Does growing up Catholic make you a Christian?
Does growing up in a Protestant denominational make you a Christian?
How about becoming a Catholic, or becoming a Baptist, United Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian (Presbyterian USA PCUSA or Presbyterian Church of America PCA), Reformed, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Charismatic, or Foursquare, Episcopalian or Anglican, Churches of Christ, Assemblies of God, Seventh-Day Adventist, or joining a Non-denominational Christian church; does that make you a Christian?
What about becoming a Mormon or Latter-day Saints, or first converting to Hebrewism and obeying the Mosaic Laws and the Ten Commandments, or how about becoming a Jehovah's Witness; can any of those religions help you on a path to true salvation?
Does going to a Catholic church or a Protestant church or even going to any church once a year, twice a year, or 52 times a year make you a Christian? What about following the Catholic seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist (Holy Communion), Confirmation, Confession (Reconciliation), Marriage (Matrimony), Holy Orders, or Anointing of the Sick; can any of those sacraments make you a Christian? What about becoming baptized under a Protestant denominational church; will that help you become a Christian?
What about saying the Rosaries everyday for a year, or wearing scapulars, medals, or crucifixes around your neck or any religious images on the walls or shelves of your home; does any of that make you a Christian?
How about being good, or doing good things, or helping the poor, or giving your money to charity, or helping others when they are in need; does any of that make you a Christian?
Why do I ask these questions? Because most of these questions are asked all the time, if not out loud, at least in the minds of billions of people from all over the world.
Nothing stated above makes anyone a Christian. I'll repeat this, there is nothing anyone can do to make themselves a Christian. No amount of going to church, no amount of going to the confession booth, no amount of saying the Rosaries, not belonging to a certain religion, no specific church membership, no amount of obeying the ten commandments, no amount of giving money to the poor, no amount of praying everyday, no amount of being good, no amount of good works, not even baptism, nothing you do can ever make you a Christian.
So, help me, what is the answer to becoming a Christian?
Faith
How to be a Christian; by faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4
Listen my friends, listen to God. There is a righteousness from God, and his name is Jesus. He is the righteous One. He is the one that took the world's sin and paid the price for it. Believe in Jesus and be saved. Nothing more, nothing less will do.
If you are trying to be righteous before God in what you do; take warning from the old testament word of God.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6
The filthy rags referred here in the Bible is related to a woman's period and menstrual rags. (Ref H5708: From an unused root meaning to set a period (compare H5710 and H5749); the menstrual flux (as periodical); by implication (in plural) soiling: - filthy.)
Why be a Christian?
So, do you really want to try to go before God in your righteousness? Think about it, listen and hear the word of God. Get your thinking right. Place your faith in his righteousness not your own. Believe in Jesus and be saved onto eternal life. This, and only this will be counted for righteousness with God. Faith in Jesus is what makes a Christian a Christian.
I Am The Way, The Truth, & The Life, Said Jesus
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Please read the Welcome message.
