Becoming A Christian
We read in
the New Testament that the apostle Paul preached, and the peoples’ response was
“noble” (Acts 17:11). The same verse
tells us that their response was noble because they “studied the Scriptures
every day to see if what they were now being told was true.” They did not just
take Paul’s word for it. They read God’s
word for themselves. We, in the
“churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), would encourage you to do the same
thing.
God
condemned the commandments of men because they turned people away from Him
(Matthew 15:9; Titus 1:14). As we seek
God’s will for our lives we must let His word guide us.
As we read
the New Testament, we read about a cross-section of people and events. The Bible does not teach everything about God
in one verse or even several chapters.
Likewise, it does not say everything about salvation in one or two
verses. As we study the Bible we are
constantly learning, and growing in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 2:2).
With these
thoughts in mind, let’s go back to a time when denominationalism did not
exist. Let’s go back to a time when
God’s Son and His apostles lived here on the earth and led people from “darkness to light, and from the power of
Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).
If men were turned from their sins and saved by God in the first
century, then we, too, can be saved in this same way today. What did Christ and his apostles teach these
people?
The Bible
says that men receive God’s gift of salvation by:
Ø Having faith in God
Faith is a justified, true belief. Based upon the reveled nature of God, His
care and love, his power and sovereignty, we believe that the overwhelming
evidence demands the conclusion that God exists and through His Son, Jesus
Christ, God is “reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Hebrews
11:6; Romans 3:22; John 8:24; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8; Galatians 3:22,26;
Galatians 5:6). We come to have this
faith by hearing or reading the gospel message (Romans 10:17; John 20:29-31).
Ø Changing their lives in repentance
Faith in God calls us to holy living and this
involves change (2 Peter 3:11; Matthew 3:8; Luke 5:32; Acts 26:20; 2
Corinthians 7:10; 2 Peter 3:9). These
scriptures show us that repentance is vital in our getting connected to God
through his Salvation. In the Bible
Repentance is sometimes referred to as a “turning”(Acts 14:15; Acts 26:28; 1
Peter 3:11). Specifically, it is a turning
towards God. This implies a turning away
from the sinful things that we once did.
The apostle Paul said in Romans 6:21 that those Christians were
“ashamed” of their former sins. This
indicates that they no longer were involved in those things.
Ø
Willingly confessing that Jesus Christ is God’s Son
The Scriptures teach us that the Christians’
life is to be one of confession. It is
not unusual that those who were becoming Christians confessed Christ as Lord
(Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 8:37; Acts 19:18; 1 John 4:15 also 1 Timothy
6:13). Jesus said that He would confess
those people who would confess Him.
From Romans 10:9-10 we see that this life of confession started prior to
or “unto” salvation. Like meeting new
and wonderful friends, our natural response is to tell people about them. So, we should tell people about the Lord.
Ø
Being immersed (baptized) in water
As the purpose of baptism is often questioned, it may be helpful if we spend a little more time on it than we have on the previous thoughts. As was mentioned above, the Bible does not give all its information about a given subject in one or two verses. However, whatever it says will be consistent with what God has already taught on the subject.
The Bible teaches that baptism is involved in one’s becoming a Christian. Mark 16:15-16, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” As John 3:18 says that those who do not believe are “condemned already” let’s focus our attention on those who want to be saved. In verse 16 Jesus’ words are simple: “he shall be saved.” Who shall be saved? “He that believes and is baptized.” Jesus did not say, “He that believes shall be saved.” Nor did He say, “He that is baptized shall be saved.” He said the one who shall be saved is the one who has believed and who has been baptized. Notice that Christ promised salvation to those who have (1) believed and (2) been baptized. Today, many good people think that Christ said, “He that believes is saved and should, later, be baptized for church membership.” This is not what Jesus said. This is not what His apostles taught.
In Acts 2:14ff, the apostle Peter preached this “gospel” (Mark16:15) to the same people who had crucified Christ. Believing what Peter was saying, they interrupted his sermon and asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38). That they believed is obvious from their question and response to Peter’s answer (2:41). Peter’s answer was about “the remission of sins.” What he told them is simple. They had crucified the Lord (Acts 2:36). Of this, and other sins, they needed to repent. Further, they needed to baptized “for the remission of sins” (2:38). So far, Peter has followed what the Lord taught him in Mark 16:16, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”
Some religions teach that these people (in Acts 2:14ff) were to be baptized “because of” the remission of their sins. In other words, they were saved because they had believed and repented. Now, they should be baptized because they were already forgiven. But, is this what Peter said? Is this what Christ taught them in Mark 16:16? A simple comparison will explain what “for the remission of sins” means.
In Matthew 26:28, Christ said, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Notice that Christ’s blood was shed “for the remission of sins.” Some religions teach that “for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38 means, “because they already had” the remission of sins. Now if “for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38 means, “because they already had” the remission of sins then it should mean the same thing in Matthew 26:28. But if it does then Christ’s death was completely unnecessary! Can we believe that prior to Christ’s death, man already had the remission of his sins? Christ died that we may obtain the remission of our sins (Matthew 1:21-23). Likewise, those people in Acts 2:38 were baptized to obtain the remission of sins. As simple as it is to understand in Matthew 26:28 is a simple as it is in Acts 2:38.
When one is baptized, his sins are “washed away” (Acts 22:16). He receives the Spirit of God (Acts 2:38). He is “in Christ” (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). He has been “buried with Christ” and has a “new life” (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
Lastly, 1 Peter 3:21 says, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” If this verse teaches anything at all it teaches that baptism is involved in one’s becoming saved. If baptism saves in any sense, then we must be baptized to be saved.
We encourage you to study your Bible, ask questions and learn. It is God’s truth that will set us free from our sins (John 8:32). May God bless you as you search for His will in your life.