Becoming a Christian
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
Romans 1:16-17(ESV) 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
God, in His infinite holiness, because of His great love, has provided the only means by which sinful humanity may be forgiven of sin and reconciled to Him. Jesus Christ left the glories of Heaven and humbled Himself and dwelt among men. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, and died on a cross, appeasing the wrath of God and atoning for the sin of all who believe. He was raised to new life, triumphing over the power of death, ascended to the Father and now is the mediator for sinful man. He rules and reigns as Lord of His spiritual Kingdom, and will return for His children in bodily form. He is the only hope for sinful humanity who must come to Him through turning from sin and putting their faith in His finished work on the cross.
THE WAY OF SALVATION
1. REALIZE: Sin separates mankind from Holy God, and we are dead in our sins, deserving His wrath and judgment.
A. Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
B. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. UNDERSTAND: You cannot gain eternal life by anything you do on your own. Eternal life is a gift of God's sovereign grace. It is regeneration of our spirit/soul by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A. Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
B. John 1:12-13 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (13) who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
C. John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
D. John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."
E. John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
F. Romans 3:10-11, “10 As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; 11There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.’”
G. Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
H. Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
I. Titus 3:5 ESV He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
3. REPENT: Turn from your sin and turn to God by faith. You must be truly sorry for your sins and desire to turn from them in faith to the Lord Jesus, asking Him for forgiveness, believing that He is Lord and Master and the only way to be saved. God grants the gift of repentance.
A.Luke 5:32, Jesus said, 'I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'
B. 2 Corinthians 7:10, 'For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.'
C. 2 Peter 3:9, 'The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.'
4. BELIEVE: God provided the only means of forgiveness through Christ’s death on a cross and resurrection to life. Believing in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is more than a mental assent to His being, it is a complete trust in the finished work of the cross and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
B. John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
C. Romans 10:9-13, “9 that 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. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
5. LIVE FOR CHRIST: Truly turning from your sin to Christ by faith is marked by full surrender to His Lordship. A person who is headed to Heaven is One who wants to live for Him on earth.
A. Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
B. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.