{"id":167,"date":"2021-01-10T17:19:50","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T23:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/155.138.194.228\/?page_id=167"},"modified":"2021-01-10T18:07:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T00:07:05","slug":"how-to-become-a-christian","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/?page_id=167","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Christian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Action required of an individual in order to become a Child of God.<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">&#8211;&nbsp;Look around and you will find people telling you a variety of things that you are required to do to become a Child of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Since God will be our eternal judge, it is what God says through His Word that is important, as we look for an answer to the requirements to become recognized (by God) as one of His children.<\/li><li>I hope you will open your Bible and study each of these passages.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-Perhaps we should first establish that there is something for you to do, if you desire salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Some of those listening to Peter speak, asked: \u201c<em>Brethren, what shall we do?<\/em>\u201d Acts 2:37<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>When Christ appeared to Saul, Saul asked, \u201c<em>What shall I do, Lord?<\/em>\u201dActs 22:10<\/li><li>After the Philippian jailer narrowly escaped death, he asked Paul and Silas, \u201c<em>Sirs, what must I do to be saved?<\/em>\u201dActs 16:30<\/li><li>Christ died for all mankind, Titus 2:11, but this does not mean that all will be saved. Matthew 7:21-23<\/li><li>Jesus spoke of two ways which men travel: a narrow way \u201c<em>that leads to life<\/em>\u201d and a broad way \u201c<em>that leads to destruction<\/em>\u201d.He emphasized that \u201c<em>many<\/em>\u201d are on the broad way and \u201cfew\u201d are on the narrow way.Matthew 7:13,14<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Salvation is a gift, but a gift can be accepted or rejected.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Each individual decides whether to accept God\u2019s gift of grace or to reject it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Jesus\u2019 statement in Matthew 7 declares that more will reject God\u2019s gift than accept it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-How can we accept the gift of salvation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>The author of the book of Hebrews wrote, concerning Jesus, that \u201c<em>He became, to all those who obey Him, the source of eternal salvation<\/em>\u201d.Hebrews 5:9<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Thus, we are required to accept His Word or His commandments through obedient faith.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Does this mean that, by man having something to do in order for God\u2019s salvation to be given, salvation is no longer by grace?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>We must clearly understand that our obedience does not&nbsp;earn&nbsp;our salvation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Rather, by being obedient, we make it possible for God to give that salvation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-What is involved in our response of faith and obedience in accepting God\u2019s gift of salvation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Jesus instructed His followers to: \u201c<em>Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.  He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved.<\/em>\u201d Mark 16:15,16<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Paul said that \u201c<em>faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ\u201d.<\/em> Romans 10:17<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Paul said that the Gospel is \u201c<em>the power of God to salvation\u201d<\/em>. Romans 1:16<\/li><li>Movement towards salvation begins with learning about Jesus and His Way.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-Once one begins to know about God and His will, that individual is required to have faith or believe in the message of salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Jesus said that \u201c<em>God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever&nbsp;<u>believes<\/u>&nbsp;in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.\u201d<\/em>John 3:16<\/li><li>Acts 16:31, Romans 5:1, and Ephesians 2:8,9 are among the many passages which teach that faith is a necessary ingredient in the salvation process.<\/li><li>\u201cBelief\u201d and \u201cfaith\u201d mean the same thing, being two different words in many translations of the Bible but both having been translated from the same Greek word.<\/li><li>To be saved, we must stop trusting in our own goodness and start trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.<\/li><li>Faith is the foundation of every other positive response to the Lord.<\/li><li>Faith is the beginning, not the end, of our response.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>James wrote: \u201c<em>Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.\u201d<\/em> James 2:24<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-Once one knows what he needs to do by hearing the message of salvation and believing what God\u2019s Word says, then one is required to repent of his sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Jesus said, \u201c<em>Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish\u201d.<\/em> Luke 13:3<\/li><li>Peter told his listeners, \u201c<em>Repent, and each of you be baptized\u201d.<\/em>Acts 2:38<\/li><li>Paul said, \u201c<em>God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent\u201d.<\/em> Acts 17:30<\/li><li>What exactly is repentance?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Some think of repentance as sorrow for sin.-Others think of it as a change of life.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>When a man truly repents, he will be sorry that he has sinned, and his life will be changed.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">\u00b7Paul says that repentance stands between these two actions.2 Corinthians 7:10 \u201c<em>the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance \u2026 leading to salvation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>A change of life is the result of repentance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>The Greek word translated \u201crepent\u201d literally means \u201cto have a new mind\u201d.