Becoming a Christian

What does it mean to have a relationship with God? How does that happen? Many people think that being a Christian is the same as being religious or doing good things. Others think of a Christian as a person who merely "goes to heaven" when they die.

The Bible gives us a clear explanation of what it means to be a Christian. The following illustration, called "The Bridge", can help you to understand what it means to be a Christian. The acrostic C.R.O.S.S. provides an explanation of the Bridge illustration. (Bridge illustration adapted from the Navigators).

"C" - Created for Love
"R" - Radically Separated
"O" - Offer of Gift
"S" - Say Yes to Receive
"S" - Secure Forever

"C" - Created for Love

God created every person with a divine purpose. That purpose is to experience God's love and understand the plan that He has for your life. When was the last time you realized that the reason you are alive is to know God's love and experience his plan for your life!? The bible states, "Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. Everything has been created through him and for him." Colossians 1:16 (NLT)

"R" - Radically Separated

No human being alive has fully pleased God with every attitude, action, motive and desire. We all fail in responding to God's love. The Bible calls this sin; it is what separates us from God. Sin keeps us from experiencing God's presence in our lives here on earth, and it will keep us from enjoying God's presence in heaven after we die. "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." Romans 3:23 (NLT)

"O" - Offer of Gift

Jesus Christ came to earth to provide the solution for our sin problem. Through the death of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection to new life, we can have our sin forgiven and enjoy a new life that comes from God. This gift of new and eternal life from God is completely free and enables us to experience God's plan for our lives. "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8 (NLT)

"S" - Say Yes to Receive

We all know that every gift must be received. Until we receive the gift, it may be intended for us but it really is not ours! The same is true with God's gift. We receive His gift by acknowledging that we have fallen short of God's purposes for our lives and by asking God to give to us the new life that is available through His Son Jesus. "For if you confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God..." Romans 10:9 & 10 (NLT)

"S" - Secure Forever

Once we receive God's gift we are given a life that is secure and will be eternally different. We live each day with the security of being God's children and we can be certain of eternal life in heaven when we die. "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become the children of God." John 1:12 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (NLT)