Becoming a Christian

The Decision to Believe and Begin

The content and guidelines of the Christian faith are given in the Bible. The faith, however, is more than knowing what the Bible says and systematically living out its dictums. The faith is also experience. A Christian not only knows Jesus' teachings, for instance, but has by a decision of the will permitted the risen Christ to live in his or her life. HOW CAN A PERSON JOIN THE CHURCH OF GOD? If you are not a Christian (that is, not saved, not born anew, not a disciple of Jesus Christ), then you will want to confess your sins in prayer, ask God to forgive your sinful way of living, and invite Jesus Christ to come into your life as Savior and Lord. You may be able to do this alone, but many persons have found that the assistance of a thoughtful and mature Christian is helpful at this time. When you accept Jesus Christ as Savior, you are born into God's church. You are a new creation in Christ (John 3:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the cross you have become a member.

While believers are called to personal faith in Jesus Christ, they are not called into a private faith. Throughout Scripture the church is understood in terms of fellowship and community--that is, a gathering of believers who join together for regular times of worship, instruction, prayer, and fellowship. "While being born again places you in the family of God as a member, participation in a local congregation is required to enjoy the blessings of the Church. Regular, consistent participation in a local fellowship of believers is essential to maintain a healthy spiritual life (Heb 10:25)." (From The Church of God As Revealed in Scripture by Arlo Newell)

Ordinances are Rich Experiences for Believers

Ordinances are worship and faith disciplines which have been specifically ordained by Jesus in his instructions to his followers. We believe the ordinances are symbolic of something that is happening in the believer as a direct act of God's spirit. The symbolic act witnesses to an inner reality. These symbols affirm and remind us of what God has done in Christ. Baptism by immersion is a first step for the new believer. The term baptism, in the biblical Greek, means to immerse. Immersion of believers is the only form of baptism that is indicated in the New Testament. Through baptism the new believer witnesses to a new spiritual dimension in his or her life. Baptism is also a witness to the church that the new believer is a part of its fellowship and work and to family and friends that he or she is now an active participant in the Christian community (Mark 1; Matthew 28; Acts 2:38).

The Lord's Supper, often called Communion, is an affirmation of oneness in Christ. In the sacramental churches it is often called the Eucharist ("thanksgiving"), a reference to the thanks offered over the bread and the cup (1 Corinthians 10:16). The Lord's Supper and Communion are both terms used by Paul in his writings (1 Corinthians 11:20; 1 Corinthians 10:16, KJV). Church of God congregations frequently share the elements of the Lord's Supper. Many have Communion on the first Sunday of each month (including World Communion Sunday), on New Year's Eve, and on Maundy Thursday. The bread and the cup are symbolic of the grace experienced in the life of the believer. Through participation in the Lord's Supper, the believer remembers and celebrates the liberating death of Jesus Christ by which our salvation is made possible.

Foot washing is an ordinance practiced by many churches. It is an act symbolizing the servant ministry of all Christians to each other and to the world. Usually men assemble in one room and women in another. In some congregations, young persons assemble separately so they can be instructed more fully on the meaning and practice of foot washing. Some congregations now provide opportunity for family groups to participate in the ordinance of foot washing. Persons wash each other's feet, sing hymns, and give personal testimonies of God's blessing on their lives. Participation is not considered a "test of faith." Rather, it is a spiritual experience which Christians are encouraged to observe and join.