How do I convert to Christianity?
Answered from the commentary of A. J. Pollock, C. H. Mackintosh, J. T. Mawson and 17 others
The way to become a Christian is "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21), the two hinges on which the door of blessing swings. Repentance is not just fear of what sin brings, nor even sorrow for it. It is a complete turn, in which the soul judges itself and its ways in God's sight and takes God's side against itself. Turning to God is conversion, and repentance and conversion are distinct yet never separated.
Faith is believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. When the jailer asked what he must do, the answer was simply, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Nothing has to be done to earn this, because Christ has done the work. Salvation is "by grace … through faith … not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9). So a person comes to Christ just as he is, as a lost sinner, and does not first try to make himself better. Christ has said, "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).
With the heart he believes that God raised Jesus from the dead, and with the mouth he confesses Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). That confession means open subjection to His will. Without it, these authors would not speak of a person as saved. Repentance and faith are themselves God's gift, and the new birth is His sovereign work by the Spirit through the word. Yet God commands all men to repent and believe. No one becomes a Christian through Christian parents, a Christian country, a religious upbringing or any outward rite, but only by having to do with Christ and His atoning blood.
Baptism follows faith. Most of these authors hold that it has no saving power before God, since the unbeliever is condemned whether baptized or not (Mark 16:16). Yet they do not let it be refused. It is the Lord's appointed sign, the outward entry into Christian profession and the cutting of links with the world. To refuse it on principle is to despise His authority. A smaller number go further and say that baptism does save, but only in an outward, earthly and governmental sense, not for eternity.
The believer is not to look to his feelings for certainty. His assurance rests on what God's word says to everyone who believes. He should be welcomed into fellowship with other believers without delay. He should also count the cost honestly, because following a rejected Christ costs something in this world (Luke 14:25-33). Salvation cost Christ everything and the sinner nothing, but discipleship asks the believer to put Christ first and bear the cross.
Verses: John 6:37, Mark 16:16, Luke 14:25, Luke 14:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:28, Luke 14:29, Luke 14:30, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32, Luke 14:33, Romans 10:9, Romans 10:10, Acts 2:38, John 3:16, John 1:12, Acts 16:30, Acts 16:31, Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:8, Ephesians 2:9, John 3:3, John 3:4, John 3:5, John 3:6, John 3:7, Acts 3:19, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:9, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Mark 1:15, Matthew 28:19, Matthew 28:20, Romans 6:3, Romans 6:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Revelation 3:20, Titus 3:5, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 Corinthians 15:4, John 5:24, Acts 20:21, Galatians 2:20, Luke 15:7, Matthew 16:24, Hebrews 11:6, Acts 22:16, 1 John 5:11, 1 John 5:12, 1 John 5:13, Romans 10:17, Luke 24:47, Acts 17:30, Matthew 11:28, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 11:30, 1 Peter 3:18, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 3:27
The above is AI generated summary based on the writers below.
What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
"As many as received him, to them gave he power [authority] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" ( John 1:12). To become a Christian one must receive Christ by faith into one's heart as the sent one of God, as one's own personal Savior. Like Zacchaeus of old, one must "come down" and receive Him joyfully (Luke 19:6).
We beg of you, unconverted reader, to turn to God in real repentance of soul, and trust the Lord Jesus as your Saviour. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Be persuaded to turn at this moment towards God in repentance, and in simple faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:34).
Another reason He came into this scene is seen in Mark 2:17 where the Lord said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". So if you are a sinner tonight, boy or girl, man or woman, if you know you are a lost sinner, the Lord Jesus has come to call you unto Himself. You can come to the Lord Jesus Christ as a sinner and repent of your sins and take Him as your own personal Saviour and leave here rejoicing knowing your sins are forgiven.
