After completing the required courses and receiving a diploma we understand that we have graduated. After signing the contract and paying the money we have crossed the line into home ownership. We know when we’ve crossed these lines, but what about becoming a Christian. At what point do we cease being a lost sinner and cross the line into being a forgiven child of God?

Am I automatically a Christian by being born in the United States? We have been called a “Christian” nation. Are all our children natural citizens in the kingdom of heaven at birth? Or do we become Christians when our parents dedicate us or sprinkle us as babies into a religious system? Do we cross the line into Christianity when we feel saved (The warm comforting moment when we feel all is right and God is good)? Are we saved when we “pray Jesus into our heart” as so many religious teachers say? Or is the moment of salvation when we join the church of our choice? When do we leave the ranks of sinners and enter the household of God? Is there a line for us to cross?

The Bible teaches us that we have to have faith in order to please God (Heb. 11:6). This faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). {This is required of man after he is old enough to sin. Infants are safe as they are without sin (Matt. 18:3).} The faith that we have from reading the Bible needs to be strong enough to produce acts of obedience (James 2:17-26). Without faith we will die in our sins (John 8:24). Please notice that this paragraph and the ones that follow have Scriptures sited while the previous two paragraphs of speculation are without Bible support.

A person is not saved by believing alone. Repentance of sin is also required of him (Acts 2:38). Repentance is the process of turning away from the sins of the past in will and action.

Confessing Christ is also needed to reach salvation (Matt. 10:32-33). But neither confessing, repenting, believing, or hearing the word of God is the last step needed to cross the line into Christianity.

In the Bible God has often used water as a dividing line. It was water that separated the floating ark from the drowning sinners (Gen. 7:16-28). The water of the Red Sea saved Israel while destroying the Egyptians (Ex. 14). The blind man was healed when he washed in the pool in accordance with Jesus’ command (Jn. 9:7). Naaman was cured of his leprosy when he dipped seven times in the Jordan River as he was told by the prophet Elisha (I Kgs 5).

Not one of these examples were delivered or cleansed without doing as God commanded. The blindness was not removed because the man heard Jesus. The leprosy was not cleansed when Naaman believed. Noah was not delivered without preparing the ark. In each case water was the dividing line. It was where the cross over occurred.

To become a Christian and leave the sinners one must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. This baptism is a burial in water for the remission of sins (Rom. 6:3-4, Acts 2:38, Col. 2:12-13).

Baptism is the point at which you cross the line into the Lord’s church and leave the old man of sin behind. If you have not complied with this command you are still lost in your sins according to the Bible.

Many denominations will argue with the Bible on this point. They claim that sprinkling or pouring is baptism, while the Bible tells us that baptism is a burial. They will claim baptism is optional and you are saved before being baptized while the Bible shows it is a command (Acts 10:48) which precedes salvation (Mark 16:16). Only baptism in the name of the Lord is acceptable (Acts 19:1-5). “In the name of the Lord” refers to by the authority of Jesus. If we can be saved without baptism then we can be saved without the authority of Jesus. We can also be saved without the power of God. The Gospel is His power to save (Rom. 1:16) and it includes baptism.)

Consider what the Bible says about baptism:
It washes away our sins (Acts 22:16)
It is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:3 8)
It is for the forgiveness of sins (Col. 2:12-13)
In it we put on Christ (Gal. 3:27)
It is the point where the sinner is buried (Rom. 6:3-4)
It is the point where we are resurrected to a new life (Rom. 6:3-4)
It is when we are born again (Jn. 3:3-5)
It is required to be saved (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21)
It is by the authority of Christ (Acts 8:16, Malt. 28:19-20)
It is commanded in the Gospel (Acts 10:48)

Can we honestly believe we can become a Christian without obeying Jesus, being born again, dying to sins, having our sins removed, being saved, and putting on Christ? Check your Bible not your denomination’s doctrine or preacher for the answers.