Becoming a Christian

[Sundew]

Hello...

I posted a thread in the Teen forums, but as I was browsing around more I realized that it's probably better suited for here...

So, I hope it's not against the rules for me to repost it here, and if it is, sorry!

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First of all, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I certainly hope it is!

Anyways... I guess I'm just trying to ask for advice on how to best welcome Christ into my life and become a Christian.

I was raised in a family that places no emphasis on religion; we certainly have nothing against any religion, but neither of my parents nor my brother are remotely religious. So consequently, I've spent fifteen years of my life without a thought for God or religion.

Recently, though, I realized that I want this to change. I suppose that, vaguely, I do believe in God--I think that the world and everything in it is just too amazing to exist without having been created. But that's really the extent of my religious beliefs. If I'm honest with myself, I know that I don't truly believe that God is in my life, that Heaven and Hell exist, that Jesus Christ really is the son of God.

But that's just the thing. I want to. For the past two or three months, I've come to realize just how badly I want to have God in my life. I don't just want to know that I'm saved--I want to love Him and accept Him into my life. But I just don't know how.

A lot of the people I've started to hang out with are all devout Christians. And it makes me... almost jealous of their faith and assurance in God. Which, I know, is a sin in and of itself--jealousy. But I can't help it. I long for that complete faith and love for the Lord, the faith and love that so many people have--but I just can't seem to find.

So about a month ago, I started reading about becoming a Christian on the internet. I've been praying daily, and sometimes more than once a day. I've even read parts of the Bible, although admittedly not very much. But as much as I try to tell myself that I do believe in God, I know that I truly don't--not yet.

So basically, I'm asking if anyone has advice or experiences to share with me. I would love to hear from anyone and everyone, but I think it might be especially helpful if any of you who weren't raised Christians, but rather welcomed God into your life some time later on, could offer me any advice.

Thank you very much in advance.
~Sundew
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[MrFreshdew]

just ask Jesus matthew 7:7

 

[Rowan]

Hi,

I also recently became Christian. What helped me was prayer, Bible-reading, and church and church youth involvement. I know that it takes alot of getting used to, after spending most of our lives so far as a Non-Christians, but God is patient with us.

I once read some advice about giving confession: Don't worry about you measure up against other people, but have Jesus as your standard. I think that's applicable here. Our life in Christ is far from a competition--we are being saved together.

 

[alatir]

But that's just the thing. I want to. For the past two or three months, I've come to realize just how badly I want to have God in my life. I don't just want to know that I'm saved--I want to love Him and accept Him into my life. But I just don't know how.

This is a VERY GOOD sign and I felt this way too and still do. I need God, deep down in my soul I need God. We don't want a religion, we want to know the living God.


Read your Bible, especially the Gospels. That is what helped me (I'm pretty new believer, 6 months or so) to believe in Jesus because:

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17
Get a picture of Jesus by reading the Gospels.
There is something about His word that changes you. It's something supernatural. Bible is not just some book, It is the Word of God.


Pray to Jesus and be completely honest. You can even tell Him that you have a problem with your unbelief and that way you confess your sin. Ask Him to strenghten your faith in Him and give you the Holy Spirit.
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13

If you want to know more about the Holy Spirit read chapters 14 and 16 from John and book of Acts and the pray about the Holy Sprit.

May God bless you in Jesus' name.
I'm praying for you!

 

[texastig]

It's not an easy road. He said that He will be with us though and that's what counts.
Thanks,
TT

 

[Yekcidmij]

Anyways... I guess I'm just trying to ask for advice on how to best welcome Christ into my life and become a Christian.

I think the simplest thing to do is to ask Christ to do just that. Trust in His sacrifice and ask Him to forgive your sin, turn away from sin, and welcome Him.

Recently, though, I realized that I want this to change. I suppose that, vaguely, I do believe in God--I think that the world and everything in it is just too amazing to exist without having been created. But that's really the extent of my religious beliefs. If I'm honest with myself, I know that I don't truly believe that God is in my life, that Heaven and Hell exist, that Jesus Christ really is the son of God.

But that's just the thing. I want to. For the past two or three months, I've come to realize just how badly I want to have God in my life. I don't just want to know that I'm saved--I want to love Him and accept Him into my life. But I just don't know how.

That reminds me of a man in Mark who had a simple request to Jesus:

Mark 9:23 Then Jesus said to him, “‘If you are able?’ 33 All things are possible for the one who believes.” 9:24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”



You don't have to have it all down. Simple faith in Christ, even during doubt, is all you need.

Jesus laid it out for us:

John 6:28 So then they said to him, “What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?” 6:29 Jesus replied, “This is the deed God requires – to believe in the one whom he sent.”

A lot of the people I've started to hang out with are all devout Christians. And it makes me... almost jealous of their faith and assurance in God. Which, I know, is a sin in and of itself--jealousy. But I can't help it. I long for that complete faith and love for the Lord, the faith and love that so many people have--but I just can't seem to find.

No need to be jealous. The invitation to faith in Christ is always open to anyone.

So about a month ago, I started reading about becoming a Christian on the internet. I've been praying daily, and sometimes more than once a day. I've even read parts of the Bible, although admittedly not very much. But as much as I try to tell myself that I do believe in God, I know that I truly don't--not yet.

I would suggest reading through Colossians. It's a short 4 chapters that aren't very long, but it's probably a good place to start. 1 John is good one to start on too. I would also suggest finding a good church and don't be afraid to talk to the pastor.

http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Col&chapter=1

 

[Angelgirl08]

Continue to read bible daily, pray for wisdom to help you understand. Talk to christians here or a pastor about what you have learned, and to help guide you.

 

[LilLamb219]

I suppose that, vaguely, I do believe in God

This in itself tells me that you are probably already a Christian.

