There are a lot of misdirected and false conceptions as what a true Christian is.  This teaching is to explain what the Bible actually teaches us on this subject and being Saved.

To begin you must ask yourself a few questions:

Who is Jesus?

  • John 1 In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made……………….14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  • Hebrews 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe…………After he (Jesus) had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
  • Jesus is God come to earth, fully man and fully God.

Knowing and accepting this, how do you get to Heaven? 

  • John 3.3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
  • John 14.6 Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
  • Matthew 7.13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (Hell), and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life (Heaven), and only a few find it.
  • It is only thru Jesus can one gain eternal life in Heaven.

How can I be Born Again?

  • By Becoming “Poor in Spirit” realizing you can not achieve it on your own and that you need a Savior, who is Jesus.   Become humble, drop your ego, respect others, etc.
  • By Faith, believe that thru the Blood of Jesus on the Cross your sins have been forgiven – past, present, and future.
  • Believe the Gospel.  Paul reminds us in 1Corinthians 15:1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 
  • Repent of your sins: Luke 24.46   “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations……..
  • Acts 2:38 Peter says: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 
  • Obey Jesus: John 14.15 “If you love me, keep my commands”. 

What happens when I am Born Again?

  • You become a son of God and gain eternal life in Heaven.
  • John 1.12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children (sons) of God.
  • God no longer counts your sins against you – Past, present, and future.
  • The Holy Spirit will come in and live in you – changing you from the inside.  Only a true lifetime repentance and change comes from the Heart through the Holy Spirit.
  • You are baptized by the Holy Spirit when you become Born Again and He comes to live in you as a helper/comforter and as a down payment and guarantee of your Eternal destination, Heaven.
  • Paul writes: Eph 1:13-14  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption (Death or Rapture) of those who are God’s possession (those Born Again)—to the praise of his glory.
  • You will gain a desire to know the Word of God, the Bible. You will enjoy studying the Bible.
  • You will want to start to Pray to God daily and ask Him for help becoming more Christ-like day by day: To take away your worldly desires, addictions, and other sin in your life.  The everyday things of the World do not seem as exciting as they once did.
  • You will start to have a desire to hang around other Christians and not your old worldly friends that will pull and tear you down.  They will not like the “new you” and will be convicted by you.
  • You may start to be persecuted for following Jesus, but that is good and to be expected if you are really following Jesus, changing, and sharing the Gospel. It will become a Joy knowing you are in God’s hands. Rejoice you are counted worthy to be persecuted for Jesus namesake. (See Matthew 5:10-12)
  • You will start to love what God loves and hate what God hates. You ask God to see the World as He sees it, not as other men do.
  • You begin to look forward to Jesus return (The Rapture and the 2nd Coming) and spending eternity with Him instead of being in this World.   

The Bottom line:

  • None of us know the day/hour we will die– and you will never lose consciousness (Luke 16-19).
  • Once we die it is too late to choose where you will end up forever: Heaven or the default in Hell.
  • Becoming a true Christian and coming to Jesus is a lifestyle change and not just some words from your lips.  God knows your heart and if you are serious about Him – and He wants the best for you.

Don’t Believe Satan’s lies:

  • He will try to make you believe he does not exist.
  • He will try to tell you that you do not need God since he wants to take you with him to Hell.
  • He will try to tell you all roads and religions lead to Heaven, when Faith in Jesus in the only way!
  • He will try to tell you that you must fix/heal yourself before you can come to God, when the truth is just opposite – you need to come to Jesus before you can be truly healed.
  • He will try to tell you that you are better than the next guy, so you are ok.
  • He will try to tell you to wait to later to come Jesus and that you do not need to do it now.

Don’t forget: If you become a Christian the world will be the worst place you will ever live and if you reject Christ, the world will be the best place you ever live.

If you have come to the end of yourself and finally realize it is only thru God that can you change your life, then maybe your heart is ready to accept Jesus and what He completed for you on the Cross.  You might want to get alone with God and Pray this from your heart or Pray with other brothers in Christ, if comfortable.

“Heavenly Father, I have come to the end of myself.  I know I am a sinner and want to truly repent.  I want to accept what Jesus did on the Cross, taking the punishment I deserve for my sins so I can be reconciled to you Father God.    I want to have a relationship with you Father God and live my life for Your Glory.  I want to be adopted in as a son of God and desire to receive the Holy Spirit within me to change my heart from the inside and guide me thru-out the rest of my life.    I humbly come before you in repentance and ask You to take hold of my life and give me a hunger for the things of you Father.    I pray this in the name of my new Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Bill 2023