. We inherited a sin nature by physical birth and a new Spiritual nature from the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. By going to church and having fellowship with other Christians you will be feeding your new nature. Which ever nature you feed most will be the one most in control. You've given control of your life to Jesus Christ...don't take that control back.
Read Your Bible daily.
Pray without ceasing.
It is helpful to keep a journal of your prayer requests and how they were answered (Remember, sometimes the answer is no or maybe). Know that your brothers and sisters in Christ love and care for you. Don't be afraid to call on them, but remember to solely
lean on Jesus.
