How can you know that you are a Christian


This page contains Bible references.  If you are not familiar with the Bible you
might like to visit our key skills page first.  This will help you to find the
Bible references we have used.

Thank you for visiting this section of our web site.  As you read on, you will
see that this page is designed for enquirers into the Christian faith.  In
particular, what makes a Christian a Christian.

What some people believe:

(1)  that if you have white skin and a British passport, you are a Christian;
(2)  that because a person has gone to church all their life, they are a 		
Christian;
(3)  that because they have a close relative who is a Christian , that this
makes them a Christian too.
(4)  that by being good all the time, we become Christians that way.

However, the fact is that none of these things can ever make a Christian of us.


Before we explain that process, we would like to stress to all our visitors,
that God does actually love you personally.  This means that it is possible for
you yourself to become a Christian, and so be saved.

A one-sentence description of a Christian is: A person saved by God through
faith in Jesus Christ (John. 3 : 16).


Saved from what?

Sin separates people from God's love.  The Bible teaches that everyone has
sinned, and do not meet God's requirements in order to get to heaven (Romans 3 :
23).

Unfortunately, this is not all.  Becoming a Christian is not just about reform,
and get to heaven that way.  Sin is more than lying, stealing, swearing, and
various forms of immoral conduct.  Sin means to choose our own way, instead of
God's way for us.  When God is actually put outside of our lives like this,
there is a result which affects us, not only now, but forever (Hebrews 9 : 27).

If we choose to live apart from God now, then really we have chosen to live in
sin.  The Bible teaches that the wages of sin is death.  Or, put another way,
hell.  You need to be saved from going to hell.  God loves to save, but this is
why you need to meet Jesus Christ personally (Romans 6 : 23).


Understanding who Christ is.

Again, we must turn to the Bible to discover this truth.  The Gospels tell us quite plainly that in order to make Himself known to us, God became a man.  This is a fascinating thing, isn't it?  Lets see what the Bible actually says about Christ.  


 	i) He is from the beginning.  Through Him all things were made. (John. 1 : 1-5)
   ii) All the fullness of God lives in Christ. (Colossians. 1 : 15-20)
  iii) He is the exact representation of God. (Hebrews. 1 : 1-3)
   iv) Jesus and the Father are one. (John. 10 : 30)
    v) He shared our humanity. (Hebrews. 2 : 14)
   vi) He is the source of eternal salvation for all who will put their trust in Him. (Hebrews. 5 : 9)
  vii) Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. (John. 11 : 25)

Christ is God and man, in order to bring man back to God.


How has He done this?


    i) Jesus was crucified. (John. 19 : 17-18)
   ii) Jesus gave up His life. (John. 19 : 30)
  iii) He did this to pay the price for our sin. To make us clean. (Romans. 4 : 25)
   iv) It was necessary that Christ die for our sins, because salvation is God's gift, it cannot be earned. (Romans. 5 : 6-11)
    v) Christ died, but He is not dead now. (John. 20 : 1-18; 1 Corinthians. 15 : 1-4)
   vi) Through Jesus, God has rescued us from darkness.  We have been bought with the blood of Christ. (Colossians. 1 : 13-14)


Our response

Once we see that our sin brings separation from God, we need to understand that separation (if unchecked), leads in turn to judgement.

Fortunately, God is a God of mercy, as well as justice.  The Bible teaches that if we confess our sin, He will forgive us. (1 John. 1 : 9; Hebrews. 8 : 12)

This is what you need to do now.  To admit that you have sinned, and that you need God's forgiveness.  The Bible teaches us how to receive forgiveness.  There is in fact only one way, this is through Christ. (John. 14 : 6)

We must confess our sin and receive God's forgiveness.  To do that, we must actually ask Christ into our lives. (Acts. 2 : 37-38; Acts. 3 : 19-20)


Receiving Christ for ourselves

Confessing your sin makes a straight path for the Lord to come to you.  When you ask Christ into your life you'll know he has answered you, because His Spirit enters into the very heart of you, in response to your prayer.  As a result you will know that you belong to Him. (Luke. 11 : 13; Romans. 8 : 1,16)

Those who come to faith in Christ, have not only become God's friends.  More than that, they have become God's children.  He is their Father.

When someone is saved like this, we call that process being 'born again'.  Don't worry if you have heard this term misused, it is easy to check it out in the Bible.  Here's where to look: John. 3 : 1-21; 2 Corinthians 5 : 17; Ephesians 2 : 4-5


Are you ready now?

It's time to pray.  It's time to bring yourself to the Lord, in prayer.  Here's how, this prayer is for you to pray through.  Read it first, take your time.

		Father God, I know I have done wrong.
		Lord I have sinned.
		I need your forgiveness.
		Father, I understand and believe that Christ died for me.
		Please forgive my sin.
		In the name of Jesus Christ wash my guilt away.
		Lord I want to be saved.
		I want to belong to you forever.
		I believe that Jesus has been raised back to life.
		Lord, please give me that new life in Christ now.
		I believe that when your Holy Spirit comes into me, I will be born 			again.
		Please come to me now and let your Spirit live within me.
		Lord Jesus, I want you to be the Lord of my life.
		Lord I trust you with these things now.
		Lord I trust you for my life.
		Thank you for saving me.
		Thank you in Jesus name.
		Amen.


What to do now

Have you prayed, asking the Lord into your life?  If so, you will be hungry to know more about your new found faith.  If you can't commit yourself yet, and if you're still not sure, still keep on seeking the Lord with all your heart.  He will make Himself known to you.  Either way, you will need the fellowship of other Christians.

Join an orthodox Bible believing Church.  This way, you will learn to enjoy the love and encouragement of God's people.  Christian fellowship will help you to grow, and to discover God's purpose for your life.

Of course you can visit this website as often as you wish, but friendship with other Christians will help you to share your life in the way God intends it to be.

If you are a new Christian, please be careful.  There are lots of cults out there.  Go for something regular like one of the mainline Christian denominations.  Ask the Lord to lead you to a Church that is right for you.  When you feel comfortable that you have found the right place, take it from there.

Finally, make sure that you go on reading your Bible every day.  Try to get some Bible study aids to help you.  A good Christian bookshop will be useful for this.  As you read through the Bible, ask the Lord to make His word known to you.  Quite literally, pray that He will show you the meaning, and its application.  The same Holy Spirit that came to you when you were first saved, will make Christ known to you in His word. (John. 16 : 13-14)

God bless you; the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.