Welcome to
Central Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
720 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 227-5273 Fax (210) 223-5151 cccsa.org
Central Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
720 North Main Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 227-5273 Fax (210) 223-5151 cccsa.org
Save Souls Grow Disciples Heal Hurts Fill Needs
Pardon Our Dust
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Under Construction
Our Website is
Under Construction
www.cccsa.org Copyright 2010, Central Christian Church, San Antonio, TX 78205 Last updated 07-2010
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Becoming A Christian
How Do I Become A Christian? Baptism
The first thing to know about being a Christian is that it is all about a relationship. It’s not just a set of beliefs and rules. Being Christian means being in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Be In A Relationship With God
In the Bible, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse tells us that God loves us. God also wants a relationship with us. To make this happen, God became a human being in Jesus Christ to be with us. All he asks in return is that we love him, believe in him and live for him. We do that best by being in relationship with him.
Our Relationship With God Can Become Broken
The problem is that things get in the way of our relationship with God. Many things can cause this separation. Being separated from God is called sin. When we’re separate from God, we do things we shouldn’t. Then we become even more distant, and our relationship with God becomes broken. That is really what happened to the whole world. So many things broke our relationship with God that this separation became permanent for every person.
Jesus Paid the Price
God doesn’t like having us separated from Him by sin, so God himself fixed our broken relationship. He came into our world as Jesus Christ to help us find our way back to him. But there was a price to pay to remove sin. The price was a human life. God decided that as Jesus Christ he would pay the price himself. The Bible says it worked like this:
“God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8)
But he didn’t stop there. Jesus came back from death so we can know him now. You can’t have a relationship with someone who is dead. So on the third day after he died, Jesus came alive again! We call this great day Easter. He lives now so that we can have a real relationship with him. The Bible tells us “you have been set free from sin” (Romans 6: 22). He paid the price and the sin that separated us from God has been removed!
The first thing to know about being a Christian is that it is all about a relationship. It’s not just a set of beliefs and rules. Being Christian means being in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Be In A Relationship With God
In the Bible, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This verse tells us that God loves us. God also wants a relationship with us. To make this happen, God became a human being in Jesus Christ to be with us. All he asks in return is that we love him, believe in him and live for him. We do that best by being in relationship with him.
Our Relationship With God Can Become Broken
The problem is that things get in the way of our relationship with God. Many things can cause this separation. Being separated from God is called sin. When we’re separate from God, we do things we shouldn’t. Then we become even more distant, and our relationship with God becomes broken. That is really what happened to the whole world. So many things broke our relationship with God that this separation became permanent for every person.
Jesus Paid the Price
God doesn’t like having us separated from Him by sin, so God himself fixed our broken relationship. He came into our world as Jesus Christ to help us find our way back to him. But there was a price to pay to remove sin. The price was a human life. God decided that as Jesus Christ he would pay the price himself. The Bible says it worked like this:
“God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 8)
But he didn’t stop there. Jesus came back from death so we can know him now. You can’t have a relationship with someone who is dead. So on the third day after he died, Jesus came alive again! We call this great day Easter. He lives now so that we can have a real relationship with him. The Bible tells us “you have been set free from sin” (Romans 6: 22). He paid the price and the sin that separated us from God has been removed!
But what are we to believe?
There are a few basic things that we need to believe.
· God entered our world as Jesus Christ because he wants a relationship with us.
· Jesus’ death removes the sin that separates us from God.
· Jesus came alive again after his death so we can have a relationship with him.
· God is our Lord, or our Boss, and wants us to live a certain way.
· Jesus is our Savior, which means he saved us from being separated from him.
If you are ready to repent, confess, and believe, then God will respond to you with three things of his own. They are: Forgiveness. The Holy Spirit. Eternal Life.
Forgiveness
When you repent, you are forgiven. Forgiveness is when God removes the sin, the barrier, that had caused our relationship with him to be broken. God wants this relationship with us, so he is willing to forgive us.
The Holy Spirit
Part of any relationship is being together. God wants to be with us always. In the Bible he says, “Never will I leave you”. (Hebrews 13:5) The way God is always with us is through the Holy Spirit. In the same way that Jesus Christ is God, so is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the way that God is present with us and within us. Peter tells us that when we become Christians we receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 2: 38)
God the Holy Spirit does lots of things in our lives. He gives us the power and ability to live the way God wants us to. He gives us gifts and abilities for doing ministry. He teaches us, guides us, and changes us to be more godly and Christ-like. The Holy Spirit is actually God living within us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that “God’s Spirit lives in you”. No matter where you go God will always be with you.
