Plan of Salvation

How does one become a Christian?  Someone has put it this way: God, Man, Christ, Response.

The God who created the heavens and the earth created you in His image.  He is love, He is righteous and holy, and He is worth knowing (Gen. 1:1, 27; Isaiah 6:3; 55:9; 1 John 4:16).

Man…Mankind was perfect until the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  The first man and woman doubted God’s word and chose to disobey God, thereby bringing evil into their lives and to this earth.  Ever since, people are sinners by nature and by choice.   We are in rebellion against a holy God.  We cannot save ourselves.   We can never be good enough - left to ourselves - to qualify for heaven, because God is holy and we are not (Gen. 3; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23).

Christ came from heaven to save sinners.  He was God, and is God: God’s only Son, God in the flesh.  He left heaven to become a Man, to take our sin upon Himself, that whoever believes in Him should not perish in a place called hell, but have everlasting life in a wonderful place called heaven, as well as abundant life now.  Only God Himself could provide the perfect sacrifice for our sins: His only Son, Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14; 3:16; 10:10; Romans 5:8; 6:23).

Response…Our response to be His disciple must be to repent of our sin and to submit our lives to Him, holding nothing back.  We must realize that sin is so awful that it cost God His only Son.  No one comes to the Father, except through the Son.  There are not many ways to heaven, only one (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-10; 1 John 5:11-12). Have you come to Christ in repentance and faith?  Do not delay.  Pray right now acknowledging God’s holiness, power, and authority, agreeing with Him about your sinfulness and need for a Savior, repent, and trust Christ to save you, guide you, direct and protect you.

Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life (Eph. 4:22-24; 2 Cor. 5:17-21).  That is what Jesus says by the three conditions of discipleship in Luke 9:23: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (NASB)”  If you want to be a true disciple of Christ, it involves denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, and following Christ.