Why should I become a Christian?

Response

All major world religions share similar core principles, such as the belief in gods, goddesses, or higher states of existence that require followers to take action to reach a specific goal. Essentially, if we follow the right path, think correctly, or embrace certain life principles, we can aspire to reach our desired destination after death. The commonality among religions lies in the idea that achieving the ultimate goal is possible through human effort.

However, Christianity stands apart from this notion as it fundamentally contradicts the principles that define a typical religion. While religions involve humans striving to connect with God, Christianity emphasizes God reaching out to humanity. In religious contexts, individuals work towards their own salvation, whereas in Christianity, God has already completed the necessary work to offer us salvation (John 3:16-18;2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, Christianity should be evaluated based on its unique characteristics rather than being compared to other belief systems. Just as we cannot compare an apple to a hammer to determine the best fruit, we cannot assess the teachings of the Son of God against man-made religions to form our worldview.

When contemplating the reasons for embracing Christianity, it is crucial to begin with a broader question: Why should you choose to follow this faith? Where do you come from, and is there a purpose behind your existence? These profound questions are universal as every individual grapples with them, recognizing that despite evolutionary theories, human beings possess a distinct consciousness that sets them apart from other life forms. Unlike animals, humans ponder philosophical dilemmas, indicating a longing for eternity and a sense of purpose. The Bible provides a clear explanation for this uniqueness, stating that we were intentionally created by God to reflect His image more than any other creation «So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27). When God breathed His own life into the first man, man became a living soul “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7). That soul is immortal, reflecting God’s eternal nature. The soul will live on forever, either with God or apart from Him.

But part of being human means we have free moral choice. Dogs do not make choices based on right or wrong. Apes do not ponder the meaning of life. Animals make choices based on instinct and conditioning. Humans, however, are held to a different standard because we have an innate understanding of morality. God’s moral law is etched into our hearts, but with our free will, we violate it. That violation is sin. Romans 5:12 says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned” (NLT).

God is perfect, heaven is perfect, and we are not (Romans 3:23). None of us are “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10). Our good does not outweigh our bad “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6). The justice of God requires that our high treason against our Creator be punished, and the only rightful punishment of crimes so great is eternal separation from God in hell “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”To our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). We face a significant issue that we are unable to resolve. This matter remains unchanged by our level of faith, similar to how the law of gravity remains unaffected by our acknowledgment of it. The issue of being separated from God is a widespread concern, so our task is not to disregard, redefine, or despise it. Our responsibility is to heed the One we have wronged and follow His guidance to address the situation.

If you sense a longing in your heart to pursue God, it is because God Himself is pursuing you (Luke 19:10; John 6:44). The greatest privilege in life is to be pursued by the Creator of the cosmos and be extended an invitation to be His child. Besides acknowledging the tremendous gift being presented to you, there are other reasons for you to embrace Christianity: your past, your present, and your future.

Why should I embrace Christianity? – Your past. From the moment you uttered your first cry, your nature has craved its own desires. Children do not need to be taught to sin; it comes naturally to them because we all inherited a sinful nature from our first ancestor, Adam. The awareness of our sin burdens us. Some harden their hearts, bury the guilt in addictive behaviors, or deceive themselves about it. However, our souls recognize that we have transgressed. We understand that our sins require forgiveness, yet we are incapable of attaining it.

When Jesus, the Son of God, arrived on earth, it was to serve as the ultimate sacrifice for those sins “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18). By placing our trust in Jesus’ sacrifice, God proclaims our sins forgiven “who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”», (Romans 4:25). Our past is cleansed, and we are granted a new beginning «As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us. », (Psalm 103:12). God did not merely overlook our sin; He punished it severely by placing it on His own perfect Son «blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; », (Colossians 2:14). Then God raised Him from the dead—one of the most well-documented facts in ancient history! No other religious leader has been resurrected. God’s forgiveness is available only to those who believe in His Son and submit to His authority «Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. », (Acts 4:12). We do not earn forgiveness; we simply receive it.

Why should I become a Christian? – Your present. Embracing Christianity not only erases the debt you owe God, but it also enables you to step into the purpose for which you were created. God has a unique purpose for each of us that we uncover only in connection with Him. Human beings are like mirrors. A mirror serves no useful purpose when covered in mud. Similarly, human beings serve no eternal purpose when covered in sin and shame. When a mirror is wiped clean, it reflects the beauty around it. When we allow God to cleanse our sin with the blood of Jesus, we begin to reflect the beauty and glory of God Himself.

As we mature in faith and wisdom, we mirror His image in distinct ways. We discover the talents He has entrusted to us to serve Him and others. No longer pursuing our own happiness, we find deeperFulfillment comes from living out God’s plan for our lives. Jesus encouraged His followers to “store up treasure in heaven” (Luke 12:33-34;Matthew 6:19-20) and promised rewards to those who live for Him, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12).

Why should I become a Christian? – Your future. Physical death is not the end. Jesus conquered death and invites us to join Him in eternal life, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37). He already paid our ticket, but we have to accept it on His terms. Mere acknowledgment of the facts is not salvation. Satan also knows the truth but does not trust in it, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19). The bottom line for each individual is this: Who or what is the boss of my life? The answer to that question determines where you will spend eternity.

You should become a Christian if you have the faith to believe and the willingness to surrender your life and future to the One who knows you best (Psalm 139:13-16). It is the most important decision anyone can make. In his book The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis wrote, “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it” (HarperOne, revised ed., 2009, p. 90).