spiritual questions

Question #1 - How does one become a Christian?

1.  God created us and desires a love-relationship with us.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our own image, according to Our likeness…’ God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created Him; male and female, He created them.  God blessed them…” (NASB Revised) ~ Genesis 1:26-28.

2. Rebellion against God has completely shut us off from a relationship with God.

“But there is a problem- your sins have cut you off from God.  Because of your sin, He has turned away from you and will not listen anymore.” (NLT) ~ Isaiah 59:2

“We are all infected and impure with sin!  When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags.” (NLT) ~ Isaiah 64:6

“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (NASB Revised) ~ Romans 3:23

3.  God’s love for us, despite our rebellion, sent Jesus to pay for all of our sins.

“For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by His life.” (NLT) ~ Romans 5:10 “But He was wounded and crushed for our sins.  He was beaten that we might have peace.  He was whipped and we were healed…but, it was the LORD’s good plan to crush Him and fill Him with grief…And because of what He has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins.” (NLT) ~ Isaiah 53:5, 10-11.

4. Trust in the sufficiency of Jesus’ payment on the cross and the resurrection brings forgiveness and cleansing, thus restoring us to God again.

“Look at the proud!  They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.  But the righteous will live by their faith.” (NLT) ~ Habakkuk 2:4

“For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous’.  When people work, their wages are not a gift.  Workers earn what they receive.  But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work…Now this wonderful truth- that God declared him [Abraham] to be righteous- wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.  It was for us too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead.  He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” (NLT) ~ Romans 4:3-5, 23-25

“For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless.” (NLT) ~ 1 Corinthians 15:13-14

5.  God indwells us through His Holy Spirit, places us within His body- the church- and transforms us to be more and more like Jesus Christ.

“But this is the New Covenant I will make with the people…I will put My laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God and they will be My people…” (NLT) ~ Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Hebrews 8:8-12)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold new things have come.” (NASB Revised) ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17