​Becoming a Christian (or a believer in Jesus Christ) involves a heart decision and a prayer to God. It’s a simple but profound heart decision. If your faith is real—if your heart is seeking Christ and believing in Him the decision is easy. 
 
1. Believe that you are loved and accepted by God.
The good news of the Christian faith begins with the recognition that you are loved and accepted by the God who created and sustains the world. Jesus taught us to call God "Father." While some people may lack the positive experience of a loving parent, most can imagine what the word "father" can mean at its very best. It suggests one who gives life, supplies love, provides care, protects, guides, watches over, enables growth, and gives freedom. This is what God is like. Even when we do not acknowledge God, God cares for us like a mother who cares for her children. God knows us intimately and loves us totally. Nothing we have done or could do can make God love us less.  

2. Admit that you are a sinner.
The Bible plainly teaches that all human beings have sinned, have lost the desire to serve God, and have no ability to save themselves. We see this truth in the realization that human failures, wrong choices, and stubborn self-will leave us guilty and powerless, and that habits can easily become addictions that are almost impossible to break. Not only that, but human sin affects our whole society, creating a world full of injustice, greed, oppression, pornography, pollution, and violence. Despite this sinfulness, God did not stop loving us. As strange as this may seem to us, John 3:16 tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we gain the right to become daughters and sons of God and receive the sure hope that this new life will continue beyond death, bringing us into heaven. That's the good news of the Christian faith!
 

3. Acknowledge your sins.
It's not enough to admit that you have sinned. You must regret those sins, and then turn away from them. The New Testament in the Bible uses several words to describe a genuine response to the gospel message. The first word is "repentance," which in the original Greek literally means "turn around" or "change of mind." We are told it is a crucial part of responding to the good news of God's grace. When you hear the word "repentance," you may think immediately of feeling or being sorry. Being sorry is appropriate, but it's not the main sense of the word "repentance" at all. To repent is to "turn around," that is, to change the direction of your life. More than just a change in your emotions, repentance involves a change in your thinking and in your actions. Your will and your behavior will also change. True repentance means that you want to please God rather than yourself. You come to love what is good, not what is bad. You experience a life directed outwardly to connect with others, rather than inwardly focused on yourself.

4. Pray the prayer.
Please understand that prayer is merely a conversation between you and God. Express yourself and your thoughts and fears to God however you want. He will hear you and respond to you because He loves you (Psalm 116:1). Here is a simple salvation prayer for you to follow. Please know that it’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation. You can personalize this prayer however you want: 

Dear God, thank you for loving me. I’m sorry for living a life independent from You. I understand that Jesus died on the cross for my sins so I could be in a relationship with You. Please forgive me for all my sins. I want to follow You for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you prayed the prayer, CONGRATULATIONS! A salvation decision is the most important decision you will ever make. It will define your entire life and you will never be the same. You have a purpose for living, Jesus to live for and you will experience new life on this earth and in eternity.

5. Commit your life to apprenticing Christ.
Once you've received what God has done in response, draw near to Him. Enter into a relationship with Him through prayer, a church community and reading the Bible. We come to know and love God more as we surround ourselves with the things that draw us to Him. Being an apprentice draws us to seek His wisdom and consider how Jesus would have acted in any of the day-to-day situations we face — at home, at work, at church. Anywhere.

If you made a decision to become a Christian and follow Jesus, if you let us know by CLICKING HERE we'd love to email you some additional resources to help you along your faith journey. 

If you have more questions, please contact us at info@epiclifechurch.com. We're happy to help!