Q&A: Do I have to be "good" to become a Chrisitan?

QUESTION: "If I want to follow God, do I have to be a good person before I can become a Christian?"

That is a great question! I was actually talking to someone the other day that told me their daughter was asking questions about how to become a Christian and the lady I was talking to told her daughter “well, that’s something we need to talk more about because if you want to do that you have to start acting better and be a good person!”

The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him will not die, but have eternal life.” Now, did you hear anything in there about being a good person?

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That’s right. He offers for EVERYONE to live with Him forever in heaven, that’s what eternal life means. It’s not just for the good people or for people who look or act a certain way. Paul, a pretty important dude in the Bible, wrote in Romans 7:18 that “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” He goes on to write more about how he REALLY wants to be a good person and do good things, but he can’t ALWAYS be good not matter how hard he tries. And it’s the same with us! Do you ever feel that way, that you try to be good and it’s just hard to be a perfect person all the time??

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It’s so tough! Even for adults! Even for people who have had a relationship with Jesus for years! But at the end of the day, that doesn’t matter. Because God offers His free gift of salvation, or eternal life, a relationship with Him to ANYONE. Not just good people! BUT…each person has to accept His gift. Imagine if I were to give you a present wrapped in a big ole box, with awesome wrapping paper, tons of bows on top and it has YOUR name on it. What would you want to do with that present?

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You’d want to open it and tear in to it so that you could see and enjoy the present! When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it’s like a present. A gift that allows us to have a relationship with Him forever and be saved from being punished for our sins. BUT we have to open and accept His gift. Lots of people have that gift sitting in their lap and they say “um, no thanks.” And they set it to the side. Never opening it. Never enjoying the gift that God has given them. The gift that God has given to each of us! He doesn’t just give gifts to the people who act the right way or wear certain clothes or even those who go to church every week. He offers His free gift of knowing Him and living with Him forever to EVERYONE. This is called salvation! And it’s awesome and life changing.

Will you help me practice our verse? You can repeat after me:

“For God so loved the world – that He gave His only Son – that whoever believes in Him – will not die, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Here are some questions to talk about. You can pause after each question and discuss. Oh, and the point is to get conversation flowing. So don’t overthink it!

1.     What is salvation?

2.     Who gets the free awesome gift of salvation from God?

3.     Why should you accept God’s gift to you?