How To Become A Child Of God / CHRISTIAN
... or how to get saved from this wicked world!
Q: What does it mean SAVED?
Q: Saved from what?
A: It means to be rescued from God's judgement against sin and eternal punishment (separation from God) and restored back into RIGHT STANDING with God through Jesus Christ as a SON or DAUGHTER of GOD!
The Reality Of Life
All human beings are born with PURE hearts but LEARN sinful desires from those around them. From birth natural inclinations are pure and innocent and not set against God's authority. Humans are NOT born EVIL but because of the CORRUPT condition of this CREATION they LEARN to REBEL and do EVIL from others as they are growing up.
Adam and Eve, the first human parents sold humanity into SLAVERY by relinquishing the AUTHORITY and DOMINION over the Earth that the creator GOD had given to them. They handed their authority over to Satan, a powerful angel that had been thrown out of heaven for rebelling against GOD and who DECEIVED them into DISOBEYING GOD just as he had done.
The result of this act destroyed the purity and perfection of creation and corrupted everything, separating man from GOD. Since this first act of REBELLION against GOD, evil has proliferated on the face of the Earth resulting in the bloody 6000 year horror of "empire" building that we know as history.
Humanity is separated from God by SIN!
Humans need a REGENERATED nature which only God can give!
Romans 3:23
for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because ALL sinned--
What must a person do to be saved from eternal separation from God?
The Bible is clear:
Acts 16:30-31
Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Jesus Christ is the only solution to the problem of sin and the ONLY way to salvation.
John 14: 5-7
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well.
Jesus Christ is the ONLY way; there is NO other way, he said so himself.
All other religions and spiritual paths (Pantheism) are demonic, i.e.. inspired by Satan (the deceiver) and lead to deception, separation from God and finally eternal destruction.
Jesus gave a very strong warning:
Matthew 7: 13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.…
Q: Why Jesus Christ?
A: He is the sinless lamb of God who paid the ransom for sin!
1 Peter 2: 21-23
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.…
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God’s perfect solution to the SIN problem. OUR redemption and restoration to LIFE could only be BOUGHT with a BLOOD sacrifice. A PERFECT sacrifice. A life for a life. Jesus Christ who is GOD became a MAN and DIED on the cross for all humanity so that all who BELIEVED in him across the ages until the end of time could be SAVED.
Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin for all mankind in full. He was crucified and rose from the dead 3 days later and then was witnessed by 500 followers over 40 days before ascending bodily into heaven in full view of at least a dozen witnesses and is now seated in heaven waiting to return and establish his kingdom on the Earth with his people (church) at the end of this age.
Steps to Salvation
1) COUNT THE COST first; of dying to your old life and receiving the NEW LIFE that God will give you in his son Jesus Christ BEFORE starting - there is NO turning back to the world, its filth and IDOLATRY where every person has made themselves into their OWN god, indulging in their own lusts and desires!
2) Turn to God and away from all sin. (this is called repentance)
3) Believe in Jesus Christ; his death on the cross, his bodily resurrection from the dead and his blood that was shed for your sins and that of all mankind.
4) Ask God to forgive your sins and then fully submit your life to him. Then FORGIVE completely, from your heart any person who has ever hurt you!
5) Get baptised by full immersion in water as soon as possible.
6) Ask God for his Holy Spirit ( Baptism in the Holy Spirit) with the evidence of speaking in a new prayer language (tongue,) (pray earnestly and WAIT until you receive from God.) This is the POWER of God that "sanctifies" your life.
7) Read the Bible and pray regularly making Jesus Christ the centre of your life. God is faithful and will help you and keep you through any difficulty you may face in your life.
8) If you can, find a group of true believers to worship and grow together with as a church.
9) Begin sharing your faith in Jesus Christ with all those who will listen.
10) Walk in HOLINESS (purity of thought, word and deed) forsaking and ceasing ALL SIN, building your relationship in OBEDIENCE toward God until the end.
Once you have REPENTED of your PAST SINS, God will set you free of all guilt, condemnation, fear and every vile habit as your mind and spirit are regenerated and you are BORN AGAIN as a NEW CREATURE in CHRIST!
The Bible says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17
and
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" 1 Corinthians 6:19
and
"And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is among them forever." Ezekiel 37:26-28
The Biblical Pattern Of Salvation In ACTS - The Early Church
Repentance - Baptism in Water & the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19
Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:15-17
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:38
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 9: 17-18
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou came hath sent me, that thou might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Acts 10: 44 - 48
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Acts 16:30-33
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:
Acts 19:5-6
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:20
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
Salvation is found in none other than Jesus Christ!
Acts 4:12
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."