How can a non-believer become a believer?

[susie]

I wonder if anybody could help me....
I am a non believer. My boyfriend is a believer. I want to be part of everything in his life which includes loving Jesus.
But ever since i was young i have not believed in God and i have no idea how i can change beliefs on this. My boyfriend says that maybe sometime in my life something good or bad will happen that willmake me believe in him. But what if nothing happens?

[2nd Timothy]

Hello and welcome to CU!


It is important to understand our fallen nature before we can understand why we need a Saviour.    The word of God tells us that we are all sinners.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;


God removed Himself from mans presence once Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, whereas He once used to walk and talk with Adam and Eve before they disobeyed Him  .   From that point foreword, man was sentenced to die because of sin.   

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death;[.......]


The mere fact that all men die is testament to this truth!   Science has trouble explaining why men die, but Gods word makes it clear why.   So what to do?


Man is able to do absolutely nothing to bring himself back into Gods good graces.   All of our good deeds, going to Church, giving money to charity, feeding the hungry....etc, while obviously good things, are simply not enough for us to overcome our fallen state which separates us from God.    We are hopelessly lost and can do nothing about it on our own.



But God caring so much for man, gave us a way out of our predicament.


Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


How is this?


Man needed a mediator between us and God, a bridge if you will.    Someone sinless and pure who could bring us back into fellowship with Him.    But how does a sinless man help those of us who are sinners?



Very simply, He payed our penalty (death) by dying on the cross in our place.   He died FOR us, so that we who believe in Him, might live eternally by our faith in His redeeming work.


Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:


2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.



Jesus being very God Himself, stepped out of eternity for you, and took the judgment that He himself requires in your place.   When you acknowledge this truth, you in fact saying to God that you are indeed worthy to die.  You're acknowledging your sin, and know you deserve death, and have no choice but to put your total trust and faith in what He did for you!   


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.

This is the simple message of Gods grace to mankind.

My boyfriend says that maybe sometime in my life something good or bad will happen that willmake me believe in him. But what if nothing happens?

Looks like something has happened     You asked a question, and received an answer from Gods word!


What I have told you is the truth, not from me, but from Him susie.   This IS the only way to know God and be reconciled to Him.   Through His Son Jesus Christ.


If you acknowledge you are a sinner, and confess your sins to Him and ask for forgiveness, you will be born again and He will be your Saviour!        Without receiving HIS truth, you will remain in your sins, and be lost without hope.   There is no other way.


Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.


It can only come through faith in Christ Jesus.



I pray that His spirit will convict your heart today, and you will know that what I have spoken is the truth susie.   He's been waiting for something to happen too.   For you to seek Him!


Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.




Open the door of your heart today, and know peace like you've never known!    I'll be Praying for you susue!



Love in Christ!

[nChrist]

Hello Susie,

I see this is your first post, so WELCOME!! I sincerely hope that you enjoy Christians Unite, and I know that many sweet Christians here will help you with your questions.

Susie, most unsaved people have some sort of a reason why they have rejected JESUS CHRIST as Lord and Saviour. Could you give us an idea about what that reason might be? It would help us in helping you.

We also have a special area on the forum where many sweet Christians spent untold time and effort in trying to post material that will help answer the question of the lost. It really is a beautiful area of the forum. It's in the Apologetics section, and it's called FAQ For Non-Christians. I highly recommend that area, and many Christians here will also try to help you in any way that we can.

You are already expressing an interest, so maybe there are already positive things working in your life. We will do everything we can to help you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 36:7 NASB  How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

[airIam2worship]

Hi Susie welcome to Christians Unite,
We are a bunch of fun loving people who love Jesus. We would be very happy to help you with any questions that you might have. Please take Blackeyepea's advice and visit the area he mentioned. I look forwad to fellowshipping with you.

