Following Jesus
How To Start Following Jesus
You probably have an opinion about Jesus. Maybe you think He’s a great teacher or a prophet. Maybe you think He didn’t exist at all. Whatever you believe, we can probably agree that Jesus changed things.
We believe He wants to change you too, and that He’s paved the way back to God for you. Jesus Himself said:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. — John 14:6
Jesus is God’s only provision for the sin that separates us from the God who made us. That sounds exclusive and it is. But it’s also completely inclusive because no matter who you are, what you’ve done, where you were born or the color of your skin, Jesus is the way for you to have a relationship with God.
If you think you’re an exception to the rule, you’re wrong. Jesus loves you and gave His life in place of yours as payment for every sin that has broken your relationship with God.
Becoming A Christian
So how do you actually become a Christian? You just have to take a few simple steps. Look at what the Scriptures say:
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,‘ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
That’s it. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and your sins are forgiven and your relationship with God is begun. Do that, and you’re a Christian.
Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
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Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead
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Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord ~~~ Believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead ~~~
But you’re probably thinking, “Don’t I have to be a better person first? Or clean myself up? Does God take me the way I am?”
No, you don’t, and Yes He does! You don’t change in order to gain God’s love, you change because you’ve experienced His love.
When you trust Jesus as your Savior, God already loves and accepts you as much as He ever will. God’s love doesn’t change, but gradually, over time, God’s love changes YOU as you follow Jesus. You change because you’re loved, not in order to be loved.
Through His life, death on the cross, and His resurrection, Jesus took all of your wrong and all of God’s wrath and gave you all of His goodness and all of God’s grace.
If you believe that and commit to following Him, your life will never be the same. It’s as simple as repenting of your sin, declaring you want to follow Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is.
Believing in Jesus is the first step on the greatest journey of your life. You haven’t finished the race—you’ve just gotten started.
Prayer Works
“Christianity claims that God isn't just working in big and general ways in creation and history, but also in personal and intimate ways. He is not far from each of us and He's responsive to faith rewarding those who seek Him. Jesus Himself promised that those who seek God shall find Him. So you don't need 100% certainty. You just need enough faith to come sincerely before God in prayer and say, ‘Jesus, if You are real, teach me how to know You.’ It's worth putting everything you are into that prayer.” (Gavin Ortlund).
Prayer For Those Searching For Truth
Jesus, You claim to be the way, the truth and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following You. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who You are. Give me an understanding of You that is convincing and that leads to the life You promise. Amen.
Prayer Of Belief In The Lord Jesus
Lord Jesus, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever believed, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt, bearing my punishment on the cross, and offering forgiveness and new life. I turn from my sins and receive You as Savior and Lord. Amen.
Ok…What Next?
Once someone becomes a Christian by professing faith in Jesus and trusting in Him for salvation, the next step is for the church to give that person two visible signs that they are a Christian and belong to the Christian community: Baptism and Communion.
What Is Baptism?
“Baptism is God’s pledge to His people to rescue everyone who trusts in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.” (Glorifying and Enjoying God).
In other words, baptism is God’s sign and seal that someone is a disciple of Jesus and belongs to His people, the community of faith.
For adults, this means that an individual has responded to the good news of the Gospel of Jesus and wants to follow Him for the rest of his or her life.
For children, God has always graciously included the children of Jesus’ followers in His covenant and placed the sign for His covenant on them, signifying a beautiful sense of belonging to the church family and the nurturing hope that one day this child will also profess faith in Jesus.
At Elevate Hope we baptize in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, by sprinkling or pouring water on the person, after they have taken baptismal vows for themselves or on their child’s behalf - this person now visibly belongs to God’s people.
In the name of the Father
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And of the Son
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And of the Holy Spirit
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In the name of the Father ~~~ And of the Son ~~~ And of the Holy Spirit ~~~
If you have more questions about baptism check out these two excellent resources!
Baptism: Answers to Common Questions looks at what the Bible teaches about baptism to answer key questions and navigate differences people may have when it comes to baptism.
Covenantal Baptism examines God’s covenantal relationship with His people to show how the blessing of baptism is intended for all of God’s people, including the children of believers.
What Is Communion?
“[Communion] dramatizes the gospel promise, showing believers that they have been reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ, giving us true communion with Christ” (Glorifying and Enjoying God).
In other words, communion is God’s sign and seal to someone who partakes in faith that Christ died for them, that they receive all the benefits of His death for them, and that they are now united to Christ and to one another.
All who are trusting in Christ for salvation, united to Him in baptism, and desire to live for Him are invited to participate in this meal (also known as The Lord’s Table).
For children who have been baptized but have not yet professed faith in Christ, we ask that their parents would have them refrain from taking the bread and the cup but instead use this time to explain the Gospel to their children. As members of the church dedicated to God in baptism, it is the duty of the church and their parents to teach them to love God and desire to live for Him. When children begin to show signs of understanding the Gospel, the church offers a four-week communicants class to teach children the basics of the faith with the hope that the child comes to trust in Christ for salvation and may then be admitted to Communion.
At Elevate Hope we celebrate Communion every week as our covenant renewal meal with the Lord, remembering His sacrifice on our behalf and our union with Him.
This is My body, broken for you
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This cup is the new covenant in My blood, shed for you
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Do this in remembrance of Me
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This is My body, broken for you ~~~ This cup is the new covenant in My blood, shed for you ~~~ Do this in remembrance of Me ~~~
If you have more questions about communion check out these two excellent resources!
The Lord’s Supper: Answers to Common Questions looks at what the Bible teaches about communion to answer key questions and help people better understand this sacrament.
