Hi, I'm new here, searching for answers

[MichaelJordanfan]

Hi,

This is my first post here and I found this site by doing a google search because I have a lot of questions. A person on my dorm floor invited me to go to church with them, and I was excited about that so I could do something with another person my age because I am a freshman in college. The church was a lot different than I have seen. The pastor talked about how to be a Christian and it was a lot different than I learned growing up in church. I learned if you are a good person, you will go to heaven. But this pastor talked about how we need to have a relationship with Jesus and how we need to look like him. I just have to admit, I'm really confused and can somebody please help me out!

I'm sorry to have such a serious thing for my first post.

MJFan

 

[Mea Culpa]

Hi,

This is my first post here and I found this site by doing a google search because I have a lot of questions. A person on my dorm floor invited me to go to church with them, and I was excited about that so I could do something with another person my age because I am a freshman in college. The church was a lot different than I have seen. The pastor talked about how to be a Christian and it was a lot different than I learned growing up in church. I learned if you are a good person, you will go to heaven. But this pastor talked about how we need to have a relationship with Jesus and how we need to look like him. I just have to admit, I'm really confused and can somebody please help me out!

I'm sorry to have such a serious thing for my first post.

MJFan

Welcome!!!!

Hey, there is nothing wrong with being serious! Nor with joking around!
Anyways, I kind of like to do both!

That is cool that you want to go to church. I know my family feels the same way that you do. As for me, God showed me who Jesus is, and why I need Him in my life.

Jesus is my hope, my peace. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is my best Friend.

I had cancer and His promise to be our strength when we are weak was totally fulfilled.

I don't know how I can help you, I don't konw what you want to know, but feel free to PM me, and I will be happy to help you out as I can! I am not God, I don't have all the answers, but I can help ya out! So can my bros and sisters here too!

Welcome again, and may God answer all your questions.

 

[MichaelJordanfan]

What's a PM? I guess I am just confused as to what is a Christian?

MJFan

 

[Vigil]

Greetings and Blessing be upon you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hi,

This is my first post here and I found this site by doing a google search because I have a lot of questions. A person on my dorm floor invited me to go to church with them, and I was excited about that so I could do something with another person my age because I am a freshman in college. The church was a lot different than I have seen. The pastor talked about how to be a Christian and it was a lot different than I learned growing up in church. I learned if you are a good person, you will go to heaven. But this pastor talked about how we need to have a relationship with Jesus and how we need to look like him. I just have to admit, I'm really confused and can somebody please help me out!

I'm sorry to have such a serious thing for my first post.

MJFan

First: Welcome to Christian Forums, it is good to have you here, and I for one am glad that you are asking these types of Questions. Truly sometimes it can seem confusing what people say and sometimes what they do not say.

Addressing your Question: “this pastor talked about how we need to have a relationship with Jesus and how we need to look like him”

It is we need to live in his Image, not look like him. I doubt that long hair and beard look would suit many. Think of it more like walking the path he laid down for you to a life of righteous and salvation.

Now, it is a relationship with Christ the Savior, who died on the Cross for your sins. This is getting to know this person, not as some obscure character in some really depressing play, but as a living breathing person real person, like anyone today. The difference was, he was God, who came down here, to live among us, as one of us, and show us first hand his love for us. Now, it is salvation that ensures your place in heaven, not just “Living a good life” it is the realization that you have sinned (Hard I know) but the truth is, can you truly claim that you have not sinned, I mean I am not saying you have not done some good things, I am sure you have the desire and the want to do many good things for many people, to help others that are suffering more then you, or whatever, however, no amount of good deeds removes your sin, you still did it, you still committed those sins. So Jesus comes down and says to you. “Don’t worry, I’ll forgive you, I’ll wipe your slate clean, so you can come to heaven, all you need to do is ask me”

Trick here is, to ask Him, you need to believe in him, that he was the Christ, that he can do what he said he shall do for you.

God Bless.

Vigil.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)

 

[MichaelJordanfan]

Yes, I have sinned. I went to movies, I gambled, and I danced. But, the thing about this church is that people danced during the music (and it was rock music, not organ). Also the church had a movie clip to help with the sermon. I can't believe a church would sin.

