Becoming a Christian is about becoming a follower of Jesus Christ. It’s a process that leads you from seeking self-centered ambitions and goals to seeking to please Jesus Christ at the deepest levels of your heart. The experience varies from person to person—for some it is dramatic and emotional, while for many others it is a deliberate and thoughtful process in which we investigate the claims of Jesus Christ and then yield our hearts to Him. To become a follower of Jesus we must recognize and experience four basic truths from the Bible:
- God loves us personally and created us for a relationship with Him. "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." (John 3:16)
- We have individually rebelled against God our Creator and broken His law. As a consequence we are separated spiritually from Him and are deserving of death and Hell. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
- God Himself provided the way to restore a relationship with Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ to die on our behalf. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
- To become a Christ-follower, we must each ask for God’s forgiveness, accept Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf, and commit to follow Him the rest of our lives. "To as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." (John 1:12)
At Hillside we will never try to pressure or guilt you into a relationship with God. Instead we seek to inform and encourage you, to answer your questions, and allow you to progress in your own spiritual journey at a pace that you’re comfortable with. If you have questions, or would like to talk further with a staff member about what it means to become a follower of Jesus, please call us at 604-936-2313, or catch one of us in person on Sunday.
