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What is a Christian?. And how does one become a Christian?. A Christian is:. A disciple - learner and follower - of Christ. One who is fully persuaded of the facts of the gospel that a Christian can live a faithful life that being a Christian is worth everything
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What is a Christian? And how does one become a Christian?
A Christian is: • A disciple - learner and follower - of Christ. • One who is fully persuaded • of the facts of the gospel • that a Christian can live a faithful life • that being a Christian is worth everything • that Christian discipleship will provide • spiritual security • purpose in life • peace • One who is unashamed to suffer unjust criticism or physical affliction for Christ's words, for the Gospel or for simply being in the religious/moral minority.
Acts 11:19-21 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word.... And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. A Christian is one who has "turned to the Lord." One hasn't "turned to the Lord" just by believing. Believed Turned to the Lord How, then, does one turn to the Lord?
Acts 26:19-20 "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." To be a Christian one must "turn to God." One doesn't "turn to God" when he repents. Repent Turn to God Do works befitting repentance When, then, does one turn to God?
Mark 16:15-16 Acts 11:19-21 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word ... and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Believes is baptized Believed Turned to the Lord
Acts 2:38 Acts 26:20 "....but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. . . ." Repent be baptized Repent Turn to God
1 Peter 3:21 .... eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. Peter writes that baptism saves us. A Christian, then, is one who has been saved by baptism.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
A Christian is: • A disciple - learner and follower - of Christ. • One who is fully persuaded • of the facts of the gospel • that a Christian can live a faithful life • that being a Christian is worth everything • that Christian discipleship will provide • spiritual security • purpose in life • peace • One who is unashamed to suffer unjust criticism or physical affliction for Christ's words, for the Gospel or for simply being in the religious/moral minority. • One who has been scripturally baptized.
To sum up: One becomes a Christian by: • Believing • Repenting • Confessing his faith • And being baptized for the remission of sins He believes because he has been persuaded of the facts of the gospel. He repents, confesses his faith and is baptized for the remission of sins because he has been persuaded that these are conditions of salvation. He is faithful because he is unashamed of the way the world treats him because of his faithful-ness.