So, How do we “accept God’s love,” “live in a right relationship with God," “become a Christian?”
First: Believe – Trust Jesus Christ to be your Savior and the Lord (leader) of your life. Trust John 3:16-17 to be true.
Second: Repent – Turn around, turn away from your sin and sinful life. Turn towards the God who loves you.
Third: Confess – Declare your faith/trust in God through Jesus Christ. An historic confession is “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and I accept him as my Savior and Lord.”
Fourth: Be Baptized – 1) For the forgiveness of your sin. 2) As a sign of death to the old life and beginning a new life. 3) As a way to unite with the Body of Christ (the church) 4) As a way to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life.
Fifth: Live – By the power of the Holy Spirit, live out your faith in the Christian community. Live in worship, witness and service in the world. Though our faith in God is personal, it is never private.
“…because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9 NRSV)
Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NRSV)
