This subject comes up a lot in discussions with those who are seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ. These are the questions that are asked:

1) Do I have to give up certain things in order to become a Christian?
2) Do I meet God’s standards?
3) What are the requirements?

I am going to attempt to answer all of the above to the best of my ability and according to the Word of God - the Bible.

So, let us start with the first question, do I have to give up certain things in ORDER to become a Christian? The answer to that is NO, we are to come just as we are, with whatever baggage we might be carrying. The "religious" or "legalistic" Christian will say things like, "you have to give up smoking or drinking, or etcetera.", but nowhere has that ever been the message in the Bible. Jesus, in John 4, when meeting with the Samaritan woman tells her whom she is living with, but if you read carefully, He did not tell her to leave him. However, in John 8, the woman caught in adultery, He told her to "go and sin no more." I believe that she repented of her sin, right then and there. See that is the key, REPENTANCE. It is even the first thing Peter said in Acts 2:38. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit and the life of Jesus, we will give up those sins that easily beset and weigh us down.

On the second question, I believe I answered some of it in the above statement, but let me remind you in Titus 3:5 it says, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His MERCY He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to attain God’s standards, in fact, our righteousness is as filthy rags - Isaiah 64:6.