Why a Christian?
I would like to share with you some reasons why I am a Christian.
The Bible says we all have sinned. (Romans 3:23) Sin separates man from God. (Isaiah 59:2) Sin (disobedience) caused the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) to get evicted from the paradise home God had made for them (the Garden of Eden). Jesus came to earth and told us of a new paradise God has for mankind.
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)
Question: Who will enjoy the new paradise home the Lord has prepared?
Answer: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found in him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (II Peter 3:14)
Question: How can I, a sinner, be found blameless and be allowed to enter the heavenly paradise of God?
Answer: "In whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
Question: When does the blood of Christ take away sin?
Answer: "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16) "Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Question: If sin is removed when a person acknowledges Jesus to be the Son of God, repents of his sins and is baptized (immersed in water) in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost for the remission of sins (See Matthew 28:19-20), how is this connected to the blood of Christ?
Answer: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so also we should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)
The blood of Jesus was shed in his death, and we are baptized into his death. That is why our sins are forgiven at the point of baptism.