 

[crossrunner]

Its not a sin to watch movies or to dance. I suppose that some movies may not be good to watch as they may expose you to things that could make it easier to give in to sin. And I suppose some types of dancing can do the same thing....but for the most part I cannot imagine dancing in praise for the Lord or showing a movie clip to help illustrate a sermon (my church does this all the time) being at all sinful.

Please know that our relationship with Jesus comes from our accepting His free gift of salvation that He paid for on the cross and believing that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Our salvation comes by faith not by works. God bless you!
cr

 

[Serapha]

Hi,

This is my first post here and I found this site by doing a google search because I have a lot of questions. A person on my dorm floor invited me to go to church with them, and I was excited about that so I could do something with another person my age because I am a freshman in college. The church was a lot different than I have seen. The pastor talked about how to be a Christian and it was a lot different than I learned growing up in church. I learned if you are a good person, you will go to heaven. But this pastor talked about how we need to have a relationship with Jesus and how we need to look like him. I just have to admit, I'm really confused and can somebody please help me out!

I'm sorry to have such a serious thing for my first post.

MJFan

'

Hi there!



Welcome to the forums...


I think the best information to give you is called the "Roman's Road." It's called that because it is passages from the book of Romans in the Bible.


As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.
~Romans 3:10~

That means... every person who has ever been born has been born into sin.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
~Romans 3:23~

That means...no one person is perfect, but all have sinned.

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

That means... Since you have been made aware that everyone has sinned, then you need to know that the consequences of that sin is eternal death, meaning eternal separation from God's love.


But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
~Romans 5:8~

That means.... God had a plan for an ultimate redemption for your sins, and thas through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
~Romans 10:9-10~

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
~Romans 10:13~
The plan of salvation is this... if you know you have sinned, and you know the result of that sin is eternal separation from God, then you may know that you can be reconciled back to a perfect relationship with God through your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.


I would invite you now to ask Jesus to forgive you of all your sins and to ask Him to dwell forever in your heart...


Today is the day of salvation...


~serapha~

 

[MichaelJordanfan]

What is sin?

MJFan

 

[Serapha]

What is sin?

MJFan

Hi there!




Sin is the intentional disobedience of God Word or in God's will for your life.


Say, for example, if you steal, that is disobedience to God's commandment of "Do not steal"... therefore, if you steal, you are violating God's Word and God's will for your life. Sin covers a lot of territory, but the apostle John tells us that we are to walk in the light as we are given the light. Once you realize that you have sinned and seek forgiveness for that sin, the God will lead you into the truth that He wants you to have or know.





~serapha~

 

[Serapha]

Hi there!






Again, I would invite..... more or less, encourage you to have a discussion with God through Jesus Christ who, according to the Bible, is our mediator to God... and let God through His Holy Spirit lead you into truth.


~serapha~

 

[MichaelJordanfan]

Hi,

I am confused. I grew up in church and it sounds like you are saying they didn't say the right things. It seems like two churches are not saying the same thing. What is true? I am really confused to put it into words.

MJFan

 

[Serapha]

Hi,

I am confused. I grew up in church and it sounds like you are saying they didn't say the right things. It seems like two churches are not saying the same thing. What is true? I am really confused to put it into words.

MJFan

Hi there!



I grew up in a church that I know now didn't "preach" a true plan of salvation, but a conditional one based upon my working to keep my salvation. Not every organization that declares itself to be a "church" teaches the truth of the Word of God or the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that will lead you into a true presentation of that same gospel.

Being "good" is a "worK" and not a profession of "Faith". We are saved by our faith, not our good works, (being good, morale people).

My friend, if you haven't acknowledged that you have sin in your life, sought the forgiveness of that same sin, and asked for the indwelling presence of God in your heart...

Then I need to tell you that you are still lost, not reconciled to God by your faith in a Redeemer who died to set you free from your own sins.

Jesus said He was the way and the truth. If just being "good" earned you heaven, then all of the morally good people of every cult in the world that even denied Christ would be able to be eternally with God in heaven, and the Bible teaches differently.


