You can become a Christian by committing to a mutually loving relationship with Jesus the Christ (i.e., the Messiah). This is a relationship that will help you to live deeper, love higher, and serve further. This is a relationship that also gives the promise of eternal life after death.

Becoming and being a Christian is a relationship. It's a relationship with the living God. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ who loved you so much that he died for you. It's a relationship with the Holy Spirit who can renovate your life, empower you to serve others, and help you navigate the joys and hardships of life.

While no relationship can be reduced to a formula or easy set of steps, here's one way to outline the process of becoming a Christian:

1. Awaken to God's love for you.
2. Admit your personal brokenness.
3. Accept both God's forgiveness for your sins through Jesus Christ, and God's renovation of your life through the Holy Spirit.
4. Start the adventure of living life as a follower of Jesus.

1. Awaken to God's love for you.

Wouldn't you like it to be true:
 . . . that there is one Supreme God who is in control of everything.
 . . . that this God personally cares about you as an individual.
 . . . that God knows everything about you, all of your desires and fears, all your strengths and weaknesses, all your accomplishments and sins.

Wouldn't you also like it to be true:
 . . . that despite all your sins and faults, this God still loves you.
 . . . that God wants to walk with you through the rest of your life.
 . . . that God has a special place for you in eternal heaven.

Well, it is true. All this and more is true of God. God is real, and God cares about you.

2. Admit your personal brokenness.

Simply say, "I'm sorry." Admit that you have sinned against God. Own up to the many things in your life that you have said, thought, and done that you know deep down were wrong. But don't be despondent. The Bible calls this act of facing up to sins and of beginning to turn our backs on them repentance. Repentance is a necessary step to replacing our personal brokenness with God's love and wholeness.

3. Accept both God's forgiveness for your sins through Jesus Christ, and God's renovation of your life through the Holy Spirit.

God doesn't leave you hanging in a state of repentance and remorse, nor does he leave you to rectify things on your own. God has already rectified things. God's forgiveness and grace are already waiting for you. Forgiveness and grace are free gifts from God.

Jesus Christ was executed and died for our sins. Jesus paid the price for you and me. But God resurrected Jesus within three days, thereby defeating Satan, death, and guilt. Jesus later sent the Holy Spirit to empower Christians to live deeper, love higher, and serve further.

4. Start the adventure of living life as a follower of Jesus.

Jesus never promised that the Christian life would be easy-no relationship is easy! That's why Christians need to get plugged into a Christian community where they can build friendships, worship God, serve others, and grow in their faith.

A prayer to start the adventure:

"Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life.
Please forgive me.
I now turn from everything which I know is wrong.
Thank you that you died on the cross for me,
so that I could be forgiven and set free.
Thank you that you offer me forgiveness
and the gift of your Holy Spirit.
I now receive that gift.
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit
to be with me for ever.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Amen."

-from Why Jesus by Nicky Gumbel