Discovering the Heart of Christianity
To truly understand the Christian faith, one must move beyond mere knowledge and into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This commitment is not unlike the vows made in marriage, requiring a deliberate and lifelong dedication to following Jesus as a disciple within the community of the Church.
The Gospel: God’s Love in Action
At its core, Christianity is about the good news of God’s love for humanity. Despite our sinful nature, which separates us from God, He has taken action to save us through Jesus Christ. The key facts of this divine remedy are:
- God sent His eternal Son, Jesus, into the world to reconcile us to Himself.
- Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and rose bodily from the dead to restore us to God.
- Jesus now rules in heaven as King over all things, advancing God’s kingdom throughout the world.
A Life of Faith and Repentance
To become a Christian, one must turn wholeheartedly from sinful and self-centered ways (repentance) and entrust oneself to Jesus to live in union and communion with Him (faith). This spiritual transformation brings us into fellowship with God and marks the beginning of a new life in Christ.
The Power of Baptism
Baptism, the rite of entry into the Church’s fellowship, signifies the start of this new life in Christ. As the apostle Peter proclaimed, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
Living as a Christian
To continue living faithfully as Christians, we must rely on the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. This means personally believing in Jesus, surrendering our lives to Him through repentance and baptism, and living as one of His joyful followers.
A Prayer of Commitment
One way to make this commitment of faith and repentance is to offer a prayer to God, such as:
Almighty Father, I confess that I have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I am truly sorry and humbly repent. Thank you for forgiving my sins through the death of your Son, Jesus. I turn to you and give you my life. Fill and strengthen me with your Holy Spirit to love you, to follow Jesus as my Lord in the fellowship of his Church, and to become more like him each day. Amen.
Joining the Christian Community
To be a Christian is to be included in God’s family, the Church. No one should try to be a Christian alone. If you are making this commitment for the first time or have not been a practicing Christian for some time, consider taking further steps to connect with a local church community.
Seeking God
If you are not yet ready to take this step but continue to seek after God, you may want to pray a prayer like the following:
O God, please reveal yourself to me. Draw near to me as I seek you. Open my eyes to see your truth. Show me those things in my mind and heart that keep me from faith in you. Help me to know and trust Jesus Christ. And lead me to those people who can help me as I seek to know you.
God will always answer such prayers made with patience, persistence, and humility. As you go forward, continue to pray that you will come to know God more fully.
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