Benefits of Christianity

What's in it for me?

Introduction

Before I describe the benefits I am aware of that are available to a Christian, I feel it is necessary to first give a quick explanation of what it actually means to be a Christian. It does not mean, as many would think, attending church once a week or in some cases twice a year. It means both more and less than that..

To be a Christian, you must first believe in God. Not just any god either, but a real God who has created the universe and relates to us personally. Christians believe this God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, all-good, and all-loving. He is perfect in every way.

Furthermore, you must believe that there is a problem with the human race. Namely, that we are all imperfect and that no amount of willpower or attempts at greatness will erase the fact that mankind is inherently evil. This belief should not be too difficult to conclude; crimes against humanity are committed daily and not a single person lacks selfish and destructive motives. This evil tendency is what Christians call “sin”, and unfortunately this is what separates us from God.

Next, you must believe that there was once born a man named Jesus who was the son of God, and who was sent to Earth by God to take the punishment for the sins of mankind by being crucified on a cross. Because Jesus lived a sinless and perfect life, he was the only one qualified to take the punishment for everyone else, allowing for reconciliation between mankind and God.

Lastly, God asks only one thing in return for the forgiveness of your sins, and that is to put your faith in Jesus Christ and to surrender your life to Him. This is the most difficult part, because you must choose between serving yourself and loving the world versus loving others and serving God, and our whole lives we choose the former by default.

This article will not attempt to persuade its readers to believe in these things on the basis of evidence or argument. There are plenty of resources available which effectively argue the truth of the above propositions. Instead my goal is to show the reader what the direct benefits are of allowing Jesus to become the lord of your life and your savior, if you do decide that you believe.

I will quote verses from the Bible assuming that you already believe in it, in order to explain the main benefits as I see them.

Eternal Life

The Bible states that “The wages of sin are death” (Romans 6:23), and not only that but “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Without someone to pay those wages, you will surely die. John 17:3 says, “This is eternal life—to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.” Jesus also says “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me.” It is clear that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was meant to give eternal life to the men and women who have faith in him.

Not only that, but once you have accepted Christ as your savior, you will never lose your salvation. Consider John 10:28, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Guidance and Direction (The Holy Spirit)

John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit here, the third part of the Trinity. When you become a Christian, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit within you, which has the following benefits:

He guides us to the truth [John 16:13]
Assures us that we are children of God [Romans 8:16]
Acts as an intercessory between you and God during prayer [Romans 8:26]
Gives us hope [Romans 15:13]
Strengthens us [Ephesians 3:16]

The Holy Spirit then, is our personal link to God the Father. When we pray or read the Bible, the Holy Spirit is the one who will let us communicate with God. Through the Spirit we can discern God’s will for our lives, giving us guidance and direction.

Fruits of the Spirit

This may be one of my favorite things about being a Christian. If we “walk with the Spirit”, then our character improves in the following ways, as described in Galatians 5, verse 22:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Generosity
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Because God has a purpose for our lives as Christians, he works in us through the Holy Spirit to improve us in these ways. Although ultimately these character improvements work to serve Him, they also benefit us in the process. Who couldn’t use a little bit more patience, peace, hope, or love?

The nice thing about this improvement is that we don’t have to do it all ourselves, via sheer willpower. God is the one who will shape and mold us in this way if we merely trust in Him.

Joy

This is one of the fruits of the Spirit, but I think that it deserves special mention. It’s not as important as love of course, but I will talk about this one because it’s not well understood. Joy is not pretending to be happy when you are actually depressed, nor is it genuinely being happy all the time.

What joy really means is that you are content in all situations. In Philippians 4:12, Paul writes, “In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Christians can find peace knowing that God is in control, no matter the current circumstances.

A Purpose

In John 17, Jesus prays to God for himself, his disciples, and for the world. It is here that we find the reason why God doesn’t take us straight to heaven once we accept Jesus—it’s because we have a job to do! “I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.” He also says, “As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

We have a duty to share Christ’s love with others, just as it has been shown to us. God wants to use us, the weak, to proclaim Christ to the mighty.

Paul reiterates this point, saying “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.” [Philippians 1:23].

And let’s not forget Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Lasting Impact

A man’s natural instinct is to spend his whole life trying to be successful, rich, and powerful. The natural man focuses all of his energy on himself and his accomplishments. Ultimately a life focused on success leads to shallow relationships and selfish endeavors.

Jesus has a different plan for our lives. John 13:15 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus is saying that the only thing that really matters when it comes to your life is how you stand in relation to the Creator of the Universe, and whether your life is eternal or temporary.

As a Christian, you can share God’s gift of reconciliation with those around you in order to make their lives better. Your impact on them will likely produce fruit in their lives that has an impact on others who they interact with. By introducing even one person to Christ, you have the potential to influence thousands or millions of people before the end of time.

Eradication of Fear

Fear has a crippling effect on our lives if unchallenged, leaving us weakened, disheartened, and miserable. We fear losing our jobs, losing material possessions, and losing loved ones. We fear heights and uncomfortable social situations. We fear criticism and judgment from others. But we don’t need to fear any of these things.

1st John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears has not yet been fully formed in love.”

With God in heaven and our salvation secure, there is no reason to fear anything on this earth. For even if we die, we achieve a much greater happiness than we now have. And we know that there is nothing we cannot face if God is with us.

2nd Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Divine Support (Prayer)

Prayer is the Christian’s way to talk to God. Through prayer, we can praise Him, thank Him, confess our sins to Him, and petition Him for the things we desire. We can ask for His guidance and listen for His advice. When we pray, we have confidence that God loves to answer our prayers.

Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it and it shall be given to you.”

Luke 11:9-11 says, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

John 14:13-14 says, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Freedom

Once we accept Christ as our personal savior, we are freed from the bondage that sin puts on our lives. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”

Pure Heart and Mind

Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

James 3:17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-¬loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

True Love
We all need love. But we are as equally unable to show others true love as we are to successfully receive it. But God’s love for us is perfect, and true, and because of it we have the capacity to love others.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” [1st Corinthians 13:4-8]

1st John 4:19 says, “We love because God first loved us.”

Because of God’s abundant love for us, we can truly love others the way that God loves them. It is never enough to simply say “I care”—we have to act in order to demonstrate our love. Feelings of compassion are worthless without making a sacrifice and taking action to help the person you love.

Love is never easy. But if you walk with God, He will give you a bigger heart for those who are hurting. He will give you the desire, the power, and the means to serve others with all of your heart.