• Active Topics 

How does one become a Christian? Who is a Christian?

Post Reply
User avatar
Eli
Senior Expert Member
Reactions: 183
Posts: 5212
Joined: 9 years ago
Location: Tanzania
Has thanked: 75 times
Been thanked: 88 times
Contact:

#1

A person becomes a Christian through salvation in Jesus Christ.

What is salvation?

Salvation is deliverance from sin and its consequences, brought about ONLY by faith in Jesus Christ:

Acts 16: 30 - 31:

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Mathew 1: 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 3: 16 - 17:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Romans 5: 10 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.

Ephesians 1: 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 2: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,


We are saved after hearing the word of truth, repenting (acknowledging and confessing that we are sinners and thus we need salvation) and believe - trust in the Lord Jesus Christ:

Ephesians 2: 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Acts 3: 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.


So, what does it mean to save?

- To save is to deliver or protect from eternal danger or eternal suffering. That is, salvation concerns an eternal, spiritual deliverance (This is spiritual deliverance, not temporal nor physical deliverance).

What are we saved from?

We are saved from “wrath,” that is to come, from God’s judgement of sin (eternal death):

Romans 5: 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 Thessalonians 5: 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Who does the saving?

Answer: God through Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 1: 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Are we saved by our work?

Answer: No

Salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift/privilege of God:

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;


SALVATION IS AVAILABLE THROUGH Jesus Christ ALONE!

Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

What is the name of a person who is saved?

Answer: A Christian

A Christian is not a person who has said a prayer or memorizes Bible verses, or can quote/explain Bible/ verses or who is given what is so called a Christian name or who has been raised in a Christian family or who attends church meetings/congregations or who speaks in tongues or who has attended Bible College, or a person who does not sin (naturally such a person does not exist), it does not even matter whether people call him/her (or he/she calls himself/herself) pastor, an apostle, bishop, a prophet, priest (whatever, you name it!), or he is a great preacher, great teacher, he owns/leads a great ministry, he performs miracles , etcetera.

While some (not all) of the things I mentioned above can be part of a Christian experience, they do not make any person Christian.

Definition:

A Christian is a person who has fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior and Lord.

See, John 3: 16, Acts 16: 31, Ephesians 2: 8 - 9, just to list a few.


Can you loose your salvation?

Answer: No

Once a person becomes a Christian, he has eternal life (he has Holy Spirit, he is: redeemed, justified, sanctified, made holy, promised/guaranteed eternal life, marked by God and sealed by His Spirit), he will never loose his/her salvation no matter what! And He has an assurance to go to Heaven.

See 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:18–19, Romans 5:1, 8: 1, 8: 30, 11: 29, 7: 4, 8: 38 - 39, John 3: 16, 10: 28 - 29, Ephesians 1:13–14, Titus 1: 2, 1 John 3: 6, 2: 19, Mathew 7: 16, Luke 15: 5 - 6, Jude 24 - 25.

Also read: salvation-is-god-s-gift-based-on-his-un ... grace-5783

References:

1. Bible

2. www.gotquestions.org

3. www.gotquestions.org
0
TSSFL -- A Creative Journey Towards Infinite Possibilities!
User avatar
Eli
Senior Expert Member
Reactions: 183
Posts: 5212
Joined: 9 years ago
Location: Tanzania
Has thanked: 75 times
Been thanked: 88 times
Contact:

#2

0
TSSFL -- A Creative Journey Towards Infinite Possibilities!
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Theology, Religions and Belief Systems”

  • Information
  • Who is online

    Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests