How To Become A Christian
Becoming a Christian is one of the most important decisions a person can ever make. Deep down, many of us wonder the same question: How can I be saved? Maybe you’ve thought about God, eternity, or whether your past disqualifies you from His love. The good news is that salvation isn’t about trying harder or being “good enough.” It’s about saying yes to God’s invitation of love, grace, and forgiveness.
How Can I Be Saved?
To be “saved” means to be rescued—rescued from sin, shame, and separation from God. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). None of us can earn our way into heaven by our own efforts. That’s why Jesus came.
Through His death on the cross and His resurrection, Jesus paid the price for our sins and opened the way for us to have a restored relationship with God. Being saved isn’t about religion or even about church, it’s about beginning a personal relationship with Him.
THE FREE GIFT OF GRACE
How can I accept God’s invitation to salvation?
The RSVP to God’s Invitation
R – Realize Your Need
The first step is humbling yourself before God. We all want to appear strong, capable, and put-together. But the truth is, we’re messy. We’ve made mistakes. We need a Savior.
Recognizing your sin is not about shame—it’s about honesty. Until you acknowledge your brokenness, you can’t experience God’s healing.
S – Say You’re Sorry
This is called repentance. It means turning away from your old life and turning toward God. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.”
Repentance isn’t just about feeling bad—it’s about choosing a new direction. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to be willing to surrender and let God lead.
V – Verbalize Your Faith
Romans 10:9 promises, “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.”
Becoming a Christian is not silent or secret. It’s declaring your trust in Jesus—believing He is who He said He is and surrendering your life to Him.
P – Plunge your past in baptism
Baptism is the outward expression of an inward decision. It symbolizes being buried with Christ and raised to new life (Romans 6:4). When you go under the water, it represents leaving your old life behind. When you rise, it shows that you’ve been made new in Jesus.
It’s your chance to go public with your faith and say, “I belong to Christ.”
How About My Past
One of the most common questions people ask is, “Can God really forgive me?” The answer is YES. The Bible is full of people with broken pasts who were made new by God’s grace—prostitutes, thieves, liars, even murderers.
No matter what you’ve done, Jesus’ sacrifice covers it all. His invitation is for the forgotten, the hurting, and the messy. That means it’s for you.
Today Is the Best Day to Decide
In Acts 22:16 we read: “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.”
So many people wait—thinking they need to clean up their life first, or know more about the Bible, or attend church a certain number of times. But in the New Testament, when people heard about Jesus, they responded immediately. They didn’t wait for the “perfect moment.”
Friend, there’s no better time than now.
pray this prayer now
If you’re ready to take that step, here’s a simple prayer you can make your own:
“God, I realize I am a sinner in need of Your grace. I’m sorry for my sin and I want to turn my life toward You. I believe Jesus died for me and rose again. Today, I put my faith in Him and I want to follow You. Amen.”
Praying this isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting line of a new life in Christ.
Next Steps After Saying Yes to Jesus
- Get Baptized. Don’t put it off. It’s the next step of obedience.
- Read God’s Word. Start this 21 day devotional or read the Gospel of John to understand who Jesus is.
- Join a Community. Faith was never meant to be lived alone – join a group. It is also important to find a church family that helps you grow.
Keep Walking Forward. Following Jesus is a daily decision, but you’ll never walk alone.
Our team has compiled some of the most frequently asked questions we get about faith and Christianity as it relates to life, morality, current events, the end of the world, and more. We will explore these questions in ways that I think you’ll find surprising! Why take on these controversial topics? Because these questions are often roadblocks for people when it comes to faith and Christianity. For more discussions on these topics, you can read Eastside’s Got Questions Blog and check out the series You Asked For It.
Author: Gene Appel
Eastside Christian Church
Anaheim, CA
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This gift of salvation is for everyone.
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