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How Does One Become a Christian?
| Scott Adams the
cartoonist responsible for the Dilbert cartoons died recently after a
prolonged illness. He declared that he was going to wait until the last
minute and then become a Christian. This plan was based on a common
idea that becoming a Christian is a choice. There is another view that
is also fairly common called election. By this it is meant that God
chooses who will become a Christian.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 15 we can read that Christians are saved by
believing the gospel that Jesus died, was, buried, and rose again in
payment of our sins. This “belief” (pistis in the Greek) is the faith
(trust0 referred to in Ephesians.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should
boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9
In Romans we can find that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the
word of God. Jesus told Pilate that all who were of the truth would
hear his voice. If we put these pieces together we can conclude that
our response to hearing the truth is that those who are of the truth
recognize something that can be trusted. It is when someone trusts in
the gospel (good news) about Jesus that a person is placed into what is
called the “body of Christ”. We are hidden with him and he covers our
sins.
Faith is difficult to measure. We can observe rituals, sacraments,
denominational membership, and personal declarations. However, we have
no way to measure faith. Being “in” Christ and having the Holy Spirit
“in” us is supposed to be somewhat observable in a changed life.
However, so many Christians remain immature and indiscernible from
those who are not Christian that it can be difficult to tell.
Christianity spread initially under very adverse circumstances. This
was mostly the reality of a changed life was obvious to those who knew
you intimately from a child. People saw changes and wanted them for
themselves. Today people do not know each other well enough to detect a
change and few who claim Christ even know they can change much less how
to.
Being of the truth is a result of many choices. Wanting to know what is
true even about ourselves and even at the risk of learning something
uncomfortable shapes us towards the clarity of being able to respond to
truth. Consider the two on the road to Emmaus whose hearts “burned”
within them as they heard the words of Jesus. Those who are of the
truth are almost drawn magnetically to the truth, and Jesus is truth.
One might consider truth as absolute and unchangeable. That which is
truth is that upon which faith can be placed.
Faith is that which can connect us to Jesus such that we are made a new
creation. We receive life eternal and have the opportunity to let go of
the self-destructive old nature of the flesh and walk by the power of
the Holy Spirit in newness of life.
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth
live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose
again. - 2 Corinthians 5:15 |
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