What is a Christian?

GOD - who is he?

Everything that we can see, and even the things which we cannot see were created by God - He is all powerful! However, without Jesus and the Bible, that is all we would know about God.

GOD - what is he like?

Christians believe that God has made his character and plan for the world known through the Bible and through Jesus. The Bible tells us what God is like:

"compassionate and gracious.., slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness" (Exodus 34:6).

But the world is in a terrible mess, because we are guilty of turning our back on God -this is what the Bible calls 'sin'.

When God first made humankind everything was perfect. God told the first people how to live. But we disobeyed God and thought we knew better -and we’ve been suffering the consequences ever since. But the LORD, the one true God, loves us, and has not left us in this mess of our own making.

GOD -what has he done?

Sin needs to be paid for, and a time is coming when Jesus will return to judge humankind. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” says the Bible (Romans 5:8). Jesus is God, come to earth as a man, to deal with sin. Jesus was crucified at about 33 years old, and on the cross God paid the price for our sin. Through His sacrifice, God offers eternal life to everyone who believes in Jesus!

Although Jesus died on a Cross and was laid in a tomb, his body did not stay there to decay: after about 3 days Jesus was resurrected to life. He appeared to his closest friends and to many others (1 Corinthians 15:1-7) as the Bible said he would.

After his Resurrection, Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days (Acts 1:3) teaching his followers about the Bible and God’s plan for the world. Then Jesus ascended to be with his Father in Heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit of God to his followers, and the Church began.

Through his Holy Spirit, God gives all the good things which He has promised to all who believe in Jesus -i.e. Christians!

GOD -what does he promise us?

God gives his Holy Spirit to Christians as a sign that they have been saved to eternal life (Ephesians 1:13- 14). That life begins now: through his Holy Spirit, Jesus helps us to become more like Him. He doesn’t promise us that all our troubles will disappear (being a Christian may bring troubles of its own!), but God does promise never to leave us in despair: He will help us in every way to start living a fresh new life for God (Galatians 5:22-25).

GOD -‘How can I become a Christian?’

The Bible tells us that “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.” (Romans 10:9). That’s it! God gives eternal life as a free gift to everyone who believes that Jesus is God and is alive (Revelation 22:17). Over the page are a few ideas for what you may wish to do to help you learn more about him, or grow as a Christian. If you make a commitment and then do nothing about it, you will have wasted the most wonderful opportunity (see Luke 8:5-15).

GOD -‘What should I do next?’

  • Pray to God -simply tell him that you are sorry for all the sin in your life, and tell him you believe that Jesus died for you, and is now alive!
  • Tell a Christian friend that you have made a commitment to Jesus, or are interested in finding out more about Jesus: they should encourage and help you.
  • Join a good local church, where the Bible is taught well and you feel supported. They will help you learn more about Jesus and what it means to be a Christian.
  • Start reading the Bible for yourself. Try to spend a little time each day reading the Bible and praying -just pray in your own words: God is not interested in fancy, ‘religious’, wordy prayers - He just wants you to talk to him! Ask God in your prayers to make you more like Jesus, to understand your Bible, and to bless you with gifts to live in a way that pleases Him (Ephesians 5:10).
  • If you go astray and do things that you know God wouldn’t like, don’t run and hide! Just tell God in your prayers and ask His forgiveness. The Bible, tells us “You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5)
  • Enjoy getting to know Jesus! .

“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6)

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Jesus appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14)

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified our sinful nature. (from Galatians 5:22-25)

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. (Romans 10:9)

Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

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