I am delighted that the first article of our spiritual journey has come to live.
To our fellow blogger nice, God bless you for coming up with this suggestion my sister. I am inspired and humbled by the response I got from people that contributed articles; it gave me hope that we will grow as spiritually as christians, Thanks to everyone that contributed may God shower you with blessings.
This article’s main purpose, is to direct us, as new Christians to define our purpose, focusing on what it means to be a Christian. Hope you will be inspired. Let’s join together in taking the first step to our spiritual journey, lets us make this the first step of many steps to come. Yours in Faith Cody.
Becoming a Christian
We are not referring to "getting religious," or "joining a church," or "believing and reciting correct creedal doctrines." The issue we address is "becoming a Christian."
Some people think that to be a Christian means you can't see movies, that you can't dance, can't have a drink, or that you can't have any more fun. That isn't true. Christianity isn't about rules and regulations to follow. It is about a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Becoming a Christian is a spiritual reality that transpires in the spiritual core of our being. Our "spirit and soul and body is to be preserved complete" (I Thess. 5:23) in Jesus Christ. The most basic need of man is not physical rejuvenation, or psychological adjustment, or social improvement, but spiritual exchange and regeneration. Because all of mankind begin their physical lives spiritually "dead in their trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1,5), the primary need of man is to be made alive spiritually.
When someone becomes a Christian by trusting in the sacrifice of Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins, then the Holy Spirit has come and lives in that person. Because the person has been changed from the inside, he does not desire to do those things that are contrary to God. Therefore, he will naturally desire to go to church. He will desire to be good, to be honest, etc. He does not go to church, or be good, or be honest, in order to be a Christian. He does those things because he already is one. It means that those things he desires to do change. He wants to change and wants to please God -- from
the inside
.
What must one do to become a Christian?
In one sense, there is nothing anyone can DO to become a Christian. Everything necessary to become and be a Christian has been done by Jesus Christ, which is why He exclaimed "It is finished!" (John 19:30). It is only by the grace-activity of God in Jesus Christ that the opportunity of becoming and being a Christian is afforded to mankind. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). There is no human performance or effort that can effect the spiritual reality of becoming a Christian. what is needed of you is to open your heart and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Your Saviour as written in Romans 10: 9, 10 " if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved"
Being a Christian
Being a Christian means that you are changed on the inside, not controlled from the outside. It means that your heart has been changed by the presence of God. It does not mean that you are required to go to church, required to pay tithes, required to be good, required to do anything in order to stay a Christian. It means you desire to do those things because you've been changed.
So, being a Christian means that you have encountered the true and living God and that you have undergone a change in your heart and soul. It means that you are not restricted to the Law's of right and wrong in order to please God because you cannot please God by what you do. God will only find pleasure in you through Jesus Christ.
To be a Christian means to follow Christ, to desire Him, to fellowship with Him, to be indwelt by Him, and to bring glory to Him in your life.
Why do we need to fellowship?
1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
According to the scripture, fellowship is not an optional matter for believers. It says, "if walk in the light [in fellowship with God]... this causes us to have fellowship with one another." And from the outcome of this fellowship, "the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
What does fellowship with the brethren have to do with cleansing us from sin? As we know, the Bible says "the life is in the blood" (Lev. 17:11). This is a fact, both biologically and spiritually. The blood in your body is a cleansing agent which purges the toxins and bacteria in our system, and supplies oxygen to vital areas necessary for our survival.So it is within the body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 12:27). For the blood of Jesus Christ to have its continual cleansing effect over our sins, we must remain attached to Christ's body. If we sever fellowship with His body, we risk cutting off the circulation of the cleansing blood!
Keep in mind, salvation is based on "faith," and is not earned by performing "works" such as attending Church (Eph. 2:8-9). But fellowship with Christ's body, the church, is critical in helping to sustain your faith by providing ministry, encouragement, and an atmosphere of spiritual "cleansing" and growth.
So my fellow brothers and sisters,...........................
what does being a christian mean to you?
why did you feel the need to be saved?
what testimonies can you share with us to show us the manifestation of good things in your life since you accepted Jesus as your lord and saviour?
