Life is punctuated by countless decisions, yet few compare in weight and profound significance to choosing a spiritual path. As we navigate life’s ebbs and flows, we often confront an intrinsic yearning—a universal search for deeper meaning, purpose, and a connection beyond our earthly lives’ transience.
Every individual, at some point, grapples with existential questions. Why are we here? What is our ultimate purpose? Is there a grand design to all of this? These questions are not mere philosophical musings; they reflect our shared desire for redemption, a reconciliation with the divine, and an understanding of our place in creation’s vast tapestry.
Choosing to explore Christianity is more than adopting a set of beliefs. It’s a life-changing journey addressing these deep-seated longings. Christianity offers a narrative of hope, redemption, and an eternal relationship with a loving Creator. Let us explore why people are drawn to Christianity, what it teaches, the steps towards embracing the life Jesus promises, and the enduring peace and joy it offers to every believer.
Why Would Someone Want to Become a Christian?
Life’s challenges often lead many to seek deeper meaning. Some are drawn to the joy and resilience they observe in Christian peers, while others feel an unfillable emptiness. Some stand at the edge of despair, searching for a lifeline. Many need a new start and find attraction in Jesus’ promise of a transformative life, leading to purpose, as expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
For some, the promise of eternity is compelling. Jesus spoke of two destinies in Matthew 7:13-14, highlighting the Gospel’s urgency. He urged his listeners to choose the narrow path leading to life and not the broad path leading to destruction.
Many find themselves drawn to Jesus by the compelling evidence supporting Christ’s claims. Historical records and archaeological findings, paired with the fulfillment of numerous Old Testament prophecies uniquely by Jesus, offer a profound affirmation of His divine role. Countless testimonies resonate with this evidence, nudging seekers to grapple with the implications. After all, if He truly is the divine Son of God, as the evidence suggests, then His teachings hold unparalleled significance.
In our rapidly changing world, where values seem to shift like sand beneath our feet, Christ’s unchanging message offers stability and purpose. While everything around us may be transient, Christianity presents an eternal purpose that anchors the soul.
Why is Christianity Different?
What differentiates Christianity from any other world view is Jesus’ claim to be from the Father and as such He is the only way to God. As expressed in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” These words compel us to consider the only path to God and an eternity with Him, while the words of Romans 6:23 make clear the consequences of sin: “For the wages of sin is death”. Romans 1:18 reveals God’s wrath against sin, but it also offers hope. Through Jesus, salvation from this wrath is possible.
When sensing God’s call, whether through life events or a conviction of Christ’s truth claim, responding is crucial. As Romans 1:19-20 explains, God’s essence is evident in creation, leaving no excuses: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” We will have no excuse when we stand before God in the last days and account for our response to the message of grace through His Son’s work (Revelations 20:11-15). Choosing to respond affirmatively is choosing to become saved, choosing to accept the free gift Christ has offered – but what does that mean personally?”
What Does It Mean to Be Truly Saved?
At the very core of becoming a Christian lies a promise of unparalleled comparison—at the moment of salvation, Christ’s righteousness is credited to us, and we become adopted into the body of Christ. Salvation begins when we acknowledge and accept the completed and finished work of Christ on the cross. 1 Peter 3:18 states, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Jesus, sinless, took upon Himself humanity’s sins – yours and mine, creating a bridge to reconcile us with God. This act was not just an unmatched display of love, but it also fulfilled His Father’s will to redeem His creation. Jesus’ work on the cross provided a way for every individual to access the Father directly through His blood.
Ephesians 2:8-9 proclaims, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” We see here that we receive salvation freely – His grace gifts us this salvation, which we accept through faith. Paul says in Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”. Salvation combines “faith,” “trust,” and “belief” in a unified commitment. “Faith” reflects confidence in God’s promises, “trust” is reliance on Him for salvation, and “belief” acknowledges Christ’s redemptive work. Together, they signify surrendering to Jesus and embracing His grace. This belief is not something we simply assert in our minds. It becomes integrated into our being. Paul liked to describe it as a persuasion. This term implies accepting a belief contrary to what we would normally believe.
James indicates that this belief will produce a specific result in our lives. He calls this result “good works”. He contrasts this kind of belief with the knowledge that even the demons have that God exists (James 2:18-20). We must believe in a way that changes us and results in good works. These good works don’t save us; they merely indicate someone has received salvation. Genuine salvation comes from trust and belief, a deep-rooted faith in the truth of the Gospel: that Christ – God’s only son, lived a sinless life among us as a human being, was crucified, died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day for our sins. (John 3:16, Hebrews 4:15, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Being Made Right
From the truth of salvation through faith flows the understanding that we have become justified in God’s eyes. Justification is the legal declaration in heaven’s courts that, despite our sinfulness and failures, we have been made right and pure in God’s sight. Only the blood of Christ can accomplish this. Paul articulates this beautifully in Romans 4:25: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” To be a Christian is to be made whole in God’s sight through Christ’s actions.
The mechanics of justification hinge on a divine exchange: Christ bears our sins, and in return, we receive His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 encapsulates this beautifully, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” It’s not merely a legal declaration; it’s a transformative process that reshapes our identity and destiny. Justification brings us into a right standing with God – something we cannot do on our own. As a result we are offered the promise of eternal life and a new identity in Christ.
This faith, trust and belief lead to transformed lives and guides us to repentance—a sincere turning away from past sin and desires, and a passionate pursuit of Kingdom values. True salvation results in us laying aside our old life and the choices we made in that life – buried, as Paul says – and putting on a new life. The Apostle Paul captures this metamorphosis in 2 Corinthians 5:17, saying, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”. How do we achieve this transformation?
The Moment of Decision
We can become new creatures, saved by Jesus’ blood, simply by trusting in Him. It is a simple act of faith. Want to learn more? Read the next article in this series:
So the question is – what, if anything, is stopping you from choosing to follow Christ? You now understand the sacrifice He made. You know that this is a choice each individual must make and that we will all be responsible for that choice when we meet the Lord Jesus face to face one day. Do not be mistaken. There is only one way to God – the narrow way through faith in Christ.”