Becoming a Christian isn't about family heritage, church attendance, or good deeds—it's about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Romans 10 outlines the pathway to salvation: we must call on the name of the Lord, which requires first believing in Him. To believe, we must hear the gospel message, which means someone must share it with us. Every Christian is both saved through this process and sent to continue it by sharing the good news with others. True Christianity involves acknowledging our sin, believing in Jesus's death and resurrection, confessing Him as Lord, and committing to follow Him daily.
Glorification is God's transformative work that begins now and continues throughout our lives, not just our eternal destination. Paul describes our earthly experience as camping in temporary tents while longing for our heavenly dwelling. This perspective helps us understand why we feel unsettled in this world and why suffering often shapes us more than comfort. While we're camping, God calls us to exercise cross-shaped authority through service and sacrifice, taking responsibility for what's within our reach. The Holy Spirit serves as our deposit, guaranteeing our eternal inheritance and providing evidence of God's work in our lives.
