How do I become a Christian?

Becoming a Christian means turning to Jesus in faith: believing He died and rose for you, admitting your need for forgiveness, and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior. It is received as a gift by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), not earned by being good enough.

Do I have to be a good person first?

No. The gospel is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). You do not clean yourself up to come to God; you come to God and He begins to change you. Come exactly as you are.

What if I still have doubts?

Doubts are welcome. Many people begin with more questions than answers. A father once prayed honestly, 'Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief' (Mark 9:24). Bring your questions to God and keep seeking; faith grows over time.

What do I do after I pray to follow Jesus?

Tell someone, start reading the Bible (the Gospel of John is a great place to begin), begin praying daily, and find a local church and Christian friends to walk with. You do not have to do it alone.

Yes. Salvation is God's gift, not a reward for good works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). What it costs is everything and nothing: you simply receive what Jesus already paid for.

Start here

How to Become a Christian: A Simple, Unpressured Path

Becoming a Christian begins with one honest, unpressured step: turning to Jesus in faith. It means believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins and rose again, admitting you need His forgiveness, and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior. Salvation is a free gift received by grace through faith, never earned (Ephesians 2:8-9). Below is a simple, six-step path, and a prayer you can pray right now to begin.

The path, step by step

Discover who Jesus is

Faith begins with a Person, not a program. Jesus is God who came to us, lived the life we could not, died in our place, and rose again, so that we could be forgiven and known by God. Start by simply meeting Him.

Who is Jesus? →What did Jesus teach? →

Understand the good news

The gospel is the best news in the world: you are more sinful than you feared and more loved than you dared hope. God offers forgiveness and new life as a free gift, received by grace through faith in Jesus, never earned.

The Gospel, explained simply →What is salvation? →

Turn to God and pray

You do not need special words. Turning to God is as simple as an honest prayer: admitting you need Him, believing Jesus died and rose for you, and asking Him to forgive you and lead your life. A prayer like the one below is a real place to begin.

How to pray →Pray with someone now →

Read the Scriptures

God speaks through His Word. A good place to start is the Gospel of John, which shows you Jesus up close. Read a little each day, and ask God to meet you in it.

Start reading John 1 →Open the Bible →

Find Christian community

You were never meant to follow Jesus alone. Find a local church and a few people who will walk with you, pray for you, and help you grow. Faith grows in family.

Find a church near you →Meet the family →

Keep growing, and give it away

Following Jesus is a lifelong walk of knowing Him, becoming like Him, and loving others as He loved you. Keep praying, keep reading, keep gathering, and look for ways to serve and share what you have found.

Ways to serve →Share your story →

A prayer to begin

If your heart is ready, you can pray something like this, in your own words. God hears the honest heart, not the perfect phrase.

Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins and rose again. I am sorry for the ways I have gone my own way, and I turn to You. Thank You for loving me and for offering me forgiveness and new life. Come into my life, be my Lord and my Savior, and lead me from this day on. I want to follow You. Amen.

If you prayed that and meant it, welcome to the family. The most important thing now is not to walk alone.

You just took the first step. Take the next one with someone.

Tell someone, start reading, and let people pray with you and welcome you.

Tell someone / ask for prayer Start reading John Find a church Ask a question

Questions people ask

How do I become a Christian?: Becoming a Christian means turning to Jesus in faith: believing He died and rose for you, admitting your need for forgiveness, and asking Him to be your Lord and Savior. It is received as a gift by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), not earned by being good enough.
Do I have to be a good person first?: No. The gospel is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). You do not clean yourself up to come to God; you come to God and He begins to change you. Come exactly as you are.
What if I still have doubts?: Doubts are welcome. Many people begin with more questions than answers. A father once prayed honestly, 'Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief' (Mark 9:24). Bring your questions to God and keep seeking; faith grows over time.
What do I do after I pray to follow Jesus?: Tell someone, start reading the Bible (the Gospel of John is a great place to begin), begin praying daily, and find a local church and Christian friends to walk with. You do not have to do it alone.
Is it really free?: Yes. Salvation is God's gift, not a reward for good works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). What it costs is everything and nothing: you simply receive what Jesus already paid for.