The path to becoming a Christian begins with recognizing that God has a law of righteous standards that you have broken by nature and choice. Because you have broken God’s law, you are completely worthy of the eternal punishment of Hell. Not one person is exempt from eternal damnation according to their own goodness. Even if it were possible for someone to think only one evil thought throughout the entirety of his or her life, that one thought is enough to deserve everlasting judgment. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The next step in becoming a Christian is realizing and believing that God has provided a way of escape from Hell because He is full of love and compassion toward man. That way of escape is through God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus came to the earth, was born of a virgin, lived a perfect, sinless life, shed His blood by dying on a cross, was raised from the dead, and ascended back into heaven. The blood He shed washes away all sins if you will “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead” (Romans 10:9).

The final step in becoming a Christian is living out your faith through a lifestyle of obedience to God’s word. Good works does not grant anyone access into heaven, but our actions let us know if we truly believe or not. The Bible says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). The Christian life does not solely include turning to Jesus, but also turning from sin. The Bible also says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin . . .” (1 John 3:9). A true Christian will strive to live free from habitual sin and wickedness. Being a Christian does not mean a one time experience at an church altar. It includes a lifetime of holding to faith in Jesus and walking in obedience. Jesus said, “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).