What does it mean to become a Christian?

Two thousand years ago this question was put to Peter - one of Jesus Christ’s closest friends and followers. His answer was:“Repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven and you will receive God’s gift, the Holy Spirit.”

In the Gospel of John Jesus answers this question many times over eg. “The work that God requires is to believe in the One he sent (ie Jesus).” (John 6.29) “What my father wants is that all who look to the Son (ie Jesus) and believe in him should have eternal life.” (John 6.40) “This is eternal life that they may know you the only True God and Jesus the messiah whom you sent.” (John 17.3)

Here is a simple ABCDEF approach to beginning the Christian life.

A) ACCEPT the testimony of Jesus Christ recorded by his closest friends and followers in the Gospels and letters of the New Testament. When the New Testament writings were gathered together as a group in the 100s A.D. the churches only included those writings which ALL the churches worldwide accepted had a close connection with those whom Jesus had personally selected, trained and authorised. Those criteria were chosen so that in the writings of the New Testament we find gathered together the closest written sources to the teachings of Jesus himself. That is why Christians relate to these writings as definitive of our faith. As Jesus once said to his twelve disciples, “I chose you and appointed you…whoever receives anyone I send receives me also; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” (John 15.16, John 13.20)

B) BELIEVE the teachings of Jesus of Christ and act on them. Becoming a Christian involves changing your habitual thinking, behaviour, and values according to the teachings of Jesus - unpacked in the Gospels and letters of the New Testament. Jesus said “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. I too will love them and reveal myself to them” (John 14.21) “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and pleasing to him…” (Romans 12.2) This holistic change is what Peter meant when he used that word "repent" when he gave the answer I quoted at the top of the page.

C) COMMIT yourself publicly to Jesus Christ. This means being open about the trust you are putting in Jesus and your decision to follow his teaching. A private decision isn’t really a decision at all. A public decision holds you to your word. That is why Jesus said, “Those who declare publicly that they belong to me I will do the same for them before my father in heaven.” (Matthew 10.32)

That mutual recognition is an important part of what happens when we are baptised in the name of Jesus. That’s why Jesus taught his followers to “Go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I commanded you.” (Matthew 28.18-20)

D) DO what the New Testament teaches. We are not changed by simply changing our opinions! Jesus’ brother James writes in his letter, “Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead put it into practice!” (James 1.22) Jesus said“Anyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice is like foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain poured down, the rivers flooded, the wind blew hard against that house and it fell. And what a terrible fall it was.”(Matthew 7.26)

E) EVERYDAY read a bit of God’s word in the Bible - start with Jesus ie the Gospels and New Testament. And everyday find somewhere you can talk out loud to God. This is the life of prayer - sometimes called the “contemplative life”. Thank your Heavenly Father for everything you can think of. Ask him for your needs, ask him for the Holy Spirit, tell him about your life and ask for wisdom to know what to do. “It is the asking one who receives.” (Matthew 7.8) “Bad as you are you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more then will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”(Luke 11.13) “If anyone lacks wisdom he should ask God…” (James 1.5) Jesus teaches a pattern for prayer in Matthew 6.5-14 and Luke 11.1-13.

ENJOY seeing God respond to your prayers sending answers through other people, through revealing things to you through his Bible and in all sorts of amazing ways. “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34.8) 

F) FIND others who are as serious as you are about allowing Jesus to change you, lead you, bless you and befriend you. Jesus teachings are meant to be followed not by lone individuals but by groups of people. Read Romans 12.9-13 and Acts 2.44-47 for a picture of what Christian group-life can be like. “Let us be concerned for one another to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together…instead let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10.24-25) Find a group or household of people willing to befriend you and encourage you in your journey of faith.

If you are embarking on this journey of faith for the first time let me know via revdpaulwallis@gmail.com and I would love to encourage you, pray for you personally and send you some resources to encourage you on your way.