When I became a christian my life changed, but why?

[Anonymous]

I used to smoke cigarettes a lot, drink alcohol, mock and swear to god and lord jesus christ, lie, commit sexual sins, I used to be atheist and anti-religion, hate a lot. I had a very broken and bad childhood I got beaten by my dad and had a broken family and literally everyone and everything broke me before I became this bad, but after spending sinful years as a young person I started to change I was muslim before than became atheist for 3 years where I lived a very sinful life, and I still don't know why but I felt something in my heart, some presence filling my heart long before I became a christian and ever since I had this feeling inside me my life got better and better, I was obese and I lost weight, I quit smoking, I quit alcohol and nonsense parties and most I battled through the desire of flesh and won against my sexual sins and I quit it and this feeling was always present inside my chest before I even knew about jesus because I never heard of him once in my life properly and couple of weeks ago I finally read the bible and accepted jesus as my lord and savior, my life changed the good freshening feeling in my chest raised the more I trusted and believed in jesus, I cried so much for forgiveness but now both my life and heart is in peace, so many bad people has came out of my life when I met jesus and I quit the remaining addictions I had and replaced them with good ones. But my question is why would he help me so much with my life, why would he forgive a sinner like me?

[Alli39]

I mean, I'm an aethetist so I'm not really answering your last question, but responding to the primary question:

From a psychological standpoint most religions do have a built-in code of ethics focused on "doing good" (whatever that means in a given religion), being more self-aware and contemplative, and engaging in self-control, and often uses gods (authority figures), the afterlife (promise of reward/punishment), etc as motivators to follow that code. Your life change because you were able to take religion as an outside motivator (as opposed to self-motivation) to change your life for the better.

So as far as I'm concerned, God didn't save you, you saved yourself and props to you for that. But if believing in a god is the motivator you need to maintain your hard work then keep that close and cherish it.

[strateguy632]

the lists do not match i mean christianity is a grace system so the "aftelife reward" is not the bribe to motivate anything nor his changes. not like giving a kid candy for cleaning his room. other religions can be that but he left islam.

[Alli39]

@strateguy632 I mean, just because one religion doesn't work for a person, doesn't mean that no religion will work. I'd assume the asker just didn't relate to the specific values or practices of the religion, or wasn't at a point in his life to accept them when he was part of the religion.

And I get that the details of the afterlife etc is a little more complicated than just "do good and you go to heaven" but my point stands. We have no proof of an afterlife, so you're operating on the assumption that being a good person now means you'll avoid "eternal torment" later. It's not the only motivator, but it is a motivator that tends to work well on people. Why do you think so many religions have an afterlife to begin with?

[sheenagwapa]

congratulations brother because the one yoy are calling actually exist and real! 🥳🥳🥳🥳 we are capable of loving because God love us first His creatures. i think God's love foe the people he created is so big and wide that's why there's a message like that of the Divine Mercy by St. Faustina, another example even stories in the bible old testament that story of the sinful place Nineveh. He eould always send prophets to earn the people most of all God's ultimate love is shown via the death and suffering of Lord Jesus

[MementoMori777]

Because God is love and he loves you, that feeling that you feel that's is repulsed by sin is called the holy spirit, it's one of the three trinities in Christianity, it's the spirit of God and it entered you when you accepted Christ into your life, yes accepting Christ into your life is a life changing event, and you'll always have that tug in your heart when you sin or are tempted to sin, that's the holy spirit in you and it shows you are a born again follower of Christ, amen to this bro, glad God helped you overcome all these rough obstacles in life. 💯🙏🏽

[jshm2]

He hasn't forgiven you. You had family issues and have matured a little since then.

You downgraded to a Christain as you were not good enough to be Muslim.

[jennifer_bloom]

God has been healing me too, it started over a decade ago but sky rocketed recently. My tolerance for unpleasant smells has increased many times over, my pain tolerance has increased a lot, my stress tolerance has increased, my anxiety has lowered, my hand eye coordination and mental flexibility has improved, my blood circulation has improved, my heart has become healthier, my empathy and self respect has increased etc...

[Spongebobssocks]

God can forgive you. You crying for forgivness shows that you mean it and want to change. Everyone has sinned and will continue to sin but you asking for forgivness and meaning it and trying to become better can be forgiven. I use the word "can" because I am not God I don't make the desicsion. People who say you can't be forgiven or that you can do whatever you want and continue to sin no matter what and just ask for forgivness every time are both acts of the Devil.

And your top question. Simply because he loves you.

[Anonymous]

Because He loves you! You are His child created in His image! God never wants anyone to perish, but everyone to come to salvation. And He wants you to know Him and trust in His love. That’s one of the greatest majesties of God is a love beyond our understanding!

[strateguy632]

many people try on their own to quit smoking and fail repeatedly but if they sincerely involve God then they like you can overcome addictions.

[genericname85]

addiction is the answer. you can replace one addiction with another. that's what you did. you are still addicted but to a slightly less bad thing.

[jahaims]

Because you are too stupid to be a good person so you have to be tricked.