What Must I do to Become a Christian?

The Bible says there are one of two places a person will go after they die: heaven or hell.  However, you may say, “I donot believe in hell!”  The intensity by which one believes something does not change the truth of something.  For instance, if I believed really, really hard that I could defy gravity by my mere mental power; would my sincere belief change the law of gravity?  Of course not!  If I sincerely believed that gravity was a hoax, and jumped out of a Boeing 747, I would not live too long...  One’s fervor in belief does not change truth and reality.  God’s word says that all lawbreakers will have their place in the lake of fire, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).  Hell is forever (Revelation 20:10).  This is because our punishment needs to be eternal, because the sin is against an eternal God.
Sin is basically missing the mark of God’s standard found in His law.  On judgment day God will judge each according to His works (Romans 2:5-6).  How will you measure up?  Will you be good enough to get into heaven?  Let’s look through a few of God’s laws and see…  Have you ever told a lie?  Even just a white lie or half truth?  The Bible says that all liars will have there place in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).  Have you ever stolen anything?  The value and size of the object does not matter. 

How about murder?  Jesus said if you hate someone you commit murder of the heart (Matthew 5:22).  Have you ever hated someone?  Get this – Jesus said that if you look at a person with lust, you commit adultery with that person in your heart.  Have you ever looked with lust?  The Bible says that murderers and adulterers cannot go to heaven (Revelation 22:15).  God’s standard goes deeper: he even judges our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts (Psalm 94:11; Psalm 17:3)!  How did you do?  We only looked at four of the Ten Commandments.  The truth is that we have all sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

Jesus came to the earth to take our punishment for sin by dying on the cross for our sins.  God’s entire wrath that was meant for us because of breaking His law, was poured out on His only Son.  Although Jesus knew no sin, He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Think of a court scene…  You have broken God’s laws, and you stand guilty – condemned and ready for the death penalty.  Jesus then steps in and says that He will die in your place!  Would you turn down that incredible grace and love?
So the question then becomes: what must we do to be saved?  We need to do two things. 
First of all you need to humble yourself and repent.  God’s amazing kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).  Repentance is confessing our sins to God.  Yet it is not only that…  One must have a complete change of mind.  It’s like doing a 180.  Imagine this, I’m driving you along the east coast to Maine and I say to you, “sorry, I’m going in the wrong direction, I’m going to turn around and head south to Flordia.”  Yet I do not turn around and keep going to Maine.  Is that repentance?  No.  Repentance is not mere words; it is when people forsake their sins and do a 180, they used to be going towards sin, but now they have turned around and are going towards God.  This does not mean Christians do not sin, rather, after repentance they are at a continual war against sin. 
Secondly, we need to respond in belief to Jesus (Mark 16:16).  This is not mere head knowledge.  The demons believe in God, and they tremble (Jas. 2:19).  They are obviously not going to heaven.  So it takes more than knowing of and accepting Jesus; there needs to be a belief called trust.  One must put their complete trust in the work of Jesus like one puts their trust in a bungee cord before taking the jump.  In the same way you need to trust Jesus as if your life was… on the line.  If you do this, you will be saved.  You will receive the righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:22), and will be able to spend an eternity praising God for His incredible grace and mercy.

Don’t wait – eternity is a long time; eternal life is not something to gamble with.  Repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ today for your salvation!