You become a Christian by turning from your sin and trusting Jesus Christ, who gave his life for your sins and rose again, as your Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9 promises salvation to everyone who declares Jesus is Lord and believes God raised him from the dead. You can do that today, right where you are.
Key Takeaways
- Becoming a Christian isn’t about being good enough; it’s about trusting Jesus.
- God loves you and made you to know him (John 3:16).
- Sin separates everyone from God (Romans 3:23).
- Jesus died in your place and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
- You respond by repenting and believing, then following Jesus with his people.
1. Understand God’s Love and Purpose
God created you to know him. He made the sky, the stars, and the world (Genesis 1:1), and he made people in his own image (Genesis 1:27). He isn’t distant or indifferent. He loved the world enough to give his only Son (John 3:16).
2. Admit the Problem: Sin
Something has gone wrong. Every one of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Sin is going our own way instead of God’s, in what we do, say, think, and fail to do. It separates us from God and brings death, because death is what sin earns (Romans 6:23). We can’t fix it by trying harder.
3. Believe the Gospel
God did what we couldn’t. He showed his love by sending Christ to die for us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Jesus, God the Son, became human, lived without sin, and died on the cross to take the punishment we deserved. The sinless one carried our sin so we could be made right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Then he came back to life. Jesus died for our sins and rose again on day three, just as the Scriptures said (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The resurrection proves his sacrifice was accepted and that he’s alive today.
4. Respond: Repent and Believe
Jesus announced that God’s kingdom had come near and called people to repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15).
- Repent: turn away from sin and from running your own life. It’s a change of mind and direction.
- Believe: put your full trust in Jesus to save you, not in your own goodness.
- Confess Jesus as Lord: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). Learn more about what it means to be saved.
This is a gift. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our own effort (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus calls it entering the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14). He is the gate (John 10:9).
For more verse-by-verse teaching like this, browse our studies in the four Gospels.
5. A Prayer You Can Pray
There are no magic words. God looks at the heart. But if you want to put your faith into words, you could pray something like this:
God, I admit that I’ve sinned and gone my own way. I’m sorry, and I turn from my sin. Thank you for loving me and sending Jesus to die for me. I believe he came back to life. Jesus, I trust you as my Savior and follow you as my Lord. Forgive me, make me new, and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.
If you prayed that and meant it, God’s promise is for you: anyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved (Romans 10:13).
6. Take Your Next Steps
New life in Christ is the beginning of a journey:
- Tell someone. Share your decision with a Christian friend or pastor.
- Read the Bible. Start with the Gospel of John, written so that you would believe in Jesus and have life (John 20:31). Our Gospel of John study series walks through it.
- Pray daily. Talk to God honestly. The Lord’s Prayer is a good pattern (Matthew 6:9-13).
- Join a church. Find a Bible-teaching church where you can worship, learn, and belong (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- Be baptized. Jesus commands his followers to be baptized as a public sign of faith (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38).
- Expect change. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). God’s Spirit will grow you over time.
Related Bible studies
- The Narrow Gate Meaning: The narrow and wide gate explained, with Luke 13:24, the Sermon on the Mount context, and following Jesus today.
- What Does It Mean to Be Saved? A Bible Answer: The Bible’s answer: rescued from sin and judgment by grace through faith in Jesus, made new, and kept for eternal life.
- How to Deal With Doubt as a Christian: How to deal with doubt as a Christian: practical, honest steps from Mark 9:24 and the Psalms for when faith feels shaky.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Holy Spirit do after someone accepts Christ?
The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, sealing them as God’s own, assuring them they belong to God’s family, teaching them Scripture, convicting them of sin, and producing Christlike character: love, joy, peace, patience and more. The Spirit himself assures us that we belong to God’s family (Romans 8:16).
How do I become a Christian?
Turn from your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, believing he died for your sins and rose again. Romans 10:9 says those who confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised him will be saved. It’s a gift received by faith, not earned.
Do I have to say a specific prayer to be saved?
No. Salvation comes through genuine faith in Jesus, not particular words. A prayer is simply a way to express that trust to God. Romans 10:13 promises that anyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved. God sees the heart; what matters is that you truly turn to Christ.
Do I need to clean up my life before I come to Jesus?
No. Jesus came for sinners, not for people who’ve already fixed themselves. God showed his love by sending Christ to die for us when we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Come as you are. Change follows faith as the Holy Spirit makes you new.
What should I do after becoming a Christian?
Tell another believer, start reading the Bible (the Gospel of John is a great place to begin), pray daily, join a Bible-teaching church, and be baptized. Jesus told his followers to make disciples, baptizing them into the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Have Questions?
If you’ve just trusted Jesus or you’re still thinking it over, we’d love to help. Read What Does It Mean to Be Saved? or reach out through our site.
Related: While We Were Still Sinners: Romans 5:8 Devotional
Related: 1 John 4 Bible Study (Bible study)
Related: Devotional on Sharing Your Faith (devotional)
Related: Devotional on God’s Promises (devotional)
Related: read: How to Explain the Gospel Simply + Printable Gospel Study Cards
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.