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. Yes…you and gave His life in place of yours as payment for every sin that has broken your relationship with God.
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. — Romans 10:9
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.
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.
Have you trusted Jesus with your life? If so, let us know!
Should I get baptized?
Baptism is a sign of belonging to 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/her life. For children of Jesus followers, baptism signifies 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 Centennial we offer both believer’s baptism and infant baptism. If you feel baptism is your next step in your walk with God, let us know!
Baptism: Answers To Common Questions
When Jesus commanded His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, He instructed them to baptize those disciples in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Christians agree that baptism is a central part of life in the church, but it is the subject of many disputes. Why has it been controversial and divisive among so many Christians?
In Baptism: Answers to Common Questions, Dr. Guy M. Richard tackles the key questions people have about baptism: What does it mean? Is it necessary for salvation? Who should be baptized, and how should we baptize them? As he searches the Scriptures, Dr. Richard helps us think through what the Bible teaches about baptism and encourages us to deal graciously with our brothers and sisters in Christ even when we disagree.
Church Membership
Church Membership is a way we make visible our commitment to Christ and His people. It's the way we say, “I am part of something bigger than myself. I am not just one of a hundred or so individuals. I am part of a body. I am committed to this group of Christians and they are committed to me." Church Membership is the way we grasp hold of one another in responsibility and love. If you feel becoming a member of Elevate Hope is your next step in your walk with God, let us know and we will add you to a list for any upcoming membership classes!
Church Membership: How The World Knows Who Represents Jesus
Why should you join a church?
Becoming a member of a church is an important, and often neglected, part of the Christian life. Yet the trend these days is one of shunning the practice of organized religion and showing a distaste or fear of commitment, especially of institutions.
Jonathan Leeman addresses these issues with a straightforward explanation of what church membership is and why it’s important. Giving the local church its proper due, Leeman has built a compelling case for committing to the local body.
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR GROWING YOUR FAITH
-
Need Help Reading The Bible?
Choose from a variety of Bible reading plans, from week-long to year-long, to help you get started in regular Bible study!
-
Elevate Hope Worship
Immerse yourself in worship playlists prepared by us! Worship throughout the week with these songs of praise!
-
Need Additional Resources?
Wanting to read additional books about the Bible and faith? Check out our book list for valuable reading!