[susie]

Tim thank you for your reply.
I have to say that your answer has been the only of one of many that has even made think slightly differently. Normally when i talk about believing, christians ask me "who do you think made the world?" Now i know it is written in the very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible that God made the earth. But how is it so widely contested not just how earth was created but also how man evolved?
You on the other hand have told me about death, not life. And you are right i don't think any scientist has even really begun to explain why we die because actually there is no answer, except for yours.
But i am very anaylitcal and i will look into why people die. If there is no other answer than the one written in the Bible, then surely i have to believe this. And if i believe this then surely i must have to believe there is a God.
Again, Tim, thanks.
I will let you know how things go

[Soldier4Christ]

Hi Susie,

Welcome to Christians Unite. I sincerely hope that you receive the answers to your questions and that you enjoy being here at Chritians Unite.

You mentioned scientists. Scientists are no different than any of us. They are searching for answers to these questions also. Many scientists believe that they have the answers to life and death. These answers they have come up with are mostly just guessing. There are many of these scientists through their analytical minds that have come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour because of their research that they have done. There are threads here that also cover this subject located in the Bible Study area.

They have reached the conclusion that God is real and the things the Bible teaches are real. 2nd Timothy has pointed you toward this reality. Jesus is knocking at the door to your heart that is why you are here asking these questions. You have taken the first step by seeking Him.

I will also be praying for you, susie.

[susie]

i can not think of a reason why i have rejected Jesus Christ. Both my parents believe in God though they do not go to church to worship him. Up until the age of about 9 i frequented Sunday School at my local church and i also read my Bible every night before going to sleep. There have been no major events in my life but ever since being lets say 13 years old i have not believed that there is a God. But then also don't believe that the the world was created by the Big Bang. I don't believe in either of these things because i simply don't know.

[Soldier4Christ]

i can not think of a reason why i have rejected Jesus Christ. Both my parents believe in God though they do not go to church to worship him. Up until the age of about 9 i frequented Sunday School at my local church and i also read my Bible every night before going to sleep. There have been no major events in my life but ever since being lets say 13 years old i have not believed that there is a God. But then also don't believe that the the world was created by the Big Bang. I don't believe in either of these things because i simply don't know.

You said that you have an analytical mind. I can relate to that. you just said that you don't believe because you don't know. Are you saying then that you require proof before you can believe?

[2nd Timothy]

Tim thank you for your reply.
I have to say that your answer has been the only of one of many that has even made think slightly differently. Normally when i talk about believing, christians ask me "who do you think made the world?" Now i know it is written in the very first chapter of the very first book of the Bible that God made the earth. But how is it so widely contested not just how earth was created but also how man evolved?
You on the other hand have told me about death, not life. And you are right i don't think any scientist has even really begun to explain why we die because actually there is no answer, except for yours.
But i am very anaylitcal and i will look into why people die. If there is no other answer than the one written in the Bible, then surely i have to believe this. And if i believe this then surely i must have to believe there is a God.

Man is a curious being susie.   We have an built in desire to know that we are not alone, or meaningless.   No doubt this is why men search for answers with science.   We are seeking answers to our existence and our world.   From a biblical perspective, God created all things, so naturally He also created the laws of science that govern our world.    While science may give us many answers, men are blind to spiritual things because we are dead spiritually.   Thus, unbelievers (or unbelieving scientists) miss the larger picture due to pride or ignorance.


Pride can be quite powerful.   We men/women feel that we are in control of our life and world.  Who needs a God.   Why hasn't He spoken to me with a loud booming voice from the sky if He's real type questions.   Well, He has in a sense.   Everything that God wanted to say to man, He said through His Son Jesus Christ.   Not only did He die for us, but He also showed us how to live.   

Our time in this world is but a short span.   We all have an appointment with death someday.   But those who die in Christ will live again.


Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?


Lets take a look at what God told Adam in the beginning OK?



Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.


Did you catch that?  IN THE DAY you eat, you will surely die.   Later in the story we learn that Adam lived for many years....

Gen 5:5  And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.


Didn't God say he would die the day he ate of this tree?    Adam did die that die, he died spiritually, which later caused his death physically.     This is why Jesus says to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be BORN AGAIN!   Its a spiritual birth.


Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:


Christ purpose for coming into the world...

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.




