WHAT NEW CHRISTIANS SHOULD KNOW

Hebrews 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Faith is very important to God. Our God of the Universe made humans in His image. He has set His spiritual laws into effect with angels observing our actions. Things can be hidden from others, but God and His angels know everything.

1. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are given His Holy Spirit to indwell and go alongside us. The Holy Spirit encourages, guides, helps, and disciplines believers.

2. Prayer is the way we talk to Him.

3. We are given a new appreciation for God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. We begin earnestly to read, understand, and apply His principles to our lives. How do we know what He wants and desires, if we do not study His Bible?

4. The quality of our lives will be determined by obedience to His rules, and the words that we speak, and our actions.

5. God forgives sinners, but sinful actions have consequences that follow. That is why it is important to repent and stop wrong behavior.

I wish that when I was younger someone would have shared with me important information concerning the benefits of the Christian Life. Bits and pieces of the Lord’s promises would have encouraged and given more confidence, stability, and hope.  Life at times can be tough. Each of us tend to absorb hope and guidance like a dry sponge when under pressure. No one likes to experience bouts of hopelessness, aloneness, or distress. It happens!

To become a believer in Christ, one has to realize that they are a sinner. Then someone shares with them the Gospel or “Good News” that Jesus Christ came to save. He was sent from heaven down to earth to redeem mankind. Jesus Christ told us about His Father’s love for humanity who is His creation. Then He allowed Himself to suffer and die on the Cross at Calvary. He shed His blood to be the sacrifice to cover the sins of believers who put their faith and trust in Him.

When sinners learn the purpose of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, they put their trust in Him as savior and ask Him to save them.

Most new Christians at least know that much. But what they don’t understand yet is all the benefits that come along with faith in Christ.

At the moment of redemption, two wonderful things happen in a new Christian’s life:

The first is the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life. John the Baptist baptized people when they admitted they were sinners and repented of their sins. Jesus Christ baptizes believers with the Holy Spirit upon belief.

Hebrews 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Jesus gives His indwelling Spirit to a believer and that changes their eternity forever. From that time on, our conscience bumps up against the Spirits guidance who influences our thoughts, decisions, and actions. We are not the same, we are a new creation in Christ. The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us to know what is wrong or right. We have a new awareness of sin, we may choose to disobey, but God will discipline us for our own good because He loves us and wants us to stop (Hebrews 12:6). We have God’s word and His Spirit, our anchors to weather any storm that we may encounter as we live out our Christian lives.

1 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Second, we are sealed and our eternal inheritance is guaranteed because of our belief in Jesus. Jesus shed His blood. He paid the full price for our redemption. The only thing we can add to what he did is faith. We trust in His merits, not our own. Jesus was sinless, we are sinners. More than a goal to be achieved, salvation is a free gift to be received that is available to anyone (Romans 10:13).

Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8: 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Romans 8: 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

The good works that we accomplish do not save us. We do the good works to help others, to honor God, and to bring glory to Him. His Holy Spirit affirms us and lets us know that we are His Children.

With the indwelling Spirit going alongside and in us, we are never really completely lonely again. From the moment of redemption, we will never be separated from God’s love and mercy.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

For the believer, each new day is a day of adventure. No matter what occurs, God will work it out someway for good. What does God have in store for me today - a challenge, a storm, a valley, a mountain top, a trip? No matter what it is, we can be confident that God will go along with us and give us the strength to go through it and advance forward accomplishing His purpose.

God gives His children guidance through His word and the Holy Spirit. Coming into God’s family of believers gives us a new appreciation for the Bible and the importance of prayer. We spend time with our friends and families, we also need to spend time with God talking to Him and reading His rules and promises in the Bible.

The quality of our lives will be a result of obeying His rules, reading His Word, and carefully choosing our words and actions. Words have impact and power, and we will reap the consequences of what we say to others.

Matthew 12: 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Eccl. 5: 2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Proverbs 18: 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Deuteronomy 5:29 Oh, that they would always have such a heart for me, wanting to obey my commandments. Then all would go well with them in the future, and with their children throughout all generations!

Today’s social morality is in conflict with God’s rules of decency and righteousness. It is no wonder why the world is in such turmoil. People can choose to improve there situation by choosing to seek and learn His ways.

Deuteronomy 6:1 “The Lord your God told me to give you all these commandments which you are to obey in the land you will soon be entering, where you will live.

2 The purpose of these laws is to cause you, your sons, and your grandsons to reverence the Lord your God by obeying all of his instructions as long as you live, if you do, you will have long, prosperous years ahead of you.