Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Infant Steps: When is one a Christian?

My Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

WORD FOR THE WEEK: Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money (including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions) and be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for He Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not! [Hebrews 13:5 AMP].

Thank you all for your responses to Kate's questions. You are the best. Just count it that you have helped someone remain steadfast in her walk with God.

This week's question in the Infant Steps Series takes us back to the basics of Christianity. I'm not disclosing :-) Please read Michael's question below and share your thoughts.

Thank you.

Dear Rita,
When does one become a Christian - when one prays the sinners prayer, or when one prays it and then actively takes steps to obey God and the Word of God? I will appreciate explanations to help me understand your answer.

Thank you. Michael.




If you have any questions you would like to discuss on the Infant Steps Series, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com or leave the question as a comment in any of my blog posts. You can see previous questions in this series on the right pane of this blog.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.

13 comments:

Dee! said...

Dear Michael,

One is a Christain when:
1. He/She accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and personal Saviour.
2. He/She abides daily in the Word of God by studying the Bible.
3. He/She fellowships/associates with fellow belivers.

Chiamaka said...

I think anyone who confesses that Jesus is lord and died on the cross to save us is a christian, then in order to grow as a christian this person has to study the word, and abide by this word

James said...

Yep,when you confess your sins and acknowledge christ as lord and savior you become a christian.To grow and remain a christian, you need to live the word continually.

Trybes said...

I agree with all three commenters and if i may add,there also has to be a place for the holy spirit to dwell within and this involves submittin your will at all times to the dictates of the spirit of God

David C Brown said...

Interestingly the Bible doesn't say much about the term "Christian"; It says "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch", Acts 11: 26. I think that means that others saw that they were persons who were like Christ. That's a big test.
If you believe on the Lord Jesus, as has been said, you are saved, and in that sense a Christian, but it really means more, as has been suggested, including receiving the Holy Spirit.

Jennifer A. said...

To explain my answer I will use an analogy:

1) How do you become a son or daughter to your parents? By being born by your mother. In the same way, you are a Christian when you have all the characteristics that show that you're a "follower of Christ." You have to first accept Jesus as your savior, then learn everything about Him and then follow after His footsteps.

I also like the answers preceding mine. Combine them and read the word of God for further instructions...

bArOquE said...

i think you have the answers you need...however, more importantly is, not when one can now be termed as a Christian, it is if one is maintaining the walk as a Christain...! ciao

jhazmyn said...

I think the answer to this can be found in romans 10.10...For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.(NIV)

Then just as babies grow, we need too to grow in our walk with God.

Lady A said...

Kudos to all of you guys!
All answers are awesome!
God Bless you all!

velvet said...

The disciples were first called xtians bcos there were traits of jesus christ seen in them by others

. . Xtian which means christ like. .

So i think being a xtian shldnt stop at believing in christ. It should be abt being like christ. . That when one sees you he or she can see the life of christ in you. .

How can you be like christ?
by following his footsteps which is in d bible,by doing God,s word. .

Hope that helped.

Geebee said...

Dear Michael, I believe becoming a Christian is more of a walk than an action. Becoming a Christian is like an evolution process where you're gradually transformed from a previously existing state to another. The Bible spells out that it is as though we behold Christ in a mirror and day by day, we become like him. That's what it means to become a Christian. the 'sinner's prayer' definitely counts but it's just the first step. The steps are in the 'walk with God'.

Anonymous said...

I have a similar question - which would lean more towards - having prayed the 'sinner's prayer' how much of the next steps are dependent on the individual and how much on God?

I would think that if there really was a change, there should be new desires - to get in the word, fellowship and pray. Does that mean when those do not become the default desires, the chap never became a Christian?

Kafo said...

semantics
i don't think it really matters

it is about relationship with Christ