what is a christian?
Being a Christian means making a decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ. No one is a Christian just because they were born to Christian parents or because they were born in a certain nation or because they believe that God exists or because they attend church. Each individual must take this step personally no one can do it for you.
Why does one need to make that decision?
The Bible teaches that God loves us. God created human beings in God's image so that we could know, love, and serve, God forever (Genesis 1:26-27). God’s deepest desire is to have a loving personal relationship with us.
However, every human being must choose to accept that relationship or to go our own way. (Isaiah 53:6). We either live life connected to God, or apart from God. This is what the Bible calls “sin.” The Bible teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
You can see this easily in your own life: Do you always, on every occasion, do what you believe to be right? Do you ever, at any time, do things that you, personally, believe to be wrong? Or do you fail to do something that you would say you believe to be right? All of us do that. It is evidence of the way that sin affects us.
God has not abandoned us. Instead, the great story of the Bible is the story of God continuing to pursue a relationship with human beings despite our disconnect. Ultimately, he sent Jesus, the Son of God, to live among us and show us God's great God’s love for us. (John 3:16). The Bible says that Jesus’ life showed us how to live as fully human beings.
Jesus’ death on the cross provided forgiveness for our sins, brokenness and disconnection. Jesus’ resurrection on Easter morning made it possible for us to have new life spiritually. This is the gift of God (Romans 6:23). When we were spiritually dead, God made it possible for us to be alive (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Like any gift, this one must be accepted. We must accept what God offers us in Jesus: forgiveness, new life here and now, and the hope of living with him forever.
Can you receive that gift?
There is no magic formula to follow. But the Bible says that when a person, admits their need for God, and trusts their life to Jesus by deciding to follow him, God forgives their sins and gives them new life and the promise of eternal life (Romans 10:9-10). This is what it means to become a Christian.
If you know your own need for God and his forgiveness and would like to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you might simply tell God about that in prayer. God knows our very thoughts, so the words of the prayer are not so important. But you might pray something like this:
Dear God,
I know my life is not what it should be . I have lived a broken life, disconnected and separate from you and I've chosen my ways over your ways. I have not allowed you to be God in my life. I believe that you sent Jesus to die so we can be reconnected, and that you raised him from the dead.
Right now, I want to trust my life to Jesus Christ. I want to follow him, to let him lead me, to allow him to teach me and to know his power to begin living a new way. Thank you for your love and forgiveness, for your faithful promises.
Amen.
That decision is a response to what God has done for us. Having responded to God's love, we learn to live a new way, following Jesus way with our lives,.
next steps on the journey
read the bible regularly.
The Bible is God's message to us about how God wants to relate to us. It is the major way God communicates how we can be in relationship with God. By reading the scriptures, we learn more about God, and God's relationship with humanity and us as individuals. You will also find comfort during difficult times and answers for your problems. Reading the Bible regularly deepens our relationship with God, discover how to live life Jesus' way, helps us to know when we are out of sync with God. A good place to start reading is the biographies of Jesus, called the gospels. They are the first four books of the New Testament. We recommend reading a modern translation of the bible, such as the New International Version (NIV).
Jesus answered, Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
Pray regularly
Prayer is just talking to God. A simple formula to follow when praying is "A.C.T.S." – Acknowledge God for who God is and has done, Confide in God all your weaknesses and mistakes, Thank God for all God's blessings and Share your needs and the needs of others with God.
Be open during prayer for God to speak to you about what He may want you to be doing or changing in your life.
You do not have because you do not ask God. <cite>James 4:2</cite>
I love the Lord, because He hears my prayers and answers them. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I live." (Psalm 116:1-2; paraphrase)
Get connected in church.
This means developing and maintaining close relationships with other followers of Jesus. Jesus first followers experienced and intense togetherness through their relationship. At Mosaic Life we stay in community by participating in worship gatherings and belonging to a life groups. As a new follower of Jesus, our learning groups can help get you going in pursuing you faith journey and relationship with God. Jesus taught and spent time in relationship with his first followers, showing them how to live for God. Learning groups are starting up all the time at Mosaic Life, so contact the office to find one right for you.
<q>They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer...Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God...</q> <cite>see Acts 2:42-47</cite>
Share Jesus with others.
As a Christian, you are called to engage our world with the "good news". That means sharing your faith with others. You don't need to know everything about God or have all the answers. Act on what you know. Sharing your "story" can help others find their way to God. Sharing your faith also helps you to clarify what you belief and know about God.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Philemon 6
If you would like more information about these or any other opportunities for spiritual formation call the church office at (616) 855-1688. or email info(at)mosaiclife.org