I am surrounded by Christians. My family are a bunch of Christians. My kids are homeschooled in our Christian home. My parents are Christians. I go to a Bible study where everyone claims to be Christian. I’m a Christian. You gotta ask, “What makes a Christian?”

If you go to church on a regular basis, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you were baptized as a baby, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you vote Republican, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you live in the south AND vote republican, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you are nice, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you adopt children, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you are a pastor’s kid or missionary’s kid, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have a major life changing event happen to you, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you are basically good, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you were born in America, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you homeschool your kids, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have never told a dirty joke, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you saved yourself for marriage, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you say you are a Christian, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you don’t drink, smoke, or dance, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you go to church AND Bible study on a regular basis, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have obeyed all the ten commandments, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have never murdered anyone, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you give to charity on a regular basis, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you believe there is a God, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have had a hard life, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you have never taken drugs in your life, does that make you a Christian? NO!

If you support Duck Dynasty, does that make you a Christian? NO!

Well then, what DOES MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Glad you asked.

Jesus Christ came to this world some two thousand years ago. He was born of a virgin and grew up in a Jewish household. In His early thirties, he began a ministry. He began to tell people why He was here. He gathered up twelve disciples to travel with Him. He kept telling His disciples He would be leaving soon. He began ticking off the Jewish leaders. Jesus was saying He was God’s Son (which He was). The Jewish leaders said He was blaspheming God, by claiming to be the Son of God. The Jewish leaders couldn’t take it anymore, they wanted to get rid of Jesus, so they did. They had a fake trial for Him and said He was blaspheming God, so “off with His head,” so to speak. They didn’t take His head, but they did take His life. They crucified Jesus Christ upon a cross, between two thieves. This was all part of God’s plan. You see, we as people are sinful. You know you are. I know I am. Our sin separates us from God. We need to become clean. Jesus Christ is our way to become clean, to become a Christian. Jesus Christ TOOK the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. “He bore our sins upon the cross…” Jesus died and three days later, He rose from the dead. To become a Christian, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Realize there is nothing you can do to make yourself clean by yourself. He died to make us clean. Accepting the free gift of salvation is what makes you a Christian. Accept Him. I did. I’m so glad I did. Don’t put your faith in any of the reasons I listed above. Accept Jesus Christ and you WILL BE BORN AGAIN, SAVED, A CHRISTIAN!

So if I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior I will be a Christian? YES!