What We Believe

The people who founded Adullam Ministries are all Christians, and the ethos behind everything we do is shaped by our faith in Christ. This doesn't mean that you have to be a Christian to visit this website, or to use any of the resources Adullam Ministries offers. Everything we do is open to everyone, because we have a passion to see people who self-harm recover and lead full and happy lives. Part of loving God is loving the people He created, and one way we can do this is to care for people who are hurting.

You don't have to be a Christian to visit this site.
Everything we do is open to everyone.

So just what is a Christian?

It is not just about doing good works and helping other people, and it's not just about going to church each week or being 'religious'. All these things are important, but they are not enough.

Even believing in Jesus isn't enough. It's a start, but even the devil believes in Jesus, and we wouldn't call him a Christian. See for example Matthew 4v1-11; Luke 4v1-13.

You might say "I lead a good life - surely my sins aren't that bad?" But the Bible teaches us that God cannot stand sin, and even the best of us falls miles short of his standards. Romans 3v23 says "....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Nobody can earn their way into heaven. If you say that you have never done anything wrong, or done anything contrary to God's will, you are deceiving yourself. No one is exempt from God's judgement.

Why doesn't God just let everyone into heaven? Surely he is a God of love? Well yes he is and that is why he gave us a way to be reconciled to Him.

So what must we do?

1) Believe in Jesus

Acts 16v31 says 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.'

Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is the most obvious requirement for salvation. Having this faith in Jesus is not an option, it is a necessity for salvation.

2) Confess what you believe

Romans 10v9-10 says that 'if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.'

This passage teaches that our belief in Jesus must be confessed. The word "confession" means a verbal acknowledgement that something is true. The Bible is clear that this is required. It is not our sins, but our faith that is to be confessed.

3) Say sorry and mean it

Acts 2v37-38 says 'When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off for all whom the Lord our God will call."'

To repent means to say sorry in the truest sense, meaning that we really mean to try and give up what we do wrong. We may fail - that will not stop us being a Christian - but we must mean that we will, with God's help, endeavour to lead a Christian life with Christian standards. Jesus himself taught that there will be no forgiveness without repentance.

4) Then be baptised

Matthew 28v18-20 says 'Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."'

Baptism is therefore, quite simply, an act of obedience to Jesus by those who have become Christians. Baptism was very much the norm in the early church. We already looked at the passage in Acts, but we could also consider the Ethiopian official baptised by Phillip in Acts 8v26-40, or Paul's Baptism by Ananias (Acts 10v24-48), or Lydia (Acts 16v11-15) or the Philipian jailer (Acts 16v25-34).

Commitment

If you want to give your life to God now by becoming a Christian, it's very easy. God is desperate to have you as one of His adopted children so He doesn't make it hard to come to Him!

Just read aloud, and mean, the prayer below:

Jesus I am sorry for the things that I have done wrong. I thank you that you died on a cross for me. I am willing to turn away from anything that displeases you in my life and from this day on I want to live my life your way. I invite you to come into my life now and make me a brand new person.
Thank you Jesus

Having prayed this prayer you may already feel a new peace in your heart. That's God showing you that He's come in. Even if you don't feel anything now, keep believing that God has answered your prayer and very soon you will notice that things are different inside.

If you have just prayed this prayer, welcome to the family! It would be great if you could go and tell someone else who is a Christian if you have prayed this prayer, because they will be able to celebrate with you and support you. If you don't know any other Christians, then email us - we would love to hear from you!

For more information about becoming a Christian, visit one or more of these sites: