The choice to follow any religion usually begins with much deeper questions that every person asks in his or her life: Why am I here? What happens when I die? Is there a purpose to my life? We do not have the answers to these questions inside of us. That is why we turn to other sources for truth and guidance (John 8:31–32). With Christianity, it is not so much about the proofs of the tenets of a religion, though there are plenty. Instead, it's about the person of Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
Becoming a Christian starts with our understanding of and our belief in Jesus Christ as the promised Savior of the world. Today, we learn about His life, death, and resurrection through the Bible. Jesus makes His appearance as a baby in the arms of a betrothed, virgin teenager. It is in this lowly, humble state that He continues for His whole life right up to willingly dying on a Roman cross as punishment for saying who He was: the Son of God (i.e., God in human flesh) (Romans 1:3–4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:5–11; 1 John 5:20). On the third day after this, He came back to life and appeared to many people, proving His power over death (John 11:25–26; Acts 13:30–31).
This is the person we must study and make a decision about to become a Christian. While other religions set out a list of rules and rituals as the relationship, Christianity submits to relationship with Jesus. He calls us friend, brother or sister, child of God, heir (John 15:12–14; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16–17). We look at how He treated all people with compassion and gave His attention to those others would ignore (Matthew 9:36; 20:29–34; John 4:7–9). We look at how He prayed for us and how He spent time with God (Mark 1:35; John 17:20–23). We look at the selfless life He lived and what He said about Himself (Philippians 2:5–8; John 14:6). Then a person must decide what they think of this man named Jesus from Nazareth.
The currency of many world religions is in its rules and rituals. Say this prayer, behave this way, don't do these things and then you will attain the life after death that it promised. The currency of Christianity is grace from God, overflowing onto every person who decides to believe who Jesus is and what He has done for us (Ephesians 2:1–10). It is from this ocean of grace that our actions start to conform to His Word as revealed in the Bible (John 1:16). Obedience and commitment are a response to this unmerited favor through Jesus Christ (Romans 1:4–6). There is no rule or ritual that can earn God's grace and salvation for life eternal in His presence.
Becoming a Christian is about joining the family of the Most High God as adopted children (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5). It's about standing before God blameless because Jesus paid the price for each and every one of our transgressions in His act of obedience on the cross (Romans 3:25). It's about accepting the gift that He is offering (2 Corinthians 9:14–15).
Do you want this relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you want to know the source of all truth, including why you're here and the purpose for your life? The Bible tells us that salvation is for those who believe. You need only pray simply that you understand your need and you accept this gift of salvation from God through Jesus Christ (Romans 4:5; 10:9–13; Acts 10:43).
Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here? If so, please let us know by emailing truth@compellingtruth.org. We would love to help you with more resources as you begin your walk with God.
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