Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Infant Steps: Re: When is One a Christian?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

Welcome to a blessed week. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore.

Today’s question on the Infant Steps Series is an interesting follow up on the question “When is one a Christian?” I remember that after I gave my life to Christ, I felt “that is it” and I continued life as usual. Was I a Christian then? I don’t know. Did you feel that way? Please read akaBagucci’s question below and share your views. Thank you.

Dear Rita,

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 such does not become the default desires, the person never became a Christian?

akaBagucci.



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.

If you want to view past questions and answers on the Infant Steps Series, please check the list on the sidebar right of the blog.


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

16 comments:

DiAmOnD hawk said...

am i really first?

DiAmOnD hawk said...

well... i think once you have accepted Christ and agree to follow Him then you're a christian... the changes may be instant... or the changes gradual... but it doesnt take away that you have now been accepted into the body of christ... bad behavior and inactions do not cause you to not be a christian... there are different levels... you determine how much in depth you want to get... what level you'd like to reach w/God.. that's what i think

James said...

When the sinners prayer is said,you are saved.Your spirit is changed instantly but your soul and your body remains same.Now seeking God(entrance of the Word and Prayers)is what begins to change the soul and body.This change varies in persons depending thier urgency in seeking God.

Giagerry said...

ofcuz dat doesnt mean u r not yet a christian,
It only means ur still a baby, and thee aint nothing wrong with that hun!

keep on dwellin on the word, keeping close to pple that encourage u in a godly way, and about God him self,
soon enuf u wuld see u aint a babe any more...u step up to a toddler(lol), then a child...and up up to an adult!

but yeah, dont worry urslf yet...just love him and keep his commandments afterall thats what we are created to do,

and like i sed u begin to get used to this cool new lifestyle!!

being a christian rocks!!
all the best bagucci...

Myne said...

One becomes a christian when they have believed and confessed the lordship of Christ. It is a journey and not a destination. You start with baby steps and strive t withstand all the steps that must surely come.

Sugarking said...

I think one becomes a Christian, the second they acknowledge Jesus the Christ in their lives o!

jhazmyn said...

I believe every previous comment has summed it all up, wen you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth....then just like a child grows, you need to keep building yourself up into maturity in your relationship with God

Good Naija Girl said...

Yup, I agree with the comments so far. It would be easier if we had a very obvious transformation after accepting the Lord as our Savior, but I don't think it happens like that for everyone. We still have free will, so we must constantly work to plug ourselves into the things that are of God that will enrich our lives and help us grow our in our walk with Him. For me, it is a constant struggle to be the kind of Christian who puts her faith fully in God.

Admin said...

whats the difference between a christian and a church goer

Admin said...

whats the difference between a christian and a church goer

Giagerry said...

Muyiwa..
A church goer is someone hu goes to church, a Christian is someone that goes far beyond just filling the seats in church, but accepting Jesus and his lordship, keeping his commandments and walking in his ways.

Harry said...

The truth is the minute you make that decision in your heart to follow Jesus Christ, you are a Christian. You have automatically become a partaker of the inheritance of Jesus Christ... your only responsibility now is to constantly renew your mind...so that you move from Baby Christian to Mature Christian...

Don said...

I am probably not the ideal person to provide answer, seeing as how I'm under the belief that all are sinners and involved in the ways of the world.

Besides that, I did understand the point made.

Anoda Phase said...

I agree with many of the previous commenters. Once you acknowledge that u r living a sinful life and genuinely ask Jesus to come into ur heart/life and take ownership, u r a child of God.

During ur Christian journey, u r bound to mess up once in a while, but as long as u remain a branch joined to the Vine (Jesus) and u seek forgiveness for ur wrong ways, his cleansing is always available for u.

What u should not do is sin repeatedly/continuously, expecting to be forgiven each time...the Bible asks "shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" the answer? God forbid!

I don't mean to stray from ur original question Bagucci, so I would say that from the minute u give ur life to Christ, He takes charge and is with u all the way...He is however not a forceful God, and so He won't impose a lifestyle on u...it would depend on u to seek His face and get to know Him better, build a deeper/more personal relationship with Him, speak to/surround urself with people who r more advanced in the Christian walk, replace any negatives/unacceptables in ur former life with new things e.g. replace weekly clubbing with Bible study...

All the best.

Straight from the heart said...

I agree with all the comments already written. You don't have to do those things to make you a christian. true confession and acknowledgment of sins is the bottom line. The next step is to daily walk with the Holy Spirit, he is the one that gives the enablement to pray, praise, go to church and love others. Don't try to do it in your own strenght.

Love

David C Brown said...

I agree with the gist of what is said above. The Scriptures generally are to help us in growth as Christians. If we look at Peer as an example of a Christian we see a few blunders - but we see him growing in grace. And we have the teaching too - Romans helps especially in this. We find in chapter 4 we are reckoned righteous; in chapter 5 we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts - yet in chapter 7 we have a struggle in ourselves against the sin that is still in us. But we find Christ as Deliverer and in chapter 8 the Spirit as power. So that in chapter 12 we present our bodies, a living sacrifice ... And once we have gone through this we are ready for the heights of the tuth in Ephesians.