You become a christian by coming to Christ.
But Jesus lives in heaven! How can I… ?
You come to Jesus in prayer.
In prayer?
Prayer is simply talking to Jesus. Tell Him you want to become His follower.
But how can He hear me when He lives so far away?
He hears you. He has heard every word you have ever spoken.
For real?!!
For real. And He has been waiting all these years for you to embrace Him, to receive Him and His great salvation.
Salvation?
Like every other person beyond the age of reason (that day in your childhood when you became accountable to God) you need to be saved from the horrid consequences of your horrid sins.
What makes you so sure I have sinned?
Well, haven’t you?
Yes, many times I have done stuff I am ashamed of. But how did you know?
Simple. We have all sinned. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I have fallen short many times, before and after I became a christian.
Really?
Really.
But how can I come to Christ? To be honest, I have really sinned. Like big time. The things I have done! The things I have said! The horrid thoughts! The hate and anger and jealousies and ….
I know, I know. Been there, done that. I knew a christian who said he had committed every sin except murder. Now all those sins have been wiped away, and he is as innocent as the day he was born. The instant he received Christ and became “born again” his name was added to the “Book of Life”, he became an adopted son of the most high God and “the righteousness of God by faith in Christ Jesus”. At this moment this brother-in-Christ is in heaven, a place of eternal joy and peace and harmony.
But how can it be? I mean, how could Jesus forgive all those terrible sins… and mine?
Lord Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree”. Yours and mine and every person’s. No one understands how He did that, but we accept the Biblical account.
But I’m not so sure I believe the Bible.
That’s understandable. Ask God if the Bible is true.
Ask God?
Yes, ask God. His Holy Spirit will impart truth to those wanting truth enough to ask for truth. The Bible is unlike any other book. The Holy Spirit gives witness (an inner knowing) that the Bible is indeed God’s words to us. You simply must be sincerely desirous of truth.
But I don’t even know if I believe in Jesus.
Do you want the truth regarding Jesus Christ? Like, really want it?
Yes… I think so.
Again, ask God. God will reveal His Son to whoever asks.
But I can’t come to Christ! Not yet. I’ve got some cleaning up to do. I simply cannot come to Him in my sinful condition.
But you must. There is a song written many years ago:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
The “Lamb of God” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is “the Lamb who was slain” on your behalf…. as payment for your sins. Note the words “Just as I am”. It is folly for you to try to improve you. Can’t be done. You must come as you are. In humility. Acknowledging your helplessness.
But would Jesus accept me… just as I am?
Guaranteed.
How can I be sure?
The Spirit of God has been trying to draw you to Christ all these years. Believe me, there will be great rejoicing in heaven the moment you receive Christ and His great salvation.
That’s hard to believe… I mean, that God cares that much.
Consider: You are a creation of God…. the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit. (How else could you exist?) Consider: You are a design of God’s love and intelligence and perfection. Consider: This loving God paid a huge price to save you from the awful consequences of your sins. He longs to be united with you.
Incredible. So what must I do?
Talk to Jesus. He is the only way into God’s kingdom. Come to Him in humility and sincerity, HUMILITY AND SINCERITY, humility and sincerity, humility and sincerity. Just as you are…. without one plea…. but that His blood was shed for you.
I think I get it.
I wish you well. Oh, one more thing.
What’s that?
Read “Just As I Am”, a book by Eugenia Price, the first book I read as a young christian way back in 1972. (I wish the entire world would read “Just As I Am.”) Google it, or order it through a christian bookstore. It will help you comprehend the richness of Christ’s gospel and His immeasurable love for you, thus firmly establishing you in your faith in Him. Get it?
Got it.