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How Does a Person Become a Christian?

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Each month, we will be highlighting a particular theological topic here at the BLB blog. This month, we are highlighting the topic of soteriology—the doctrine of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Bible says a person becomes a Christian when he places his faith in Jesus Christ. This is known as being saved or born again.

Must Be Born Again

The Bible teaches that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born again.

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God’
(John 3:3)

Hence, being born again is absolutely essential to becoming a Christian.

Faith In Jesus

To become born again, a person must put their faith in Jesus as Savior. The Bible says:

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation
(Romans 10:9,10)

This requires an act of the will.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on his name
(John 1:12)

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
(Ephesians 1:13).

Relationship

Becoming a Christian involves entering into a relationship with the Living God.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent
(John 17:3)

Eternal Transaction

When a person trusts Christ it is forever:

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life
(John 3:36)

One does not become a Christian by natural birth self-determination, or self-improvement. It is by a supernatural work of God and by admitting we cannot reach God through our own strength. We must come to the place where we ask the Lord to forgive us our sins based upon the sacrifice of Christ. The Bible is clear on this matter—without being saved or born again a person cannot enter God’s kingdom.

(adapted from the FAQs of Don Stewart the Bible Exlorer, available at the Blue Letter Bible)

Comments

    • Hi, Roger. It is not a prerequisite. The Bible does not that baptism adds to salvation, nor does it teach that a person is not saved until they are baptized (1 Cor 1:17). Nevertheless, Christians are commanded to be baptized (Acts 2:38); it just just not a prerequisite. I hope that helps!

  3. The gospel is most clear in I Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

    If you believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as atonement for your sins, you have eternal life. It’s as simple as that!

    • I agree, yet I question those who make that affirmation without any fruits in their life, (no reading of the Bible, no interest in a conversation concerning spiritual mstters,no church, no ackgowledging Jesus whenever a door is opened, or they may be simply religious. They are in their particular house of “worship” regularly, yet the emphasis there is on works. I have in my family those that will say “all you have to believe is that Jesus died for your sins”, yet there is not one shred of evidence in their lives that would convict them of being a born again, saved through grace christian. My hope is that they will be saved, “yet so as by fire”.

      • You will know them by their fruit. When someone is truly born again that new birth will bring forth the change that many will see. Their new life begins after birth and now as our flesh needs to be fed so does our new spiritual being in Christ, needs the Word to keep on growing to produce the fruit that many will see to know that one has been truly saved.Wishing to be saved, or trying to save another, well, its not the truth. YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT. That is the eveidence. Be blessed my friend and keep praying and fasting for the ones you love.

      • Sounds like they are living in Romans 6:1, continuing in sin that grace may abound. That is sad, since Romans 6:2 says they are dead to sin. Nevertheless, because their salvation is not based on works, they will be, as you say, “saved yet so as by fire” (I Corinthians 3:15).

  4. Eric’,
    I would like to say, it takes more than just believing in the death, burial and ressurection of Jesus. If thats all it takes to be saved everyone would be saved but unfortunantley this is not the case. The Word tells us in Acts 2:38 we have to repent, be baptized in the Name of Jesus. The Word also tells us in Mathew 7:20 we must show fruit. How do we show fruit if we’re not preaching to the nations which is also declared in the Word. God tells us we must turn from our wicked ways. So if we study God’s Word carefully there is much work needed to be done then just saying I believe in the ressurection.

    • Romans 10: 9 says: because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

      All that you have to do is believe in Christ from a regenerated heart. The works will come afterward. We are saved by grace through faith alone.

  5. In John 3, God tells Nicodemus we must be born again of the water and of the Holy Spirit (which is God’s Spirit) he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

  6. salvation is faith alone in Christ alone and any works added negates the faith: for by GRACE we have been saved through FAITH (alone) and that (salvation) is not of ourselves it is a GIFT from God not of works lest anyone boast. you cannot add ADMITTING OR ASKING to faith alone and be saved. you must not try to help the Holy Spirit who CONVICTS ‘of sin because they believe not in Me’ or the Father who blots out (forgives) all pre-salvation sin at the moment of salvation (Isa 43:25; 44:22)and forgives post-salvation sins when you admit them to Him (1Jn 1:9). if you reject Rebound(1Jn 1:9) in life then at death your(the believer) post-salvation sins are forgiven (Isa 22:14).

  7. How many times does Jesus call one of His own a Christian? How many times does God the Father call one of His own Christians? The word Christian(s) is only used three times in the Scriptures, yet sons/children of God is use well over 20.

    What does it take to be called a son of God?
    Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

    How does someone get God’s Spirit?
    Take a look at Hebrews 6:1-2. This is God’s order. These are the elementary teachings of Christ. Today there are so many different “ways” to God because people have no FOUNDATION. Their not building their house on the ROCK but just pieces of it.

    What happens if you take a single word or thought out of the Bible?
    Rev 22:18-19 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

    So what happens if you take away one of the elementary teachings of Jesus? How about Baptism(s)? Most people say this has nothing to do with salvation…well thats why the first principle is repentance – Change your mind. Its a command! Actually repentance is salvation, faith is salvation, baptism is salvation! If you get baptized without repenting, you are just getting wet. Look at what John the Baptist told the Pharisees when they went to get baptized – bear fruit worthy of repentance! If have to change your mind/ways before taking part of it. Baptism is a death. If you do not bury a seed what will happen to that seed – NOTHING. It must be buried and die to produce fruit. Look at Romans 6 about baptism/death. This is why most churches today are not bearing the Fruit of the Spirit – they have not died because they believe baptism is not essential unless you want to join the church. But unless you are baptized by someone with the Holy Spirit – NOTHING will happen. You can not give something that you yourself do not posses.

    Hebrews 6:1-2 STUDY THEM OUT and DO THEM.