Naturally the subject-matter points to his work from the beginning of his arrival at Ephesus, but also to that which every soul needs as the first testimony of the gospel. Hence we hear of testifying to Jews and Greeks. It is what every man wants that he may come to God. Repentance and faith are inseparable where there is reality, and the language is as precise as we are entitled to expect from one who not only had the mind of God but expressed it like the apostle. As there is no genuine repentance without faith, so there is no faith of God's elect without repentance. Repentance toward God is the soul judging itself, and confessing its ways as in His sight. Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ is the soul receiving the good news God sends concerning His Son. 'Repent', said Peter on the day of Pentecost to the Jews already pricked in heart, who accepted the word and set to their seal that God is true. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house,' said Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailer and to all that were in his house. How unfounded it would be to imagine that in the one case there was repentance without faith, or, in the other, faith on the Lord Jesus Christ without repentance toward God! In a divine work both are given and found.
"But must I not first repent?" Let me then ask, What is meant by repentance? It is simply taking the place of self-judgment, the place of a sinner before God, taking God's view about my sins. The confusion arises from the misconception that it signifies "the feeling sorry for, and the determination to forsake, sin"; and hence many probe themselves to discover whether they are in this state of mind. But the only thing you have to consider is, Do I know that I am a sinner? and, Do I accept God's judgment of myself as a sinner? If you do, there is nothing on God's part between you and the sinner's Saviour. For the only message of the gospel is, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house (Acts 16:31).
We do not become Christians by being born of Christian parents, or because our lot has been cast in what is called a Christian country, or because we have been religiously educated, or by attending to any outward ordinances, or by being associated with any who are truly saints of God. No; we only become Christians by having to do with Christ and His atoning blood. Whatever may have been our previous history or character, we are far from God, and enemies to God, till we are reconciled to God by the death His Son. If I were asked to give, in a few words of Scripture, the true definition of what a Christian is, I do not think I could give a better reply than we find in the latter part of this verse, viz., one who was "far off," but is now in Christ "made nigh" to God by His blood.
Now Christian baptism is a rite which is incumbent on all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God makes that plain. But to make it necessary for salvation is highly unscriptural. It is dead against the tenor of Scripture. Mr. Roberts quotes a number of examples to support his theory, but in truth they are destructive of it. He quotes the Day of Pentecost, when the convicted hearers asked the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The answer was; “Repent, and be baptised 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 2:38).
They were to go into all the world and present the gospel to every creature. "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned." It would be contrary to the truth to deduce from this passage that baptism has any saving power before God, for the essential truth is believing the gospel. Therefore, it is not said, "He that believes not, and is not baptized shall be condemned." As one has said, "Unbelief was the fatal evil above all to be dreaded. Whether a man was baptized or not, if he did not believe, he must be condemned." Baptism has this importance that it is the open sign before men of the faith before God. The man who professes to believe and yet refuses to be baptized is practically seeking to hide his profession of faith in order that he may keep in with the world. We may well question the reality of that man's faith. The true believer will confess his faith by separating from the world. Baptism is the sign of death, the great separator. By being baptized the believer leaves the world to come into the Christian sphere on earth amongst God's people.
People who may think of becoming disciples, as well as disciples, ought to know that the cross is the disciple's present portion. In Mark 8:34, we find the same account as above: but it is added here that He "called the people with his disciples also," which shows how He wishes those who think of becoming disciples to know it is present suffering they come to. Unless a man does see what Christ has to give, in reality, and from what to deliver, he had better stop a moment ere he says, "I will be thy disciple." Stop and count the cost. But let him also, while so stopping, count both sides of the question; — what the issue will be if he tarries where he is; that is, what fearful wrath is coming on the place, and how there he cannot have the kingdom and glory which Christ gives to those that come to Him; and then let him look to it, that he set not out on the way in his own strength.
Verses
- John 6:37All that the Father gives me shall come to me, and him that comes to me I will not at all cast out.
- Mark 16:16He that believes and is baptised shall be saved, and he that disbelieves shall be condemned.
- Luke 14:25–3325And great crowds went with him; and, turning round, he said to them, 26If any man come to me, and shall not hate his own father and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple; 27and whoever does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what [is needed] to complete it; 29in order that, having laid the foundation of it, and not being able to finish it, all who see it do not begin to mock at him, 30saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish? 31Or what king, going on his way to engage in war with another king, does not, sitting down first, take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him coming against him with twenty thousand? 32and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace. 33Thus then every one of you who forsakes not all that is his own cannot be my disciple.