Now, as the others have said, read your bible, ask questions and speak with a pastor Rest assured that Jesus is your savior!

 

[Canuckmom]

Welcome here; your post is so refreshing!
You are not alone in your experience. I was raised in a Christian home but when I got saved I was totally clueless as what it was to be saved and believe in Christ. A famous Baptist pastor of bygone years C H. Spurgeon, commenting on his conversion said that he too was ignorant of the way of salvation though he was raised by Christian parents.
The best advice I can give you is to read your Bible faithfully, ( especially the New Testament) keep praying ,leave off all known sin, and God Himself will show you the way.

 

[Sundew]

Thank you so very much, everyone, for all your wonderful support and advice. I've been doing a lot of thinking, hoping, and praying these past few days... And today, after listening to a number of inspirational songs, I truly feel as though I'm beginning to Believe.

All I know is that this is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. I hope it never leaves me, and I'm almost uncertain about saying it... But I feel that I am saved.

Once again, I appreciate all the advice and support that you have shown me. Thank you so very much, and God bless you all.

 

[heymikey80]

Ask God for the help you need, and rely on His bringing that help for you to grasp hold of Him. Because He's grasping hold of you.

Philippians 3:12-16

 

[AvgJoe]

I guess I'm just trying to ask for advice on how to best welcome Christ into my life and become a Christian.

In Mark 1:15, Jesus tells us how to become a Christian. He says to "repent and believe the gospel." To repent means to have a change of mind which results in a change of action. Biblical repentance, in relation to becoming a Christian, is changing your mind from rejection of Jesus, to faith in Jesus.

In the second part, Jesus said to believe the gospel. The word gospel simply means "good news." What is this gospel that is to be believed? In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul spells out the gospel for us, "that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures."

Paul expands on how to become a Christian, in Romans 10:9-10, where he writes "For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved."

If I'm honest with myself, I know that I don't truly believe that God is in my life, that Heaven and Hell exist, that Jesus Christ really is the son of God.

Once you repent and believe the gospel, God will be, forevermore, a part of your life. You don't have to believe in heaven and hell to become a Christian. After you become a Christian, God will show you that both places are real.

1 John 5:11-12 tells us what God says about His Son, Jesus. It says, "that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."


Anyway, to become a Christian, one must do as Jesus said in Mark 1:15, "repent and believe the gospel.

A good idea to help you is to read your Bible everyday. Start off with the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) so you can get to know Jesus better.

God bless!

 

[JPPT1974]

[BIBLE]John 3:16-18[/BIBLE]

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Hello...

I posted a thread in the Teen forums, but as I was browsing around more I realized that it's probably better suited for here...

So, I hope it's not against the rules for me to repost it here, and if it is, sorry!

-------------------------------
First of all, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this, but I certainly hope it is!

Anyways... I guess I'm just trying to ask for advice on how to best welcome Christ into my life and become a Christian.

I was raised in a family that places no emphasis on religion; we certainly have nothing against any religion, but neither of my parents nor my brother are remotely religious. So consequently, I've spent fifteen years of my life without a thought for God or religion.

Recently, though, I realized that I want this to change. I suppose that, vaguely, I do believe in God--I think that the world and everything in it is just too amazing to exist without having been created. But that's really the extent of my religious beliefs. If I'm honest with myself, I know that I don't truly believe that God is in my life, that Heaven and Hell exist, that Jesus Christ really is the son of God.

But that's just the thing. I want to. For the past two or three months, I've come to realize just how badly I want to have God in my life. I don't just want to know that I'm saved--I want to love Him and accept Him into my life. But I just don't know how.

A lot of the people I've started to hang out with are all devout Christians. And it makes me... almost jealous of their faith and assurance in God. Which, I know, is a sin in and of itself--jealousy. But I can't help it. I long for that complete faith and love for the Lord, the faith and love that so many people have--but I just can't seem to find.

So about a month ago, I started reading about becoming a Christian on the internet. I've been praying daily, and sometimes more than once a day. I've even read parts of the Bible, although admittedly not very much. But as much as I try to tell myself that I do believe in God, I know that I truly don't--not yet.

So basically, I'm asking if anyone has advice or experiences to share with me. I would love to hear from anyone and everyone, but I think it might be especially helpful if any of you who weren't raised Christians, but rather welcomed God into your life some time later on, could offer me any advice.

Thank you very much in advance.
~Sundew
-----------------------

Hi,
I was in a very similar situation several years ago when I became a Christian. I was also raised in a non religious family, and wanted to know God but didn't really know how. I came to Christ really gradually and it took time for me to truly accept Him into my heart...I read some books (by CS Lewis), and then read the Bible (started with the gospels), joined a Christian group in college, attended worship services, prayed a lot.. Well one day, I realized that I believe in Jesus..I still don't quite know how this happened to me, lol. It was very gradual. And then I just kept on praying that God would help me grow, and He did. Although I believed in God, He seemed kinda distant..people kept on telling me that He loves me, but I wanted to experience that. One day, I did, and felt God's presence for the first time. It's been quite a journey since then lol, and it's definitely not over

First I want to say, don't worry where other people are. We are all on a journey, and it takes time to grow in faith. Just focus on God and don't worry if other people seem to be more advanced, if you want to be there one day, you will be.

What I suggest is just spending time with God in prayer...be honest with Him, tell Him that you want to know Him, but don't know how...ask Him to give you more faith and to help you understand things that are unclear. He will hear your prayer, and would lead you...it might take some time, but if you want to grow, you will. Read the Bible, maybe talk to your friends and visit some churches/youth groups with them.. but most of all, remember that God hears prayer. If you ask Him to come into your life, He will. Just take it step by step.. the very fact that you want to know God, that means He is leading you to Himself

God bless you please feel free to ask any questions.

monica