Have you ever been to church and feel that tugging in your heart when you hear the Gospel?  Or perhaps even as you read these verses.    That is the spirit of God calling to you susie.   Deep inside we all have an emptiness that can only be filled with His Love.    We are always yearning, searching for truth, love, mercy.   You hear it in the songs you listen to, the movies you watch.   People know theres something missing, but until they respond in FAITH to the truth, it continues to evade them.   Its because they are spiritually dead.    The only thing that can fill this void, is the spirit of God when you accept Him into your heart.   You become alive again!   Born Again!!!!




A few final thoughts....


It is a historical fact, that a man named Jesus walked the earth some 2,000 years ago.   His story is the most documented life of a man that has ever lived.   Numerous witnesses, saw Him with walking with His 12 disciples.  Numerous witnesses heard Him teach.   Numerous witnesses watched as He was beaten and Killed and hung on a cross.  And numerous witnesses saw Him Live again.


His disciples ran and hid in terror when Jesus was arrested before His death.  Yet, something spurred them to preach about a risen Lord on the street corners, suddenly with no fear of being arrested or killed.  In fact, most them died more horrible executions than Christ Himself.   They knew something others didn't.     They saw something that made death trivial.   They saw a risen Lord that confirmed their beliefs in everything that He had said before.   Christianity has survived some 2,000 years of persecution, bible burning, and believers being hunted down.   Yet here we are today talking about it.


I have personally never seen Jesus, but I know in my heart of hearts that He lives.   Because of the changes He has made in my life.   The answers to prayer, the peace that I have in my heart, the changes in this mans life and heart would not have been possible without the help of the Lord.



The key to it all is faith!    No matter how much evidence one provides you with, it will still take a step of faith on your part at some point.   Its a necessary part of salvation, but a life changing event.   

Again, Tim, thanks.
I will let you know how things go

Please do!   My prayer is that God will awaken in your heart of hearts, a desire to know Him and receive Him as your Lord and Saviour.   


Love in Christ!

[2nd Timothy]

susie, hows things going in your quest?   Was thinking (and praying) about you and just wanted to see if you were making any headway or discoveries you wanted to ask about?


Feel free to ask away, there are many Christians here who are quite able to help and and answer your querries.   We don't mind your questions at all!   

[Sapphire W34P0N]

I want to be part of everything in his life which includes loving Jesus.
i have no idea how i can change beliefs on this.

Does anyone else find these statements a bit...contradictory?

Susie, put simply, there's nothing you can do to "become a believer." Of course, I certainly am NOT the person to be talking to about this stuff, because I still struggle with this question myself, and have never been able to find an answer less vague than the one I just gave you.

The only other thing I have to comment on is this: maybe sometime in my life something good or bad will happen that willmake me believe in him.

See, now, the problem I have with this is, if something DOES happen, there's always the chance that you'll become dependant on physical evidence for your continued faith, at which point it is no longer faith. This can lead to selfishness, directly or indirectly...it's like making a deal with God. If you need proof that God exists outside the Bible, then maybe you're not ready for a commitment yet.

But who am I to say?

[Chaplain Bob]

Hello Susie and welcome.  I'm kinda new here myself.

You have, and will, receive many answers with Scripture telling you that you need to do all sorts of things to become a Believer.  But the truth is becoming a Believer is very simple. 

The Bible teaches in John 3:16 that anyone who "believes" in God will be saved.  That word "believes" simply means "put your trust in" or "cling to".  So if you have been moved to join the family of God all you need to do is "repent" (that means turn from your old ways and follow God's ways) and put your trust in God.

God has made it possible by sacrificing His Son Jesus.  You will be told there are many things you must believe ABOUT Jesus to be saved.  But the truth is whatever you believe ABOUT Jesus has to do with your spiritual growth NOT your salvation.

Expect to be attacked by Satan as soon as you turn your life over to God.  And he may win a few battles.  But remember, God has already won the war.

If I can be of any help please feel free to contact me.

God Bless.

[Allinall]

Well Susie, what can I say?  You come to a Christian forum and ask about believing in Jesus and you're going to get ALOT of believer's responding!   

That said, I don't want to add much to Tim's witness.  I just want to ask you one question: Do you want to believe in God?

Welcome to CU my friend!  I pray that God will keep leading you towards Himself...

His,

Kevin

[2nd Timothy]

Just wanted to this for susie and keep it on the front page!

[Allinall]