Becoming a Christian is not simply joining a church or declaring that you are a Christian because your parents were or that you were born in a Christian nation.
The first step that you must experience is spiritual birth. This is birth from above provided to us by the Holy Spirit when we accept the atoning gift from our savior Jesus Christ. You see, He died for our sins, substituting Himself out of love for us. This spiritual birth is available to everyone by turning to God and declaring, "God, I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I accept the free gift of Jesus who died on my behalf."
When you pray that prayer what happens:
First, you experience a spiritual birth. This is a birth from above which is some times referred to as being ‘born again'. You see each person who accepts Jesus as their savior is born again, not in body but in spirit. When we were conceived by our parents, they created our body with a mind, will, personality and emotions. Sometimes this is referred to as body and soul. When we are born from above, God creates in us a new birth, a spiritual birth. This spiritual birth is from God above and will never die. This is what is called eternal life.
Second, we become children of God, fully adopted into his family. As believers with our new spirit, our new life, we are now part of God's family.
Third, our name is written in the Book Of Life. This book will be opened by Jesus at the end times. When Jesus opens the Book Of Life, He will find our names listed.
Forth, The Holy Spirit gives us presents. These are special gifts that God uses through us to further His kingdom on earth. The motivational gifts are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and mercy.
Fifth, being on this side of the cross, our God deals with us in grace. He is a loving God who wants nothing but the best for His children. This does not mean that nothing bad will every happen to us, but It does mean that God is there to turn everything ultimately into good
Sixth, we can never loose our salvation or our status in God's family. You see when the spirit is born in us, we have eternal life with God. It was God himself who died for us as Jesus Christ. Jesus is God, a part of the one God or trinity. If God himself died for us can their ever be a better substitute for our sin death than God himself.
Seventh, while on earth and before Jesus returns, we are given the opportunity to earn rewards that will be provided to us in heaven and in our after life.
Next, we must understand that when we first become Christians, we are babes, infants in Christ. Our purpose and goal is to begin our Christian walk by becoming more mature each day, month, year, etc. There are many things that babies do not understand. God did not choose to make us instant theologians but rather wants us to embark on a life of Bible study, worship and prayer.
You will not be able to see much difference in a newly born Christian than a non-Christian. This difference will become more and more apparent as the Christian matures.