How can a person get to be really a Christian? What must one do for one's self? What can God be expected [10] to do to make one's life right?

Sins Must Be Recognized and Owned

      The first step toward getting right is to recognize where one has been wrong. It may go pretty hard to admit that we have been in the wrong, but it surely does not help matters to refuse to face up with the kind of self we have been.

      "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:8, 9)

      When a person knows himself to be a sinner, it is sometimes referred to as "conviction." There is something to do about it, right away. It is foolish to wait, thinking that one should be given some special kind of feeling to indicate that it is time to start toward the right way. A person is likely to feel pretty badly about not being right in the sight of God. That is enough to make it plain it is time to get started God's way.

One Must Repent

      It is not enough to admit that one has sinned. There must be repentance.

      "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19)

      To repent is to change one's mind, so as not to want to do what is wrong. It is more than merely to be sorry. It is to be sorry enough for anything wrong that one is willing to give it up, and to do all in one's power to make things right.

      Jesus began His preaching by calling on people to repent (Mark 1:15). When people asked the apostles what to do about their sins, they were told first of all to repent.

Belief in Jesus Christ Is Necessary

      When we say that we believe in a person, we mean [11] that we have confidence in that person. In order to be a Christian we must certainly have confidence in Jesus.

      It should not be hard for anyone to believe in Jesus, for He is the kind of person who can be trusted. The words of Jesus can be put down as truth. He keeps His promises. Listen to the Master's words, and to the promise which they hold out:

      "For Cod so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

      If we really believe in Him, it means that we must be willing to accept His way as the right way, and to make it our way. We can truly say that we have faith in, Him only when we are willing to do what He wants us to do.

      At this point there should be a warning against trying to feel as one thinks someone else must feel. The Bible says little about feeling, but much about faith. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Take Him at His word. Trust in His way to get rid of sin, by the shedding of His own blood. He will do what He has promised.

One Must Be Willing to Forgive Others

      There can be no holding of grudges if we truly believe in Jesus Christ. He was willing to forgive those who placed Him on the cross. He taught that we must forgive others if we wish God to forgive us.

      "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15)

      Hatred is something which must be recognized as sin, and must be given up.

      "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (I John 3:11)

      There is help from God at every step of the way. His Holy Spirit prompts a person to be dissatisfied [12] with not being a Christian. His Word urges on to true repentance. His dependable goodness encourages the necessary belief in Him, and in His Son, Jesus Christ. His willingness to forgive helps us to be willing to forgive others. He expects us to do our part, but He has just the right kind of help to give for what is too much for us alone.

Receiving God's Forgiveness

      There are things which we cannot make right. However hard we try, we cannot erase the bad record we have made. We cannot make up for wrong by being extra careful to do right, because we should have been extra careful all along. We can ask for God's forgiveness, and He is willing to give it.

      "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)

      What does it mean to be forgiven? It means that the sin is put away. It is no longer held against the person who has been guilty of it.

      This forgiveness of our sins is made possible only through the goodness and love of God in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

      "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified (made right) by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, bat we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:8-11)

      That last word "atonement" is better understood if it is divided up like this, "at-one-ment." It is the work of Christ which makes it possible for those who have sinned to get to be at one with God again. This is the purpose for which the sacrifice of Christ's life [13] blood was made. Those who receive it truly have joy in God.

The Witness of the Holy Spirit

      The change which follows repentance and belief in Jesus Christ is known as "the new birth," or "regeneration" (which means the same thing). Those who accept Him as their Lord Savior, and believe in Him, are born of God.

      "As many as received Him, to them gave Me power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12)

      God's gift of the Holy Spirit brings this power to become children of God. No one can truly say that Jesus is his Lord and Master without this power.

      "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (I Corinthians 12:3)

      Since one must be able to say that Jesus is his Lord in order to be a Christian, it is clear that the Holy Spirit must come into one's life. Indeed the gospel speaks of it as being "born of the spirit" (John 3:5). It is the privilege of the Christian to have the knowledge of the Holy Spirit's presence and power within his life.

      "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." (Romans 8:16)

The Conversion Experience You Need

      To be converted is to be turned around. That is exactly what happens when a person becomes a Christian. The life is turned in the right direction, to be led by the Spirit of God.

      Conversion experiences differ. Paul was blinded by a great light, and was without sight for three days, after which he was filled with the Holy Spirit and he could see (Acts 9). The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and those who were with him while they were listening to Peter as he told them about Christ's sacrifice for their sins (Acts 10). Conversion brings [14] relief from the burden of sin, and joy in knowing that one is accepted into the family of God.

      Just how will you feel when this takes place? Nobody can tell you, but do not let that worry you. If you truly believe in Christ, you will trust Him to make your experience be what He wants it to be. You may be sure that He wants you to know that you belong to Him. If you are ready to surrender yourself fully and trustfully to Him, the needed knowledge of Christ as Savior will be yours.

The Altar--Your Altar

      "Must I go to the altar?" some ask. The altar is a place for making an offering to God. You must offer yourself to Him if you are to belong to Him as a Christian. The church altar is a good place to do that. It is a place of prayer in God's own house where many others have knelt to offer themselves, and to receive assurance of salvation. You do well to make it your altar. But whether there or somewhere else, the important thing is to give yourself wholly to Christ, so that you may truly belong to Him as a Christian.

      If you have not already done so, may God help you to confess your sins, repent of them, believe in Jesus Christ, and accept Him as Lord and Savior. May you become one of those who belong to Christ--a true Christian. [15]

[BC 10-15]