How do I become a follower of Christ?

Becoming a Christ follower is the most important step you will ever take in your life and yet it is so simple to do. We invite you to follow this path to become a Christ follower.

Just as there are physical laws that govern the universe, there are spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God.

First you must realize that God loves you.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God has a wonderful plan for your life.

John 10:10

… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Unless you are a Christian you may not be experiencing this abundant life because man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life.

Rom 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Man was created by God to have fellowship with God. But because of man’s stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is what the Bible calls sin. This sin separates us from a Holy God who cannot look on sin.

Rom 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; (Spiritual separation from God)

So there is a great gulf between God and sinful man that man has tried to cross through his own efforts, such as trying to lead a good life, philosophy or religions. But man cannot reach God by way of his own efforts. So God out of His great love for us and His great desire to fellowship with man provided a way. He paid the price for man’s sin by sending His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and pay the price for all of mankind’s sin.

Rom 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Christ died on the cross and was sentenced to hell by God himself and for three days paid the price for our sin. But when the price was paid He rose from the dead.

1Cor 15:3-6

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…

So Jesus paid the price for our sin and He is the only way to God.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We have but one thing to do: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as our savior and lord.

John 1:12

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:

How do we receive Him? Through faith.

Eph 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

When we receive Christ we experience a new birth.

John 3:1-8

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. We receive Jesus Christ by faith as an act of the will.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Prayer is just talking to God. He is not so much concerned about our words as our heart. Here is a suggested prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I need You. I thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.”

If you prayed that prayer Christ has come into your life! You have the promise of God’s word that it is so. We are not to depend on our feelings. Feelings are not reliable. We are to live by faith (trust) in the absolute trustworthiness of God Himself and His word.

If you received Christ by faith several things happened:

1. Christ came into your life.

2. Your sins are forgiven.

3. You became a child of God.

4. You received eternal life.

5. You began the great adventure for which God created you.

Now that you have received Christ by faith you should tell someone.

Rom 10:10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Simply tell someone that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You can tell a friend, a relative, another Christ follower. You can tell us (see Contact Us).

Now that you have become a follower of Christ you should seek out the fellowship of a good church. We invite you to join us at Harvest Church where you will find other Christ followers that are eager to help you in your new walk with God.

2Cor 9:15

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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Adapted from: Have You Heard Of The Four Spiritual Laws? Bill Bright, Campus Crusade for Christ.