There are five
important steps in beginning your new walk of love and service for the Savior:
1.
Baptism
Baptism is a beautiful picture of one's conversion
experience. 1 Corinthians
15:3-4 tell us: "...Christ died for our sins…he was
buried, and…he rose again the third day…”
Speaking of baptism, Romans 6:4 further states: "Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of
life." It is important to note
that baptism pictures our conversion- - the scene is reenacted in our life as
we are immersed into the waters of baptism and
raised up and out of the water. Baptism
is not salvation, nor does it have any part in salvation. We are redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians
1:7. [NASB] In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
1 John
1:7. [NASB] But
if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us
from all sin.
A person can go into the
waters of baptism a "dry sinner and come up and out a "wet sinner”
Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away one's sin.
Hebrew 9:22. [NASB] And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Baptism, then, is but a picture of what has
already happened to you through Christ. Baptism is but your first act of obedience
to the Savior, or, as Peter puts it: "…but an appeal to God for a good conscience…" (1
Peter
3:21). Baptism is an outward
act of love showing God and all the world that you have been born again, and
that you are determined to live for Christ.
2.
Church Membership
Church attendance and personal involvement in its
activities are vital for the new believer. There you will find teaching, encouragement and love while you continue to grow as a Christian.
Hebrews 10:24-25. [NASB] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
As a member of Christ's body, it is important for you to
join with other believers to worship the Lord, praise Him, learn of Him and
then go out to tell others, bringing them into the fellowship of believers
and the local church.
2 Peter 3:18. [NASB] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen!
The Bible is the most important book to learn of God.
Other ways are through Christian literature, Gospel radio and
television programs, but all these activities must be brought into
proper
perspective through studying God's Word and learning by attending a
local church - with Christ as the head, and the
individual pastor as the under shepherd.
Here are some
additional reasons why this is both true, and important:
The ministry of a Bible-teaching pastor, the fellowship of other
Christians and the many opportunities to learn, grow and serve, will
nurture you spiritually, and help you discover God's perfect will for
your life. In addition, you need
the leadership and guidance of mature Christians who have proved
themselves worthy of their respective callings in Christ
and of their ministering to others.
Such will be the makeup of the local church.
Spiritual
Gifts are endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural
graces which individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the Church. The
purpose of Spiritual Gifts are to edify the church and to edify
others. (Edify means to instruct especially so as to encourage
intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.)
1 Peter 4:10
[NASB] As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
There are many Spiritual Gifts. Once you have followed and practiced these five important steps, you can study more about Spiritual Gifts: (click link) Spiritual Gifts from the Holy Spirit. It will help you understand and identify your Spiritual Gift. Using your Spiritual Gift under the will of God is how we work to fulfill the mission of the Church.
Whatever way God
determines to use your life and testimony, it will be through, and in
conjunction with, the work of a local church. This is
why, if you received Christ through our ministry, you were referred to a Bible-teaching church in your area
and/or the pastor was contacted to seek you out in order that God's plan
of follow-up and completion into a local church might be
accomplished. In the end, all
honor and glory are unto God through Jesus Christ who
is the head of the church:
Ephesians 3:21. [NASB] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Your selection of a church home should
be preceded by prayer and a complete reliance upon the leading of the Lord. You
will want to be certain to choose a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching. Bible-preaching church. Those that have Sunday School, worship services both
on Sunday morning and Sunday evening, as well as a mid-week service,
are more likely to help you grow. Here
are other important factors to consider:
- Does the preaching center on
the cross and the blood of Christ?
- Is an invitation to
salvation given at the end of each service?
- Are people being saved?
- Is there an emphasis on the soon return of
Christ?
- Is Christian love evident?
- Is holy living a theme
frequently proclaimed by the pastor or minister?
As a member of Christ's body, you will be with other believers who are a source of comfort. We are able to comfort one another because we have experienced God's comforting.
II Corinthians 1:4. [NASB] Who
comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves
are comforted by God.
As you earnestly and prayerfully seek God's will, He will
lead you to the right church. Find
a church where these truths are self-evident.
3.
Develop a Good Devotional Life
2 Timothy 3:16-17. [NASB] 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In addition to your church membership and
participation in the services and activities of your local church, every
Christian should set aside a period of time daily for private
devotions - reading God's Word, reflecting on His commands, praying and
confessing all known sin, This is very important for new Christians, and
should not be forgotten by mature Christians either!
