How to Become a Christian: What It Means to Follow Jesus

Maybe you were at Jesus Festival and something stirred. Maybe a friend has been different lately and you want to know why. Maybe you've just been wondering, quietly, whether any of it is true and what it would even mean to start. This is for you.

Becoming a Christian is not joining a club, adopting a set of rules or becoming religious. It's beginning a relationship with a person: Jesus, who is alive. Here's what that means.

The good news in four sentences

• God made you and loves you. You were made by Him, for Him, on purpose. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16).
• We have all turned away from Him. The Bible calls it sin: going our own way. It breaks our relationship with God, and we can't fix it by trying harder. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
• Jesus came to bring us back. God the Son became a man, lived the life we couldn't, died on the cross in our place, and rose from the dead on the third day. Christ died for our sins… he was buried, and… he rose again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
• God invites you to turn and trust. Forgiveness is a gift, not a reward. By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

What you need to do

Jesus summed up the response in one sentence in His first sermon: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).

• Repent means turn around. Not "become perfect"; just turn from running your own life your own way, and toward God.
• Believe means trust. Not just agree that Jesus existed, but put your weight on Him: trust that His death covers your sin and that He is Lord.
• Confess means say it. 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 (Romans 10:9).

What you don't need to do

• Clean yourself up first. Jesus said He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). You come as you are.
• Understand everything. Nobody does. You need enough to trust Him, and you'll spend the rest of your life learning.
• Feel a certain way. Some people cry; some feel nothing at all. Salvation rests on His promise, not your emotions.
• Say perfect words. God is listening to your heart, not grading your grammar.
• Be in a church building. You can do this right where you are.

A prayer you can pray today

There's nothing magic about these exact words. They're just a way to say to God what's in your heart. If they're true for you, pray them out loud or quietly, wherever you are:

“Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I've been running my own life, and I'm sorry. I turn from that now. Please forgive me. I trust You. Come and be my Lord, and help me follow You from today. Amen.”

A prayer of faith

If you just prayed that and meant it, the Bible's promise is plain: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). And Jesus said there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). That's you. Welcome home.

What to do next

• Tell one person. A Christian friend, or the person who invited you somewhere. Saying it out loud makes it real. You can also email hello@jesusfestival.ca and someone will gladly pray with you and help you take the next step.
• Open the first-steps guide. The private I said yes to Jesus guide in the app walks through seven simple steps, saved on your phone.
• Start reading about Jesus. Begin with the Gospel of John. Here's how.
• Talk to God every day. In your own words. This helps if you don't know what to say.
• Find a church. You weren't meant to do this alone. How to find one in Hamilton.
• Get baptised. It's the public yes that follows the private one. What it involves.

If you're not ready yet, that's alright too. Keep reading John, keep asking questions honestly (doubt doesn't disqualify you), and keep the door open. Jesus said, him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37). That promise doesn't expire.