In this episode of our "Good Question" series, we begin exploring the question: What does it mean to find God, be forgiven, and start a new life as a Christian?
Key points:
- The Christian worldview rests on three assumptions:
- We are created in God's image
- Sin has separated us from God
- We need to find a way back to Him
- The term "Christian" is used in various ways, but originally referred to those who believed Jesus was the Messiah and put their faith in Him
- Becoming a Christian involves a spiritual transaction - our sin is transferred to Jesus, and His righteousness is given to us (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- This can be understood as moving from negative to positive on a spiritual spectrum, with zero being the point of conversion
- Some people, like Billy Graham's wife Ruth, have always believed and can't pinpoint a moment of conversion
- Others, like the Apostle Paul, have a dramatic moment of conversion they can identify
- Still others, like C.S. Lewis and the speaker, crossed from unbelief to faith without a clear emotional or spiritual experience
- Regardless of how it happens, becoming a Christian means placing one's faith in Christ and receiving forgiveness and new life
Join us next time as we dive deeper into the process and meaning of Christian conversion in our "Good Question" series.