Eternal Life
The third thing God does when we become Christian is to give us eternal life. Paul says in Romans 6: 23 that “the gift of God is eternal life”. Jesus himself said in John 11:25, “Those who believe in me will live, even though they die”. God never wants his relationship with us to end, not even by death. Heaven is the reward we have at the end of this life when we get to spend eternity in relationship with God.
There are a few basic things that we need to believe.
· God entered our world as Jesus Christ because he wants a relationship with us.
· Jesus’ death removes the sin that separates us from God.
· Jesus came alive again after his death so we can have a relationship with him.
· God is our Lord, or our Boss, and wants us to live a certain way.
· Jesus is our Savior, which means he saved us from being separated from him.
If you are ready to repent, confess, and believe, then God will respond to you with three things of his own. They are: Forgiveness. The Holy Spirit. Eternal Life.
Forgiveness
When you repent, you are forgiven. Forgiveness is when God removes the sin, the barrier, that had caused our relationship with him to be broken. God wants this relationship with us, so he is willing to forgive us.
The Holy Spirit
Part of any relationship is being together. God wants to be with us always. In the Bible he says, “Never will I leave you”. (Hebrews 13:5) The way God is always with us is through the Holy Spirit. In the same way that Jesus Christ is God, so is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the way that God is present with us and within us. Peter tells us that when we become Christians we receive “the gift of the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 2: 38)
God the Holy Spirit does lots of things in our lives. He gives us the power and ability to live the way God wants us to. He gives us gifts and abilities for doing ministry. He teaches us, guides us, and changes us to be more godly and Christ-like. The Holy Spirit is actually God living within us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16 that “God’s Spirit lives in you”. No matter where you go God will always be with you.
Eternal Life
The third thing God does when we become Christian is to give us eternal life. Paul says in Romans 6: 23 that “the gift of God is eternal life”. Jesus himself said in John 11:25, “Those who believe in me will live, even though they die”. God never wants his relationship with us to end, not even by death. Heaven is the reward we have at the end of this life when we get to spend eternity in relationship with God.
Are You Ready?
So, do you want to become a Christian? It’s not difficult. Are you ready to confess, repent and believe? Do you want to receive these three wonderful gifts from God of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit and eternal life? Do you want a relationship with the Living God? Are you ready to answer the question: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and do you accept him as your Lord and Savior? If you can say “Yes” to all of this, then you are ready to become a Christian.
You do not have to get “good enough” before you become a Christian. You do not have to stop sinning before you give your life to the Lord. You do not have to do anything except confess, repent, and believe. Even if you are uncertain, by making your confession of faith you can take the first step of reaching out to God to enter into this relationship with him.
Come Forward
You may feel a stirring or urgency inside yourself to come forward. That is God the Holy Spirit moving you to come into this relationship with him. Respond to Him. Come forward. Some people don’t feel any such stirring or moving in their souls. That is okay. Everyone is different. For some the decision will be based on simply making up their minds that they want to be Christian. Others will come forward because someone invited them or convinced them that it is a good thing to do. There are lots of ways that people come to make their confession of faith. Do what works best for you.
We Will Be Your Church
Every Sunday after the sermon there will be an invitation for you to come forward and make your confession of faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor will ask you the question you see in bold print above. All you have to do is come forward and say “Yes” when you are asked. We want to encourage you to do this soon. Waiting simply delays you from coming into the fullness of your relationship with God. Why wait? We will help you. We will stay with you. We will be your church. We will rejoice with you as you become a Christian!
So, do you want to become a Christian? It’s not difficult. Are you ready to confess, repent and believe? Do you want to receive these three wonderful gifts from God of forgiveness, the Holy Spirit and eternal life? Do you want a relationship with the Living God? Are you ready to answer the question: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and do you accept him as your Lord and Savior? If you can say “Yes” to all of this, then you are ready to become a Christian.