Learn to Read and Memorize God's Word
1 Peter 2:2-3. [NASB] 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Just as an infant child is strengthened through his mother's
milk or formula, so new Christians need nourishment for proper growth in
order that they may become strong warriors of the faith who devour true meat
(stronger Bible doctrines).
Hebrews 5:14: [NASB] But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
A daily devotional
schedule is the sure beginning of such growth, maturity and full service,
This goes hand-in-hand with 2 Timothy 2:15 which states:
"Study and be eager and
do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a
workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth."
Keeping close to God through His Word in daily
devotions will also help accomplish great victories in your life. One of the most important facts you must
realize is that Satan never works as hard as he does in the
life of a new Christian. 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes all Christians to: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." The
devil is upset because he has lost his bid for your soul for time and
eternity. Therefore, he will now
try to circumvent your Christian joy and service, ruin your testimony and keep you from winning others. He may even cause
you to doubt the fact of your salvation, become discouraged because of
circumstances, or perchance be offended by a Christian brother.
God will allow times of testing' and trial
to refine your trust in Him, and make you a more experienced, knowledgeable
and capable servant. When these times
come, it will be helpful to know that, every Old
Testament prophet and New Testament apostle, as well as thousands of your
fellow Christians, have experienced similar circumstances - and came out
victorious through their continued trust in Christ! As the Apostle Paul
so aptly stated to young Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:12. [AMP] For
this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I
know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard
what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
Romans 8:28 [NASB]: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Whatever you go through, keep in mind God is in control of the situation If he brings you to it, He'll see you through it:
1 Corinthians 10:13 [NASB] No
temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that
you will be able to endure it.
A daily study of God's Word will also help you overcome
temptation and sin in your life.
Remember, although you are saved, you are
still susceptible to temptations from the world and your flesh as well as the
devil. In fact, James 1:14 states:
"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." Although as a
born-again Christian you cannot practice or enjoy any particular sin the way
you did before you were saved. The Bible is straightforward in telling us
that: "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8).
The psalmist David, one of
God's best-loved servants, experienced the reality of temptation and sin in
his life. Still, as a result he was
able to pen the truth of Psalm 119:9-11:
Psalm 119:9-11. [NASB] 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
As you study, you will discover many passages of scripture
that have a special meaning for you, or which you realize will be helpful in your
witnessing to others, I suggest that you memorize these various passages by
subject area, As you do so, you will discover as I have that the benefits of
such memorization are many,
Learn to Pray Daily
In Matthew 21:22, Jesus told His disciples: "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." And Jesus also instructs the in Matthew 26:41. [NASB] "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Your time of private devotions each day will also provide
the perfect opportunity to pray. This
should not be the ONLY time you pray, but it will prove a convenient
opportunity for you to become acquainted with this important practice. God's Word has much to say about the
privilege of prayer - which is really nothing more than talking with God,
making your requests and rejoicings known to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us that Christians ought to pray without
ceasing. This emphasizes the
Christian's need for prayer as well as the fact that he should take advantage
of every opportunity to pray. As you
mature in the Christian life, you will discover more and more needs of
yourself and others--and consequently the need to pray more frequently. This fact is recognized by the
Apostle
Paul who states that Christians should
"… (be) instant in
prayer" (Romans 12:12) and:
"Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving"
(Colossians 4:2).
In Luke 11:1, Christ's
disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, The Lord's instructions 1
(contained both here and in Matthew, chapter
6) are often called "the model prayer,"
because they include all that God requests of us when we come to Him through
prayer. Reading Luke 11 or Matthew 6,
we find that our prayers should always be composed of the following elements:
Adoration (praise)
Thanksgiving
Confession
Intercession (pleading for others)
Supplication (humbly
bringing our personal petitions before the Lord)
When these elements are present, and when our hearts are
right with God, we are in a position to have our prayers answered,
The real key to effective prayer is found in 1
John 5:14: "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we
ask anything according to his will, he heareth us“ Every Christian must realize that what he prays for may or may not be
God's will to give him. Remember,
He is the omniscient or all - knowing One - and He knows what is best for each
of His children, Therefore, He will always give one of three possible answers
to your prayers: Yes,
No, Wait. There could be another answer --"You must be kidding!” When we ask we must be mindful of our reasons for the request. James 4:3 states: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures" Definitely, the correct formula is to ask, and then leave the answer
with God--thanking Him even when you don't get what you want.