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>When applied to people, repentance is a change of mind concerning sin.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>True repentance will always have an effect on a person\u2019s life.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>It will not produce a perfect life, because no one is perfect (other than Jesus \u2013 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22); but it will change the life for the better, one striving to become Christ-like.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>If there is no change of life, there probably was no repentance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Some believe repentance to be the hardest part of the conversion process because, for most, it calls for a significant change in lifestyle.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-Another way that faith in Jesus expresses itself is by the confession of that faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The close relationship between faith and confession can be seen in Romans 10:9,10.\u201c<em>If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.<\/em>\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If we want to be saved, we must confess Jesus as Lord. Jesus said: \u201c<em>Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.\u201d<\/em>Matthew 10:32,33<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>-What does it mean to confess Jesus as Lord?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>It is a confession of faith in Jesus, not a confession of sins.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>It is a confession with the mouth.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>It is a confession before others.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>One confession of faith is found in Matthew 16.Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was.Peter answered, \u201c<em>You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.<\/em>\u201d Matthew 16:16<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Confession is to be made before baptism. Mark 16:16<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">-Obedience in becoming a Child of God ends in baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Baptism is a necessary action required before one will be given salvation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>The Apostle Paul, in telling about his conversion, says that he was told that he needed to \u201c<em>be baptized to wash away his sins\u201d.<\/em> Acts 22:16<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">\u00b7In other words, his sins were not washed away prior to his being baptized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>We are told, in the story of the Philippian jailer, that, after asking what he must do to be saved, that he was told that he needed to believe. Acts 16:31<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">\u00b7Believing in what he had been taught was necessary before he would be willing to take any further actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">\u00b7In Acts 16:33, we are told that \u201c<em>immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>On the day of Pentecost, Peter instructed those gathered before him to \u201c<em>Repent each of you and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.<\/em>\u201d Acts 2:38<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">\u00b7Continuing in Acts 2:41, we are told: \u201c<em>So then, those who had received his word were baptized: and that day there were added about three thousand souls.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Peter wrote: \u201c<em>God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through the water.  Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you.\u201d<\/em> 1 Peter 3:20,21<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Baptism involves immersion in water.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>I would urge you to read the book of Acts.  Many call it the Book of Conversions.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Every example, where we are given the details of the baptism process, involved immersion in water.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>History bears out that for hundreds of years after the establishment of the New Testament Church, in the first century, baptism was by immersion.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>It has been only in later years that man has deviated from that practice.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>The English word \u201cbaptism\u201d is translated from a Greek word which literally means \u201cimmersion\u201d.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>As we study the scriptures, we find that in order to be given salvation by God, we must believe, repent, confess, and finalize our obedience process by immersion in baptism.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color wp-block-list\"><li>Those actions are required after hearing what God\u2019s Word teaches.\u201c<em>So, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ<\/em>.\u201d Romans 10:17<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Won&#8217;t you hear and obey what God\u2019s Word teaches?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\">Contact a congregation of the Lord\u2019s Church, the Church of Christ, for further study from God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color\"><em>Charles Hardison \u2013 Cornersville Church of Christ<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Action required of an individual in order to become a Child of God. &#8211;&nbsp;Look around and you will find people telling you a variety of things that you are required to do to become a Child of God. Since God will be our eternal judge, it is what God says through His Word that is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-167","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=167"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":211,"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/167\/revisions\/211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethel-coc.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}