Reply #5: A person needs to acknowledge his/her sinful state and accept Christ [View All]

I'm giving you this information based on the evangelical/fundamentalist theology. After you acknowledge your sinful state and asked forgiveness, you must personally accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Here's an iteration of what's called the Sinner's Prayer:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

After accepting Christ, the believer follows Him in baptism, but there are differences as to what the accepted method is--generally, Baptists and other fundamentalists opt for immersion. It is then the believer's responsibility to live with love and in a Christlike manner but all this does not rule out the possibility of sinning, even after salvation, thus the requirement to confess those sins and ask for forgiveness continuously throughout life here on earth. It is the act of accepting Christ, however, that assures one's eternal salvation and entrance into the presence of God upon death.

There are variations of this of course, thus accounting for the zillion denominations within the Christian religion.

Just to be clear, I am a lifelong Baptist/fundamentalist who now, observing my fellow Christians and their lack of love and Christlike living, am rethinking the core of my beliefs. As a man once said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief."

Tired Old Cynic