The term Christian was first given to the church at Antioch, Syria. It was meant as a derogatory label. The term meant that these saints were acting just like Jesus Christ. They followed His commands and did everything that He had taught them to do.

It would be as if someone liked Elvis so much that they copied His lifestyle and people would call this person a Preslyan to ridicule him.

Although the term Christian was meant to ridicule those who followed Jesus, it became a badge of honor to those who believed.

Today, some 2000 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, millions of people use the title “Christian” and refer to themselves as such. Yet does calling yourself a Christian make you one? Does calling yourself a car make you a car? Does going to Church make you a Christian? Does going to the garage make you a car?

To be a Christian, you must become one and there is only one-way to do that. You must follow Jesus.

Many people haven’t even been to church in years. They haven’t followed the rule of the church and have interpreted the rules for life on their own. Many people say, “I have tried to live a good life so I am hoping to go to Heaven when I die.” Others say, “I believe everyone will go to Heaven.” Some say that they don’t believe in Hell.

You have the absolute right to believe anything you want. No one can take that from you. So if you believe that if someone sprinkles you with water when you’re an infant and says a few words, that you become a Christian, that’s your right!

It doesn’t make it true but it is your right to believe as you wish.

If you were playing a game of baseball and you hit the ball and ran to third base, you would get tagged out. Why? Because you have to go to first base, then second base and then third base. You can believe all you want that you can run the bases backwards. That’s your right! It is also the manager’s right to kick you off the team.

So, what am I getting at? Simply this, your believing about God your way is your right but it is not necessarily His way.

You may ask, “There are thousands of religions out there, how can someone know the right way?"

It’s not as hard as you think. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty simple. Christianity believes the Bible is God’s word and method of getting His message to the people. Oh, you will hear all kinds of excuses for not reading it such as: “Men wrote the Bible and we all know that people make mistakes” Yes we do but we also know that the Bible was written by men as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Now if God made the universe and put everything in place so accurately, if he made DNA and the genetic programming for our bodies to grow our parts in the right places, couldn’t He protect the accuracy of His word?

Then if we agree the Bible is the written word or instructions of God, have we read it?

How many people have claimed to be Christians and haven’t even read through the Bible one time?

“Oh”. You say, "but there are so many interpretations, only those educated in the Bible can interpret it”. Oh yeah? Then why are there so many different educated people interpreting it so many ways?

The truth is, God wrote the Bible for all of us to understand it. So when He says: Eph 2:8 for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

He is saying that faith in the fact that Jesus died for your sins and He paid the way that you couldn’t pay for, that is what saves you. It is accepting the gift of God (Jesus). Do you see how it says, “Not of works, lest any man should boast? All that is saying is that no one who dies and gets into heaven will be able to say they got there by giving money to the church. Nor will they be able to say they were good or they always attended church. The Bible says in Mat 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 and then will I profess unto them I never knew you.”

I can tell you more if you like but just by what you read here, do you see the futility in getting to heaven on your own? Many don’t even attend church or read the Bible. Many are not doing good works (Not that it would save you anyway) or are they doing any of the things they “believe will get them into Heaven.

So if you want to become a Christian you need to believe that God became a man (Jesus) and He was the perfect sacrifice who died for your sins. He paid the price that you could not pay so that you could have eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Rom 10:9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

You can’t save yourself. Get Help, ask Jesus to save you today.

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