Let the Bible be your measuring stick for you own salvation, and let the Holy Spirit lead you into truth... just ask God for understaning. He will lead you into truth.


~serapha~

 

[Serapha]

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

[fishstix]

Hi,

I am confused. I grew up in church and it sounds like you are saying they didn't say the right things. It seems like two churches are not saying the same thing. What is true? I am really confused to put it into words.

MJFan

Churches sometimes have different ways of saying the same things. Sometimes they use different words, sometimes their focus on various issues is a bit different, and sometimes they do downright disagree on some things. Perhaps it would be helpful for you to talk with other people from the same kind of church you grew up in and the same kind of church as you have attended with your friend. That way they could explain to you just what each of the churches likely meant by the specific things that are confusing you. Perhaps you can find such people in the Congregation Forums on this site.

 

[Mea Culpa]

What's a PM? I guess I am just confused as to what is a Christian?

MJFan

LOL! No, Private Message. Just click on my name there, and it is in the menu!!

 

[bliz]

Well, you expected to get an education at college... but perhaps not in this area! This is so wonderful for you that you are starting to think about your faith!

I believe that you have heard the Gospel of Christ preached for the first time. that does not mean that your home church was not preaching it - you may not have been hearing what they said, or their way of saying it may not have reached you... or you were daydreaming...

You see, as hard as we try, none of us are able to be "good" as God defines good. Look at the 10 Commandments. Especially bearing in mind that to have thought about doing something is the same as to have done it, how are you dong at keeping those 10 rules? I'll tell you that I do a very poor job. Look at Adam and Eve. They only had to keep one rule - not to eat the fruit from one tree. How easy is that? But they didn't do it. And the reality is that none of us could have kept that rule. We would have redefined "eat" or argued about which tree God really meant, or contended that we needed to know the taste of the fruit we weren't supposed to have... but we would all eat that fruit.

That's sin - disobeying God, doing things our ways instead of His way.

When we sin, God, who is perfect, can have no dealings with us. We are then contaminated. But, for reasons that I will never understand, God desires to be in fellowship with us humans, the part of creation made in His image. So, God made a way. And that way was for God's perfect Son, Jesus, to die in our place. All of us are guilty and sentenced to death, but because Jesus was perfect, His death counts as the sacrifice made for all of us.

We need to accept the deal. We have to agree "Yep, Jesus died in my place, for my sins. Add my name to the list of people who will not have to be executed."

You might want to try asking your floor mate some questions, or call the church and see when the pastor will talk with you. Not that we aren't willling to keep answering questions!

If you lke to read, you might enjoy Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I know amazon carries it.

I'll be praying for you.

 

[MichaelJordanfan]

Hi,

I went to church again this morning so I could talk to the pastor after the service. Well, I talked to the pastor and he told me some information about how much God loves me. It broke me down to tears. He told me that even though we are seperated from God, He actually came down to be a human. He concluded by saying all I have to do is accept His free gift of eternal life and ask Him to forgive my sins and live like Him in love. I told the pastor that I wanted eternal life and he led me into a prayer to accept Jesus. Is that all I had to do?

MJFan

 

[fishstix]

Hi,

I went to church again this morning so I could talk to the pastor after the service. Well, I talked to the pastor and he told me some information about how much God loves me. It broke me down to tears. He told me that even though we are seperated from God, He actually came down to be a human. He concluded by saying all I have to do is accept His free gift of eternal life and ask Him to forgive my sins and live like Him in love. I told the pastor that I wanted eternal life and he led me into a prayer to accept Jesus. Is that all I had to do?

MJFan

Assuming you really meant it, yes.

 

[bliz]

Yes, that's all you have to do to be a Christian and have eternal life with God.

Praise be to God! Welcome to the family.

 

[forgivenmuch]

sin is when you do something that you know you should not have.. we need to be christ like. meaning.. if you lie ..steal ... talk about people bad.. its a sin.. we need to be like christ loving towards one another.. doing for people.. teaching them the word of God..
reading your bible.. seeing God and praying for day to day issues. pray to God to help you also.. get into his word.. read the bible.. go to church and learn the good things of God. im glad that you are concerned about it all..thats a good sign.