<![CDATA[
<BODY text="#000000" link="#FF0000" vlink="#0000FF" background="offwhite1.jpg">
<CENTER>
<IMG SRC="becoming-head.gif" width="288" height="192">
<P>
<IMG SRC="bible1.gif" BORDER="0" width="162" height="122">
<P>
<BR>
<P>
<FONT size=+1><A href="CDS.html">(This information is now available on audio
CD!)</A></FONT>
</CENTER>
<P>
(The purpose of this page is to present a more lengthy explanation of how
to become a Christian. It is a more detailed presentation of the gospel.)
<P>
<FONT size=+1>It is important to remember that the Bible teaches that eternal
life is a <I>gift</I>. It is <I>not</I> something you <I>attain</I> by jumping
through certain hoops (e.g. baptism, church membership, living by the golden
rule, etc.) or by just "being real good."</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT color="#000000"><FONT size=+1>"For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, <U>it is the gift of God</U>;
not as a result of works, that no one should boast." <I>(Ephesians
2:8-9)</I></FONT></FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>In fact the Bible teaches that if you wanted to be <I>good
enough</I> to earn eternal life, it would be necessary for you to be <I>
perfect</I>!</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>"For as many as are of the works of the law are under
the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not <U>in
all things</U> which are written in the book of the law to do them." (Galatians
3:10)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend
<U>in one point</U>, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>Now, of course, none of us is perfect! When I think about the
number of times I have lost my temper, told "little white lies," was arrogant,
etc., it is easy for me to recognize that I am FAR, FAR away from perfection!
How about you?</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>And the Bible says it clearly.</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>"For <U>all</U> have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God;" (Romans 3:23)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and
the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>Most people would not argue the fact that they have sinned,
and sinned a lot. A few might try to "redefine" sin to include only the kinds
of things they have not done (e.g. robbing banks, killing people, etc.).
And some others may be unwilling to stop and try to remember all the times
they have "blown it." (Someone has said that anyone who claims to have a
clear conscience is really only admitting that he has a poor memory!)</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>It is also important to take time to understand something about
the nature of the true God. Most people think of God as being a God of infinite
love and mercy and grace. And He certainly is that. But there is more to
God than just pure love. The Bible teaches that He is also <I>just</I>. The
Bible teaches that <I>He hates sin</I>!</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever
a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not
look on iniquity:" (Habakkuk 1:13)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy,
and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs
8:13)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and
death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
(Romans 5:12)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>THIS IS THE GREAT PROBLEM OF MANKIND! We are all guilty of
sin. And the consequences of sin is <I>death</I>!</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, provided a solution
for mankind's dilemma. And the solution is the Lord Jesus Christ.</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>The Lord Jesus Christ is God. He is the Second Person of the
Trinity, who became a human being for a very specific purpose. Please don't
pass over this point too quickly. He is God. The Scriptures make that very
plain.</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily." (Colossians 2:9)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifest in the flesh," (1 Timothy 3:16)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>But why did God become a man? He came for one purpose.
He came to die. He came to pay the penalty for sin. When He died, His death
fulfilled and satisfied the fundamental law of the universe that requires
death as the consequence of sin. (By the way, in physics, this fundamental
law is called the Second Law of Thermodynamics. You may wish to do some study
here.)</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>Afterward, Jesus rose from the dead, proving that death had
no personal claim on Him, since He had lived a life without sin.</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us
all." (Isaiah 53:6)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for
the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,
but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3:18)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us
from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:"
(Galatians 1:4)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>" But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death:
because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts
2:24)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Corinthians 15:20)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>Of course, even though He died to pay the penalty for sin and
rose again, it does not mean that everyone receives eternal life automatically.
The Bible teaches that only those who are "in Him" receive eternal life.
And the way to know that you are "in Him" is simply to receive Him, by faith,
as your personal Lord and Savior.</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT color="#000000"><FONT size=+1>"But as many as received Him,
to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe
in His name." <I>(John 1:12)</I></FONT></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT color="#000000"><FONT size=+1>"If you confess with your mouth Jesus
as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
shall be saved." <I>(Romans 10:9)</I></FONT></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT color="#000000"><FONT size=+1>"For God so loved the world, that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have eternal life."<I> (John 3:16)</I></FONT></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk ye in him:" (Colossians 2:6)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans
8:1)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>The Bible teaches that there is coming a time when our Lord
Jesus Christ shall return. And when He returns, he will raise us up to glory
and immortality. We shall live with Him forever.</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><FONT size=+1>" Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they
that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done
evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)</FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+1>"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one
which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and
I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)</FONT></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>Are you ready to receive Him? You can do it now, even while
you are looking at your computer screen! Here is a sample prayer. Remember,
these are not magic words. They are only designed to help you express the
state of your heart to God. But if you can honestly pray this prayer, you
will begin a new life in Christ Jesus today!</FONT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE CELLPADDING=20 >
<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD><B><I><FONT color="#000000"><FONT size=+1>"Lord Jesus, I believe that
you are God the Son, Who became a human being like me in order to give Your
life for me. I believe that you defeated death and hell when you rose to
life from the dead. I confess that I have sinned, and I'm sorry for my sin.
Come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. The desire of my
heart is to live my life for You. Enable me to be the person You want me
to be. Thank you for forgiving my sin, and for giving me eternal
life."</FONT></FONT></I></B></TD>
<TD></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
</CENTER>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>If you have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal
Lord and Savior, or if you have questions or comments, would you please
<A href="mailto:steve@aboundingjoy.com">let me know </A>so that I can pray
for you and perhaps help you to grow in Christian maturity? I promise that
you will in no way be harassed!</FONT>
<P>
<FONT size=+1>May God bless you richly as you seek to grow in Him!</FONT>
<CENTER>
<B><FONT size=+2><A href="index.html" TARGET="_top">Go to Abounding Joy Home
Page</A></FONT></B>
<P>
<B><FONT size=+2><A href="mailto:steve@aboundingjoy.com">Send us
email!</A></FONT></B>
<P>
<A href="Maintoc.html" TARGET="_top">Go to Main Table of Contents</A>
<BR>
<A href="Maintoc.html" TARGET="_top">(For browsers without frames)</A>
</CENTER>
</BODY>]]>