What is a real Christian?

A real Christian is someone who has made Jesus the Lord of his life – the No.1 priority

Why make Jesus your priority? Because Jesus made us his top priority – he gave his life for us. And in exchange for our commitment to him, he gives us everything that really matters. We can’t sit on the fence. Jesus himself says in the Bible that he will spit ‘lukewarm’ or halfhearted followers out of his mouth! (Revelation 3:15-16).

Not much room for complacency for any of us there. But why bother, you might say. Because we need saving. A drowning man would be stupid to say to the rescuer holding out a hand to save him, “I’ll think about putting all my trust in you… one day”, or “Well, I’m not sure I need saving really, I don’t know if I’m going to drown or not”, or “I’m not sure you are the real rescuer. I’ll wait and see what other people say.” But saving from what? Everyone has made mistakes and done wrong. “All have sinned”, says the Bible. God will not allow ANY sin into heaven, so people must be completely ‘clean’. But hang on a minute, you say, no one’s perfect – so how can we ever get into heaven? And you’d be perfectly right. No one can get into heaven on their own merit. God does not work on a “Do the best you can” basis. He doesn’t weigh up our good works and bad works and see if the scales tip in the right direction. He demands that full and proper justice be done.
No one in court could expect a judge to waive the sentence for any crime on the basis of the prisoner promising to do the best he can. The brilliant principle on which a holy yet merciful God operates is substitution. In the days of corporal punishment, identical twin boys at attended a school in Glasgow. One had a weak heart , but few people knew about it. One day the ill twin kicked a ball through the window of the headmaster’s office. The other twin bravely volunteered to go to the headmaster, taking his brother’s place, because he knew the punishment would be severe. He received three painful whacks and on the third one the pain was so intense that he broke into tears.

But he was glad because he knew he had saved his brother from it all. The boy became a substitute, taking his twin’s punishment. This is what Jesus did when he died on the cross. He willingly allowed himself to be killed, so that we can live. But you must ask him to become your personal rescuer or Saviour, otherwise the death of Christ cannot apply personally to you. Good medicine on a bedside table is no use to a dying man unless he takes it. In a humble prayer, ask Jesus to become your Saviour today. You can follow these simple guidelines….

How to become a Christian?

Following Jesus will change your life for ever, but the actual steps you take to begin are as easy as ABC. If you would like to know Jesus for yourself, be certain that your sins are forgiven and that one day you will go to heaven, follow these three easy steps, talking to God in your own words…

A - Admit that you have done wrong. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

B - Believe that Jesus died so that you can be forgiven, and ask God to forgive you: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16); “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9).

C - Commit yourself to living God’s way from now on Jesus said, “Whoever follows
me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Following Jesus is not always an easy road, but it’s the best decision you will ever make!

http://www.elim.org.uk/

About Elim

The Elim Pentecostal Church was founded in 1915 by a Welshman in Monaghan Ireland. George Jeffreys was an outstanding evangelist and church planter. He had a Welsh Congregational background, was strongly influenced by the Welsh Revival of 1904, and was introduced to Pentecost by an Anglican vicar, Rev Alexander Boddy of Sunderland.

Between 1915 and 1934, George Jeffreys conducted some tremendous evangelistic missions. This unknown preacher would commence a mission with a mere handful of people, and by the end of the week, thousands would clamour for a seat. Amazing miracles of healing had taken place. After the mission, very large churches were established.

The name 'Elim' was taken from the book of Exodus where the Israelites exhausted and dispirited en route from Egypt's cruel bondage to the freedom of Canaan came to Elim an oasis in the desert where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees. Exodus 15.27.

As the Movement grew with amazing rapidity against the background of dramatic decline in the historic churches, it proved to be a fitting symbol of spiritual refreshing.

Elim continued to grow despite the ravages of World War two and other difficulties and soon established itself as a Pentecostal power in the evangelisation of the United Kingdom. Today, there are over 500 churches in the home land, and nearly 9000 world-wide.

Ministers are trained at its official residential college in Nantwich- Regents Theological College, accredited by Manchester University for the B.A. and M.A. degrees. Its global thrust is spearheaded by the International Missions Board, which operates in 35 countries, with orphanages, hospitals and schools as well as churches.

It has a vibrant Home Missions policy and is committed to the evangelisation of the UK and the planting of new churches.

The winning of young people to Jesus is an important part of Elim's mission, and this is directed by its Christian Youth Ministries directed by the 'Serious4God Team'.

Elim's largest church is Kensington Temple, which has a network of churches in London and is led by Colin Dye.

http://www.elim.org.uk/

THE BIBLE: We believe the Bible, as originally given, to be without error, the fully inspired and infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

THE TRINITY: We believe that the Godhead exists co-equally and co-eternally in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that these three are one God, sovereign in creation, providence and redemption.

THE SAVIOUR: We believe in the true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His real and complete humanity, in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice through His blood shed, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His heavenly intercession and His second advent to receive His Church.

THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son and the necessity of His work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an enduement of power as the gift of Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this enduement the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service.

MANKIND: We believe in the universal sinfulness of all men since the Fall, rendering man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation.

SALVATION: We believe in the necessity for salvation of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which the sinner is pardoned and accepted as righteous in God’s sight. This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone and is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit and a holy life.

THE CHURCH: We believe in the spiritual unity and the priesthood of all believers in Christ and that these comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ.

THE MINISTRY: We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament.

THE ORDINANCES: We believe in the baptism of believers in water in obedience to the command of Christ and the commemoration of Christ’s death by the observance of the Lord’s Supper until His return.

THE COMMISSION: We believe that the Gospel embraces the needs of the whole man and that the Church is therefore commissioned to preach the gospel to the world and to fulfil a ministry of healing and deliverance to the spiritual and physical needs of mankind.

THE COMING KING: We believe in the personal, physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in power and glory.

THE FUTURE STATE: We believe in the resurrection of the dead and in the final judgement of the world, the eternal conscious bliss of the righteous and the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.

http://www.elim.org.uk/