What is the Meaning, Importance, and Value of Becoming a Christian?

In his book, An Anthropologist on Mars, neurologist Oliver Sacks tells about Virgil, a man who had been blind from early childhood. When he was 50, Virgil underwent surgery and was given the gift of sight. But as he and Dr. Sacks found out, having the physical capacity for sight is not the same as seeing.

Virgil's first experiences with sight were confusing. He was able to make out colors and movements, but arranging them into a coherent picture was more difficult. Over time he learned to identify various objects, but his habits--his behaviors--were still those of a blind man. Dr. Sacks asserts, "One must die as a blind person to be born again as a seeing person. It is the interim, the limbo . . . that is so terrible."

To truly see Jesus and his truth means more than observing what he did or said, it means a change of identity.

It is always exciting to see someone become a Christian. Even when an observer doesn't understand all that is involved, they often sense something meaningful is going on. This is especially so as time goes on, and changes begin to occur in the person's life. But often the significance of becoming a Christian appears to be lost. Sometimes even Christians fail to appreciate the significance of being a Christian.

When this happens, Christians often fail to grow as they should. It never hurts for a Christian to reflect, and ask such questions as...

a. What did I do?
b. What have I received?
c. What are the implications and consequences of what I've done?
d. What has happened to me?
e. What have I become?
f. What is different about me?

To summarize these questions...What is the meaning, importance, and value of becoming a Christian? What am I to supposed to do now?  To start with, we note that a Christian is a person reborn. That is because in Christ one has become a new creation.

A Christian rises out of the watery grave of baptism to newness of life (Romans 6:4-5). Old things have passed away, and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christians is a new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth. A new birth produced by responding to the Word of God (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-23). A new birth produced by the working of the Spirit of God (John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5-7).

This new creation embarks on a life of renewal. The inner man is to be renewed daily (2 Corinthian 4:16). This renewal is ongoing, involving the renewal of one's mind (Romans 12:2). Because of the new creation which has occurred, and the renewing which continues to take place, the Christian can be said to have a new life, having passed from death to life.s Jesus promised to those who hear His words (John 5:24-25).

Once dead in sin, we are now made alive to God (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:12-13). We now have the promise and prospect of life eternal, given through God's Son (1 John 5:11-13) having passed from darkness to light. Such is the objective of gospel preaching: to turn people from darkness to light. So Jesus told Paul (Acts 26:18). So Peter wrote to Christians (1 Peter 2:9-10). Though we once walked in darkness, we can now walk in the light as children of light (Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5), for which we should ever be thankful (cf. Colossians 1:12-13).

What makes such a new creation and a new life a reality? It is more than a mere obedience to some new doctrine. It is possible only when such obedience is the result of a new loyalty. A Christian is a "converted" person as exemplified by the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Conversion inherently involves change, particularly a change of loyalties. Such as from serving sin to serving God (Romans 6:16-18), and from serving idols to serving God (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 1:9).

When a Christian is converted to Jesus Christ. He or she acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2:36; 1 Peter 3:15) above family, life, and self. In other words, the Christian chooses to follow Jesus (cf. Matthew 10:37-39). When one makes that choice, Christ will become the focus of that person's life (Galatians 2:20). Such loyalty to Christ results in a new life in which God blesses the individual through Jesus Christ (e.g., Philippians 4:6-7); and in which one finds strength to live the new life (e.g., Philippians 4:13).

In conclusion, a significant thing about a Christian, then, is that he or she experiences a new creation; enjoys a new life; and entertains a new loyalty. Such an individual is truly a person reborn! But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth. Why is that? They may have not yet truly experienced the new creation. Obedience not rendered in faith will not produce the new birth (Mark 16:16).

For God's power to be at work, we must submit in faith (Colossians 2:12-13). Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin. Hardened by sin's deceitfulness, they have departed from God (cf. Hebrews 3:12-13), entangled once again by the pollutions of the world (cf. 2 Peter 2:20). In either case, their loyalty is certainly not where it ought to be!

Let's pray...

Dear Lord, You are Christ, my Holy Father, my Tender God, my Great King, my Good Shepherd, my Only Master, my Best Helper, my Most Beautiful and my Beloved, my Living Bread,  my True Light, my Holy Sweetness, my Straight Way, my Excellent Wisdom, my Pure Simplicity, my Peaceful Harmony, my Entire Protection, my Good Portion, my Everlasting Salvation. Amen

May God bless you,

Julianne