What It Means To Be A Christian
Presented in her Speech Class
By Sarah Tincher, September 2005 - 16 Years-OldINTRODUCTION
Have you ever had a friend that always stood by your side, forgave you every time you hurt him, and took you back with nothing but love? I am here to inform you about Christianity, and why you can a perfect friend. Christianity is living for Jesus Christ as your personal savior. I will share with you more of the basics on what Christianity really is, who Jesus really is, and how a Christian lifestyle is a positive lifestyle. You can learn many valuable things to take with you on the journey of this crazy life.
BODY
Why you were created? Why was I created? Ephesians 1:4 in the new testament of the bible states, “Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love.” This verse illustrates how God had so much love to give that he created us and gave us life and a beautiful world in which to live. He gave us an instruction booklet called the bible that will tell us how to live a full life. There is a problem. God is perfect. He has no sin. We are not perfect. We do sin. God cannot look upon sin. There must be something to connect us with God even though we constantly are sinning. Nothing can take away our sin, for messing up is human nature. God had to bring us some sort of bridge that is perfect as he is. It is similar to our laws; when someone commits a crime, they must pay for the crime so the criminal can return society. Just like the criminal, someone must pay for our sins in order for us to be with God. The person who willingly paid for our sins was Jesus Christ, the son of God. By sacrificing himself on a cross he paid for each and every one of our sins so we could have eternal life with the lord. Believing in Jesus as your personal savior and basically living a life for God is what Christianity is all about.
Jesus lived on earth for 33 years as an example to people then and now. Jesus healed many sick and blind people as well as performing numerous miracles to show that he was more then a man or messenger. He taught followers, called disciples, how to live a Christian life and to teach others. Jesus loved us so much, that he fulfilled his mission which was to suffer and die for our sins. Being a Christian allows you to have Jesus in your life and gives you a constant listener to whom you can pray. We have the ability to go to Jesus whenever we have a problem or whenever we want to praise him for a great day. www.becomingachristian.com tells us that the word Christian means CHRIST-IN, someone who asked Jesus into his or her lives. John 14:6 states, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father but through me.” He is the bridge to God.
There must be order in a society for it to be successful. For us, as individuals to be successful and fulfilled, we must have order. How many of you have done something which caused you to feel guilty later? We all have. The reason you feel bad is because you are going against God’s will. God gave all of us a conscience. Romans 2:15 says “They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, just as the law commands. And they show this by their conscience.” Without a conscience we would not want to get back on track and follow the right path in life. The feeling of accomplishment after doing something right would not satisfy us. God wants the best for everyone. Drugs, alcohol, and sex cannot keep you happy because they eventually leave you feeling empty. The love of God will never leave you feeling empty and is the only thing that gives you a purpose in life and hope for the future. Without God there is no eternity to look forward to, no best friend who gives unconditional love and forgiveness. Christianity supplies you with faith, satisfaction, and a feeling of self-worth because God created and loves everybody individually.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Christianity is the farthest reaching religion in the world. www.adherents.com tells us that 85 percent of Americans are said to be a Christian. This religion is accepting and living for Jesus as your personal savior and guide. It defines who Jesus really is, and it can make for a better lifestyle. Do you have a perfect friend like that?
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