What it Means to be a Christian

A lot of people feel like something is missing in their lives. Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever feel that there is just something wrong, although you can’t name what it is?

Often this feeling that something is missing, or that something is wrong, makes people start asking questions about what life is all about: Why am I here? What am I doing with my life? What is the purpose of living?

These questions are natural; in fact, they’re questions put in our minds and hearts by God, so that we will begin to seek after God.

You are here because God wants you here. God thought is was a good idea. God is your creator and has made you for a relationship with him. And God has a purpose for your life. God intends for you to realize that you are loved, and then share that love with other people.

The most important thing about life is to realize that God made you, and God loves you. You come to realize those important truths by accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus shows you that you are loved. Becoming a Christian is accepting that love.

These Bible verses tell us about God’s love:

"So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in that person." (1 John 4:16)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  (John 3:16)

The last verse, John 3:16, tells us about God’s love: God loves the world. In fact, God’s love for the world is so great that God sent Jesus into the world to save people from "perishing" because of their sins.

Sin is related to that feeling we have that something is not right within us. The Bible tells us that what is wrong with us is sin. Sin is living in ways that separate us from God; sin is living our own way instead of God’s way. Sin is very democratic, we all have sinned! (Romans 3:23) All of us are separated from God because of our sin.

Because you are separated from God, you will never feel quite right about yourself or about life until you are reunited with God. For you to be reunited with God, your sins must be forgiven.

God is willing to Forgive your sins and take you back into fellowship with himself because God loves you, and because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to make that Forgiveness available to you. Jesus is the means by which your sin is Forgiven.

I John 4:7 tells us:

To repent is to change your mind, and to change your life; it is to turn around. Repentance involves being sorry for the sins you have committed, for the wrong ways you have lived, and thought, and it involves deciding to turn from living your own way to living God’s way. It is to begin thinking God’s way instead of just your own way.

Being baptized is a public way of making known that you have repented and have decided to live for Jesus.

To have sins forgiven means that God gives us a new start and takes us back into friendship and fellowship with himself.

To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit means that Jesus comes to live within us, to be our companion, to guide us, and to teach us the way to live for him.

Would you like to have your sins forgiven?

Would you like to be reunited with God?

If so, pray this prayer or something like it in your own words:

Dear God, I know now that you love me. I also know that I have sinned, and separated myself from you. Please forgive my sins. I want to change the way I live. Send Jesus to live in my life; I accept him as my Savior and commit myself to living for him. Thank you God. Amen.

You have just begun an exciting adventure!

With your sins forgiven, and your fellowship with God restored, life can take on new meaning and direction. God can show you how to live in a new way because of this new start you have made.

If you have decided to become a Christian, what now?

You have just decided to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. You now enjoy the new start in life which comes with the forgiveness of your sins and restored fellowship with God. This decision you have made is already changing your life, and the changes will continue for a lifetime.

The changes will continue because now Jesus Christ is your companion and guide for life; in fact the Bible assures us that when we are "in Christ" (in other words, in a relationship with Jesus Christ), we are brand new people! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You'll need some help with this new life, and the place to find it is in church. They will help you learn what you need to know, support you as you struggle to be faithful to Jesus, and give you the opportunity to serve.

What next, Church?

It is good to join the church since you will need to make public your decision to accept Christ and Christ’s forgiveness. This public declaration of your faith is important. It tells what you have done, and of your gratitude to Jesus for what He has done. If you’re not sure how to go about making your decision public call the pastor of the church at: (301) 292-1131.

Being Baptized

After you have made your decision public, you will be baptized. Baptism is a symbol of what has happened to you in your becoming a Christian. Being lowered under the water is symbol of burial, the death to our old life without God. Being raised up out of the water is a symbol of the new you, the you Jesus has made possible (Romans 6:4 says of baptism, "we were buried therefore with him--Jesus--into death, so that Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life").

Some people wonder if making a decision public and being baptized is important. Jesus talked strongly about confessing him publicly, "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denied me before men, I will deny before my father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33). And baptism was important enough to him that he was himself baptized (see Matthew 3:13-17).

These things are important. Besides, the people at Whitehall will be happy about your decision, they will rejoice with you. And when they know about your decision, they can help you learn more about it, and support you with it.

Learning more about God

As a new Christian, you naturally want to know more about God. God also wants to form a growing and maturing relationship with you. This learning and growing happens in several ways. Here are some:

Prayer and Bible Study

Jesus puts us back in touch with God, restores our fellowship with God. This restored fellowship means prayer is possible. Prayer is simply conversation with God, and it is being quiet before God and letting God speak to you.

Many Christians find the discipline of a "quiet time" to be very helpful. A quiet time is just what it says, a time to be quiet with God.

A good time to have this quiet time is in the early morning as you are beginning the new day. Or, some people prefer the end of the day. Choose the time that fits your personality and life’s pattern the best, but try to have this time of quiet at the same time every day. Make this time a priority.

Spend the quiet time in a place where you will not be interrupted.

During this time, read the Bible with this question in mind: "What is God trying to say to me in these verses?" As you read, meditate on the truths that stand out to you; maybe you will want to write these thoughts down so that you can look at them later.

Also during this time, you will want to pray. Prayer involves thanking God for what he has done for you, and praising God for who he is.

Just because you are a Christian now does not mean you won’t sin any more. Although your sin doesn't mean you are no longer a Christian, it does need to be confessed (admitted) to God. Do this during your quiet time; God will forgive you (1 John 1:9).

You will also want to talk with God about your needs and other people’s needs. Nothing is too small, or large. Simply share with God what you are thinking and struggling with.

In addition to this quiet time, you will want to pray and worship regularly with your church on Sunday mornings and at other times.

Tell Others About Jesus

One way to grow as a Christian is to talk with other people about Jesus. You will want to tell people about the forgiveness you have received, and the restored fellowship with God you now enjoy.

More To Learn and Do

God is so great that we are never finished learning about God, or living for God. This pamphlet gives you a start. Become a part of a church. Read the Bible. Pray. Share God’s love for other people. And ask God to teach you more.

You've begun a brand new life!