How To Become a Christian

I. Terminology

The word “become” is used in English as an active term, but salvation is something God gives, not something we earn.
John 1:12 says that those who believe on Christ were given the power to become the sons of God.
The word “Christian” is used three times in the Bible (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
Though broad in meaning, “Christian” is the most recognized word for a follower of Christ.

Salvation is not faith plus repentance, confession, or works.
Romans 3:28 teaches that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:4–5 says that the one who does not work but believes is counted righteous by faith.
There is no such thing as different kinds of faith; there is only faith or no faith.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is confidence in unseen realities, as shown in 2 Corinthians 5:7 where we walk by faith and not by sight.
Faith is not a work, but a conviction produced when we are persuaded by evidence.
Faith requires the mind, because Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Faith develops through a process: you hear a claim, you evaluate the evidence, and if you are persuaded, you trust it.

God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1).
God made mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27).
God gave mankind free will as part of bearing His image.
God gave Adam one prohibition, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17).
Adam disobeyed, and through his sin death entered the world (Romans 5:12).
Even after the fall, mankind still bears God’s image (Genesis 9:6; James 3:9).
What was lost was not human nature but access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22–24).

God first promised a Savior in Genesis 3:15.
The Old Testament records the anticipation of this promised Savior (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2).
The Savior came in Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:11).
Jesus was the fulness of God in bodily form (Colossians 2:9).
Jesus was rejected and crucified (Acts 2:23).
God raised Him from the dead because death could not hold Him (Acts 2:24).

Through Paul’s ministry, Jesus now offers reconciliation to the world (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Salvation is by grace through faith, and not of works (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Jesus has the authority to extend this grace because He confirmed the promises made to the fathers (Romans 15:8).

To become a Christian, you must believe the biblical worldview, trust that Jesus is the Savior who died, was buried, and rose again, and receive His grace-offer of eternal life.
Acts 16:31 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by prayer, baptism, or ritual.
Becoming a Christian means accepting God’s testimony as true and trusting it fully.

Interested in learning how to become a Christian? Start Here!

We answer your theology questions!