God's Purpose

The point is one can be religious without necessarily being Christian. Let me explain. True, Christianity is a religion, but it's much more than that. It's also much more than believing a creed. It's a relationship with God and people. It's knowing God personally, experiencing His divine love and forgiveness, and communicating this to every life we touch.

We start by realizing that no matter what we have ever done or have failed to do, God loves us and is vitally interested in our total life--both for this life as well as the next. In fact, Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And again, "I came that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

Man's Problem

Unfortunately, it is our wrongdoing or sin that blocks out our experiencing God's love and receiving the full and abundant life that He has for us. And let's face it, "We have all sinned and fallen short of God's standard" (Romans 3:23). Sin, of course, is not merely doing wrongful acts. It is anything that falls short of the perfection that God envisioned for us--including our damaged emotions, negative attitudes, and mixed motives.

Punishment for sin comes from the wrongdoing itself. Sin has its own self destructive consequences--first spiritual death and ultimately eternal death (Romans 6:23); that is eternal separation from God, the Author of all love and life.

Christ's Answer

Because our sin has separated us from God, we have been left with a "God-shaped vacuum" or spiritual emptiness. The world's many religions are all evidence of mankind's endless struggle to fill this vacuum. And our relentless search for inner peace through pleasure seeking, power, fame, fortune, drugs, and mystical experiences all tell of our inner emptiness.

As it is impossible for us to find God or peace with Him through our own efforts, God in His love and mercy sent His own sinless Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our predicament (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christ did this by dying on the cross in our place to pay the ransom price for our sins--which was death (I Timothy 2:5-6). Thus Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin and He is the only way back to God and eternal life (John 14:6 and Romans 5:8).

Your Response

Through the consequences of sin we are all condemned to eternal death. But because Christ died on the cross in our place and paid our ransom, God now offers us a free pardon. All we need to do is to respond to God's love and accept His pardon.

How can we do this?

First, confess. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).

Second, repent. Turn from sin to God. Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15).

Third, believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Fourth, receive. Again God said, "To all who received Him [Christ], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

It is responding to God's offer of a free pardon for your sin, accepting His forgiveness and making a commitment of your life to Christ that makes you a real Christian. To help you do that, pray the following prayer either out loud or just in your heart:

"Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. I genuinely repent of my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. And Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that You died on the cross for my sin. I now respond to your call to follow You. I receive you as my Lord and Savior-- and make a commitment of my life to you. With Your help I choose to serve and obey You. Please make me the person You want me to be. Thank You for dying for my sin, for Your free pardon, for Your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen."

Here's Great Assurance

If you sincerely confessed your sin and prayed to receive Christ, you are now a true Christian and have the gift of eternal life. You are a brand new person inside with a new spiritual life. You are a child of God and a member of His family (2 Corinthians 5:17 and John 1:12). God promises all of this. So believe it. Accept it. Take it by faith and not feelings. Feelings change, but God's Word never does.