Resource: I'm a New Christian

Welcome to the family of God.

Congratulations!

You’ve believed the Gospel and the Bible calls this being born again. You are now a Christian. You are now a child of God. Your sins are forgiven (past, present and future), you are a new creation in Christ. Old things in your life have passed away, and new things are on the way. You are literally a new person; you have a new nature and a new heart. Jesus Christ has come to live in you and will be with you through the person of the Holy Spirit. Your name has been recorded in Heaven in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 21:27) and you have received eternal life.

Now that you’re a Christian, there are some questions you may have which we have pre-empted and will hopefully help you answer as you begin your walk with the Lord. At times, new Christians experience an overwhelming joy at the knowledge that they’re children of God and they’re not sure where or how to start this journey. So, we hope this helps you.

“How can I know for certain I am really saved?"

New Christians often wonder, “How can I know for certain I am really saved? Is my salvation based on the way I feel? Is there any chance I could lose my salvation if I sin? How can I be certain I am a child of God?” When we consider questions such as these, it is good to know that the Bible says that we can know that we are saved. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). It means we can be absolutely certain that we are saved. But how can we know?

You Know You’re Saved Because the Bible Says So.

The Bible is God’s Word and God cannot lie. When it comes to the subject of being saved, the Bible clearly states that whoever repents of their sin, believes in the Lord Jesus, and receives Him into their life, has the gift of salvation. God confirms this in his Word: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12). Jesus Himself taught this when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). Likewise, we read (in Romans 10: 13), “For ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED’”.

You have the Holy Spirit in you and with you.

The moment you become a Christian, God gives His Holy Spirit to live within your physical body. Your body literally becomes “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Paul tells us we can know we are saved because “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). Another translation of that same verse says, “His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.” The Spirit within you will cause you to have an overwhelming realization that God has transformed you and that you belong to Him. In addition to this, the promise of God is that His Spirit will never leave you nor forsake you. He will always be with you (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20).

Now that you’re a Christian,

you’ll start to see some changes happening in you and to you. As you’ve opened your heart to the Lord, He is now going to start working in your life in very real and visible ways – you are likely to find that you will have an interest in reading God’s word (the Bible), praying to your Father in heaven and loving others.

One of the lies that you’ll encounter on your journey as a Christian is that you are able to lose your salvation. We want to encourage you that the Bible is clear that your performance cannot undo what God has done in you.

Here are THREE REASONS you cannot lose your salvation:

1. No One Can Snatch You from God’s Hand. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:27–29). Once you become a Christian, God puts an eternal hold on you. Your salvation does not depend on you being able to “hold on to God.” Rather, your salvation continues because God is holding onto you!


2. Nothing Can Separate You from God’s Love. When you were saved, God placed His love into your heart. He loves you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). Nothing will ever disconnect us from God’s love, for the Bible says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).


3. Nothing Can Sever the Seal of God’s Spirit. When God saved you, He “sealed” your salvation with His Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14). The seal of God’s Spirit acts as a “down payment” (i.e. “pledge”) that guarantees the completion of the reward of salvation in Heaven. The Spirit’s seal cannot be severed or broken by anyone or anything. Thus, our salvation is absolutely secure in Jesus Christ!
   
   If you have believed the Gospel, responded in repentance and asked Jesus to come into your life to save you, He has done so and he will be with you always.

What is Baptism all about?

Jesus told us what we are to do immediately after we are saved: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). He says that after we become disciples (i.e. believers in/followers of Jesus), we are to be baptized.

What does the New Testament say about baptism? (1) Baptism is for those who have already believed in Jesus, (2) it is by immersion, (3) it is to be done in the name of the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and (4) it is an outward demonstration to witnesses of what’s occurred inward. Baptism is for Those Who Have Already Believed in Jesus.

Am I part of the Church now that I’m a Christian?

In a word: Yes! Now that you’re a Christian, you are part of God’s family and so you are part of the global Church. Usually when the word “church” appears in the New Testament, it refers to a specific congregation of believers located in a particular geographical area. These believers had united themselves together under Christ’s Lordship to be the Body of Christ and to minister to those around them for His glory. A church is made up of people who have been saved. The local church is at the heart of Christian activity on Earth. The Universal Church (i.e. all Christian believers) is made up of individual Christians who should belong to local churches. Every believer gets to be an active member of a local church.

The global Church is very important because Jesus founded it. The Church is referred to in the New Testament: Paul called it Jesus’ Building (Ephesians 2:20–21). Christ is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18), and Christians constitute the members of His Body (Ephesians 5:29–30). We function together as a unit under His leadership. Finally, the Church is pictured as Jesus’ Bride (Ephesians 5:26–27).

Joining a church where you can worship, hear the Gospel preached, be discipled, encourage others, contribute and fellowship with other Christians. This is important to your walk with the Lord.

How Can I Understand the Bible?

The Bible is the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). It not only contains truth; it is truth (John 17:17). Reading and beginning to understand the Bible is important for every Christian. Here’s how you can begin to do that:

Read the Bible: You would do well to begin reading a chapter or more in the New Testament on a regular basis.

Study the Bible. There are a number of ways to study the Bible. There are many tools in written form and online that can assist you in this. If you would like to know more, it is suggested that you speak to one of the mature believers in a local church you join. Also, you would be well advised to join a weekly Bible study with a mature believer teaching the Word of God.

How do I pray?

Prayer is talking and listening to the Lord. It’s a two-way conversation—a dialogue. We would encourage you to pray / talk to God often.

Like we said, Prayer is also talking to God. He wants us to come to Him as a child comes to a loving father.

One other suggestion: One of the best ways to learn to pray more effectively is to spend time praying with other Christians. And this is why we would encourage you to join a church and connect with other believers.

Why Do I Need Christian Friends?

When you became a Christian, you joined the family of God. Every other Christian in the entire world just became your brother or sister. Now that is a huge family! Spending time with other believers to help you grow and mature in the faith is a great help to your walk with Jesus. The Bible says that believers in Jesus Christ must not neglect assembling together with other Christians because in that setting of fellowship, we are able to encourage and stimulate one another to believe the promises of God and encourage us to persevere in the faith when we face discouragement. Jesus said that whenever two or three Christians gather in His name, He is present in their midst (Matthew 18:20). Having other Christians as friends and meeting regularly to chat (drink coffee!), pray, and encourage each other in life is a massive blessing!

We would encourage you to stay for coffee after a morning service, join a connect group or get involved in an aspect of the church (Music, Kitchen, Sunday School). This is another way to meet other Christians and build relationships.

What about day to day living for God?

The Bible tells us that God has prepared good works for you to do even before you were born! (Ephesians 2:9) He promises us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans of hope and a future.” The Holy Spirit will lead you into those plans, the good works He has prepared for you. These good works involve your talents, your gifts, your possessions, your personality and skills that you use at home, at work and at your local church.

What happens if I need to talk to someone?

If you have some more questions about Christianity or Highway Christian Church or maybe you would like to meet one on one with a pastor, we would encourage you to make contact with one of our church leaders on WhatsApp or Email and they’ll put you in touch with the relevant person.

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