Many people claim to be a Christian. Some say they are one because they were born into a Christian family or a Christian nation. Others say that their parents had them baptized as an infant and are, therefore, Christian. Others say that they are Christian because they joined the Church, they sung in the choir, or asked Jesus to save them because that was expected of them. Yet others say that they are Christian because they asked Jesus to save them after they realized in their heart that they were sinners, that Jesus died for them, and He was the way to eternal life.
Are all these methods legitimate pathways to becoming a Christian?
The answer is "No" according to the Word of God.
After Jesus observed the passover with His disciples before He was to be crucified, He prayed for them and for those who would believe on Him through their word. He prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)
The Word of God establishes what truth is.
The Word of God in John 1:12-13 says
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We see from verse 13 that a person cannot become a child of God or be born- again by
1) being born into a Christian family (of blood)
2) by deciding on his own to be saved without God convicting his heart of his need for salvation (will of the flesh)
oo examples:
-- person gives mental assent to the teachings of the Church
-- non-believer marries a believer and decides to get saved for family unity
-- person affirms a belief that was bestowed on him through infantile baptism
-- person decides for Jesus because that is what is expected of him
3) parents deciding for them (will of man)
oo example - infantile baptism
To become a child of God (a Christian) according to verse 12 you must believe on and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. This belief is not a head belief but a heart belief.
Romans 10:9-10 says
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Man's heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). He does not know that he is a sinner. It takes God revealing to man's heart that he is a sinner.
Man's heart does not know that he is accountable to God, and will be judged for his sins, and punished by being sentenced to eternal torment (sent to hell) because of them. His heart does not know that God loves him, wants to forgive him, and to give him eternal life with Him. His heart does not know that God had His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take God's judgement for his sins so he would not have to be judged for them. His heart does not know that God gave Jesus victory over sin and death by raising Him from the dead. All this takes God revealing to his heart these truths.
It takes God revealing to man's heart that he is a sinner, in need of a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ.
If God is dealing with you heart that you are not a child of God, and you want to be, then I encourage you to go to God in prayer and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, come live in your heart, and be the Lord of your life.
If you are wondering if you are saved or not, then go to God in prayer and ask Him if your are.
Are all these methods legitimate pathways to becoming a Christian?
The answer is "No" according to the Word of God.
After Jesus observed the passover with His disciples before He was to be crucified, He prayed for them and for those who would believe on Him through their word. He prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17)
The Word of God establishes what truth is.
The Word of God in John 1:12-13 says
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We see from verse 13 that a person cannot become a child of God or be born- again by
1) being born into a Christian family (of blood)
2) by deciding on his own to be saved without God convicting his heart of his need for salvation (will of the flesh)
oo examples:
-- person gives mental assent to the teachings of the Church
-- non-believer marries a believer and decides to get saved for family unity
-- person affirms a belief that was bestowed on him through infantile baptism
-- person decides for Jesus because that is what is expected of him
3) parents deciding for them (will of man)
oo example - infantile baptism
To become a child of God (a Christian) according to verse 12 you must believe on and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. This belief is not a head belief but a heart belief.
Romans 10:9-10 says
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Man's heart is deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). He does not know that he is a sinner. It takes God revealing to man's heart that he is a sinner.
Man's heart does not know that he is accountable to God, and will be judged for his sins, and punished by being sentenced to eternal torment (sent to hell) because of them. His heart does not know that God loves him, wants to forgive him, and to give him eternal life with Him. His heart does not know that God had His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to take God's judgement for his sins so he would not have to be judged for them. His heart does not know that God gave Jesus victory over sin and death by raising Him from the dead. All this takes God revealing to his heart these truths.
It takes God revealing to man's heart that he is a sinner, in need of a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ.
If God is dealing with you heart that you are not a child of God, and you want to be, then I encourage you to go to God in prayer and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, come live in your heart, and be the Lord of your life.
If you are wondering if you are saved or not, then go to God in prayer and ask Him if your are.
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