To do an additional indepth study on prayer, click on the following link:
PRAYER: Barriers and Breakthroughs
Learn to Confess Known Sin
1 Corinthians 10:12. [NASB]: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall" The
confession of sin should also be a part of the Christian's daily communion
with God. Since we are still in the
flesh - and possess our old nature as well as our new - and since God has
warned us to beware of Satan's devices, there will be times
when we stumble into sin and are unfaithful to God. While we should openly recognize and admit
these times of failure, we must not allow guilt to dominate us. God understood your great need at the time
you came to Him for salvation. Now He
understands your weaknesses and shortcomings day by day. He has given a wonderful promise:
1 John 1:9: [NASB] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Just as you
came to Christ in faith believing the day you were saved, so should you come to Him in faith when
further cleansing is necessary. Again,
the Psalmist continually rejoiced in God's love and forgiveness, expressing
it well in Psalm 116:1-2: "1 I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. 2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.” Being
honest before God through confession of sin will also help in getting your
prayers answered, for the Bible tells us in Psalm 84:11. "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
Getting Your Prayers Answered
Jesus in John 15:7 states: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
Again, 1 John 3:22 tells us: "and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." In order to
continue in God's loving favor, you must continue to love, trust and serve
Him, always being obedient--just as you were the moment He saved you. Victory is and will continue to be yours in
all things as you "Put on the whole armour of
God…" as described in Ephesians 6:11-18
4.
Keeping a Good Testimony
One of the most significant realizations a new Christian
can make is the importance of developing and maintaining the testimony of his
newness in Christ, Philippians 1:20 states: "...that I will not be put to shame in anything…" It might be well to restate what Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 2 Corinthians
5:17. [NASB] "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
There is a song for Christian children that goes something
like this: "There's been a great, great, change, change, since I've been
born; there's been a great, great, change, change, since I've been born:
there's been a great, great, change, change, since I’ve been born: there's
been a great change since I've been born again! The places I used to go, I don't go there
any more: the things I used to say, I don't say them any more; the things I
used to do, I don't do them any more - there's been a great change since I’ve
been born again!" You can
probably add many more verses to this little song! At any rate, keeping a good Christian
testimony is important!
Because You HAVE Been Changed
Those around you will notice the change Christ
has made, is making and will keep making in your
life. They may even ask the reason for
it. Great! You will have your first opportunity to
witness of the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do so boldly, and
frequently, but always remember to back up your words with a
consistent testimony.
Remember also that many persons who say nothing to you are
still watching your every move just to see if your profession of change
through Christ is as real and lasting as you proclaim it to
be. Whether your family or friends
ask, remain silent, or even detest you, one thing is for
certain - your Christian testimony will make a definite impact on all
those around you!
Just as a young child must be trained
in the things that he should do to become a healthy, mature, responsible
individual, so must every Christian - young and
old alike - be careful as he walks his walk with Christ. Good advise for new Christians comes from God's Word.
Hebrews 2:1. [NASB] For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
1 John
2:6. [NASB] the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 1:6. [NASB] If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
Christ's command concerning the testimony
He wants you to have can most simply be stated as found in 1 Peter 1:16: "because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." As Christians, we are to
follow Jesus:
Hebrews 12:2. [NASB] fixing
our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy
set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down
at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 13:14. [NASB] For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Paul emphasizes this point well:
Romans 12:1-2:
[NASB] 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which
is good and acceptable and perfect.
2 Corinthians 6:17. [NASB] 7 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
John tells Christians:
1
John 2:15-17. [NASB] 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from
the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
By emphasizing your desire to live for Christ
through being baptized, by placing your membership
in a Bible-believing church, by developing a consistent devotional life and
by keeping a good testimony for Christ, you will find
yourself progressing rapidly down the pathway to successful Christian living
and service. The Holy Spirit Who now
lives within you will make you uncomfortable when you slip, make a wrong
choice, or begin to deviate from God's chosen path
for you. As you continue to yield to
His leadership in your life, you will both please Him and manifest the fruit
of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22, 23: "…love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, Temperance…" How full, rewarding, and meaningful you will find your life to
have become. Whenever you feel weak,
just remember: "I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
Maintaining a good testimony is also valuable because it
is important in being a good witness.
5.
Be a Good Witness
The Apostle Paul instructs the Christians at Ephesus to let
the Holy Spirit of God have full control of their lives.
Ephesians 5:18. [NASB] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit
Continue to enjoy the
blessings of God upon your own life, but, even more importantly, you will
be able to accomplish the work of God in witnessing to others and winning
others because the power of God would be upon you. God's greatest work can
only be accomplished when His people are filled with - or totally
empowered by - His Spirit. This was the
promise of the Lord Jesus Himself:
Acts 1:8. [NASB] "but
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and even to the remotest part of the earth."