You do not have to get “good enough” before you become a Christian. You do not have to stop sinning before you give your life to the Lord. You do not have to do anything except confess, repent, and believe. Even if you are uncertain, by making your confession of faith you can take the first step of reaching out to God to enter into this relationship with him.
Come Forward
You may feel a stirring or urgency inside yourself to come forward. That is God the Holy Spirit moving you to come into this relationship with him. Respond to Him. Come forward. Some people don’t feel any such stirring or moving in their souls. That is okay. Everyone is different. For some the decision will be based on simply making up their minds that they want to be Christian. Others will come forward because someone invited them or convinced them that it is a good thing to do. There are lots of ways that people come to make their confession of faith. Do what works best for you.
We Will Be Your Church
Every Sunday after the sermon there will be an invitation for you to come forward and make your confession of faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor will ask you the question you see in bold print above. All you have to do is come forward and say “Yes” when you are asked. We want to encourage you to do this soon. Waiting simply delays you from coming into the fullness of your relationship with God. Why wait? We will help you. We will stay with you. We will be your church. We will rejoice with you as you become a Christian!
How do we enter this relationship with God?
A Christian is a person in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There are just three steps to becoming a Christian. They are: Repent. Confess. Believe.
Repent
Peter, one of Jesus' followers, said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2: 38)
Peter used the word "repent", which means to change your mind. It means to turn away from one thing and toward another. To repent is to turn away from sin and things that keep you from living for Jesus. In this way you can enter a relationship with Jesus and become a Christian.
Confession of Faith
Paul, one of Jesus’ followers, wrote in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This verse tells us about the other two steps in becoming a Christian. The first one is to confess. It doesn’t necessarily mean telling people about your sins. It means saying out loud to someone that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you want to be in a relationship with him.
When someone is ready to confess that they do believe in Jesus we ask them this question:
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and do you accept him as your Lord
and Savior?”
If you are ready to say “Yes!” to that question then you are ready to become a Christian, and ready for a relationship with God. Every Sunday people are given the opportunity to come forward and be asked this question. We call this making your “confession of faith in Jesus Christ”. Another part to the confession of faith is baptism by immersion in water.
Believe
The third step to becoming a Christian is belief. The other two don’t really mean anything without this one. If you turn away from sin, but don’t turn to something else, what was the point? Belief means you turn to Jesus. You might say the words to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, but if you don’t believe it there’s no meaning to it. The way Paul put it was that you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. That’s what Easter is about. If you believe that he is alive then you can have a relationship with him. If you don’t believe then what’s the point?
A Christian is a person in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There are just three steps to becoming a Christian. They are: Repent. Confess. Believe.
Repent
Peter, one of Jesus' followers, said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2: 38)
Peter used the word "repent", which means to change your mind. It means to turn away from one thing and toward another. To repent is to turn away from sin and things that keep you from living for Jesus. In this way you can enter a relationship with Jesus and become a Christian.
Confession of Faith
Paul, one of Jesus’ followers, wrote in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This verse tells us about the other two steps in becoming a Christian. The first one is to confess. It doesn’t necessarily mean telling people about your sins. It means saying out loud to someone that you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and you want to be in a relationship with him.
When someone is ready to confess that they do believe in Jesus we ask them this question:
“Do you believe in Jesus Christ, and do you accept him as your Lord
and Savior?”
If you are ready to say “Yes!” to that question then you are ready to become a Christian, and ready for a relationship with God. Every Sunday people are given the opportunity to come forward and be asked this question. We call this making your “confession of faith in Jesus Christ”. Another part to the confession of faith is baptism by immersion in water.
Believe
The third step to becoming a Christian is belief. The other two don’t really mean anything without this one. If you turn away from sin, but don’t turn to something else, what was the point? Belief means you turn to Jesus. You might say the words to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, but if you don’t believe it there’s no meaning to it. The way Paul put it was that you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. That’s what Easter is about. If you believe that he is alive then you can have a relationship with him. If you don’t believe then what’s the point?
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Welcome
Worship
Directions
Children's Ministry
Adult Sunday School
Becoming A Christian
Becoming A Member
What We Believe
Staff
Serving Opportunities
Small Groups
Wedding Ministry
Quinceañeras
Child Care Center
Newsletters
Calendar
Prayer Concerns
Giving On-Line
Coming Events
Past Events
Disciples of Christ
Contact Us