To do
God's Spirit-directed work, you must go in the energy of His Spirit - not of
yourself - and to be assured of this empowerment you must remain pleasing to
God in all that you think, say, and do.
The fact that God expects us to be His
fit instruments in witnessing to and bringing others to a saving knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in God's Word:
1 Peter 3:15. [NASB] But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being
ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Again, in chapter 4, verses 10 and 11, the Apostle says:
"As every man hath received the gift (of salvation), even so minister
the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
The command to be a witness to others was Christ's
last "great commission" given to His disciples immediately prior to
His return to heaven.
Matthew
28:18-20 [NASB] 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Mark 16:15. [NASB] And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Telling others the good news of God's saving grace should be a regular part of your life. In fact, the weekly visitation and
soul-winning program of your church is one of the first activities in which
you should become involved. You will be placed with an experienced person in order to
learn, but even the simple testimony of your own salvation will prove
important as each of you talk to others.
Who knows, you may win just as many souls as your partner! An additional important aspect of accompanying
another church member on visitation is that while he or she is witnessing,
YOU can be praying silently to God, asking Him to melt the sinners
heart just as He did yours the day you were saved. By becoming a good
witness early in your Christian life, you will have the joy of growing more
rapidly and seeing many precious souls come to a saving knowledge of Christ. Don't let your lack
of knowledge keep you back from early participation in witnessing to others. As you continue in the steps outlined in
the preceding pages, you will grow both in God's Word and in the zeal to
become a good witness--and then an even better witness. Filled with the power of the Spirit, the
Apostles Peter and John
spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). When the people saw it, they realized they
had power because they had been with Jesus
(Acts 4:13). God will do the same for you!
Aside from the personal witnessing and the visitation
program of your church, there are at least three additional ways in which you
can "go… into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature:"
Through Prayer
Though many Christians somehow fail to realize it,
prayer is a powerful tool in one's life and service. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much" (James 5:16). As you mature in your Christian life and service, and as
you become more and more involved in the soul winning outreach of your local
church, you will discover more and more opportunities to pray. Pray for your needs, the needs of others
in your church, your pastor, the staff, the missionaries your church
supports. You should also pray that God will direct
more and more young people into the various areas of Christian service, for
persons with a solid background will need to take over when the present
servants of the Lord grow too old to serve or are called
to their heavenly home. If you
yourself are an older person, or perhaps handicapped in some way so that you
are unable to participate as you would like in the area-wide
and worldwide outreaches of your church, don't overlook the special
opportunity which can be yours as a
prayer warrior for those who are on these fields of service. Your rewards will be as great as theirs when you see Jesus,
for He says: "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor." (John
4:38).
Through Giving
Malachi 3:8 and 10 states: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say,
Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes
and offerings:' "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there
may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith
the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Here we find that one of the best ways
to be blessed of God is also one of the ways you can
help serve Him in bringing the Gospel to others. By giving you provide the financial support that is needed by all ministries to fulfill the mission of the Church
Through Going!
Although every aspect of the Lord's work is
important and wonderful, there isn't
anything to compare with devoting one's entire life and energy to God's
service 24 hours a day, 365 days each year for an entire lifetime upon this
earth. Even more wonderful is the fact
that there are so many avenues of full time service. God needs Christian workers from all
levels of social and educational backgrounds to accomplish His work. There is a special place just for you! Pray and seek out these opportunities. Some churches may have a need for administrative or custodial work or need for any individual dedicated to serving our Lord and Savior on a full time basis.
Perhaps you will feel God's special tug at your heart and come to know
the experience of the great prophet Isaiah personally: "… I
heard the voice
of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then
said I, Here am I: send me.” Then, seemingly in less time than it took
you to realize God's call and for you to answer, you will find
yourself in
Bible college, completing your internship and "on the field" as a
pastor, missionary, evangelist, Christian school teacher or whatever
vocation
our great God has given you. Your life and ministry will be only as limited as the Lord's
call, for the field is the entire world.
Summary
You now know the important steps to take in
order to insure a lifetime of peace, joy, and devotion to your new Savior
and Lord. My personal prayer is that
you will begin walking this pilgrim pathway immediately, for "… knowing
the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our
salvation (the day we see Jesus face to face) nearer than when we
believed" (Romans 13:11).
(Sources: First Steps in a New Direction, JVIM; New American Standard Bible [NASB] translation)
