O.K.! NEW CHRISTIAN....

WHAT NOW?

by Elmer G. Magnussen

If you are a new Christian, there are some very important things you need to

know. First, you need to know exactly what has happened to you. Second,

you need to know God's provisions for your future growth and service to Him.

 

WHAT HAS HAPPENED?

Your acknowledging Jesus Christ as the Son of God and coming to Him is the

work of the Holy Spirit. Whatever words you used or however you prayed, if

you somehow confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and committed your life to Him,

you were responding to the urging of the Spirit of God. For "no one can

say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Jesus said that "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws

him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).

So, in all things may God be glorified! This is an occasion to praise Him

for patiently wooing you, drawing you, planting seeds of thought over the

years and shaping circumstances that you might come to recognize and know

Him, the Source of life. He has made you the recipient of His grace, or

"unmerited favor" (Ephesians 2:8,9). As you realize what He has done for

you, just stop listening to me for a few moments and thank and praise our

wonderful Father!

When by faith you received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, many wonderful

and exciting things happened to you. All your sins were forgiven by Jesus'

taking all your punishment upon Himself. You are accepted by God because of

what Jesus did. You now have peace with God and are saved from His wrath

against the rebellion and sinfulness of humanity.

"Therefor having been justified by faith, we have peach with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ...the love of God has been poured out

within our hearts...have now been justified by His blood, we shall be

saved from the wrath of God through Him" (Romans 5:1,5,9)>

You have experienced a new birth, a spiritual birth. You have been "born

again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the

dead" (1 Peter 1:3). You have been born into God's family and are a child

of God (John 1:12). And as His child, you are an heir of God and fellow-

heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). Jesus told us, "Do not be afraid, little

flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom" (Luke

12:32). What a wonderful, loving Father we have! And what a wonderful

Savior, who gave Himself as a ransom for you and now shares His Father's

kingdom with you as a fellow-heir and calls you "friend" (John 15:15).

You have become a temple or dwelling place of God's Spirit. You see,

through the act of salvation God not only assures us of a future dwelling in

a wonderful place called heaven, but for the present He makes His dwelling

place in us. We become His vessels of expression on the earth. Yes, a

mystery, called by the Apostle Paul "... the mystery which has been hidden

from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His

saints, ... which is Christ in

you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:26,27). As we yield to God's Spirit

and allow Him to live His life through us, we can even say with Paul, "it is

no longer 1 who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

 

FAITH VERSES FEELING

God's grace is free, and you receive it by faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) -- an

ingenious method that only God's wisdom could devise. Thus, it does not

depend on intelligence, sex, age, social status, or good deeds; otherwise,

people's abilities to be saved might vary. Everyone has the same ability to

exercise faith.

Neither does grace depend on feelings. We live in a physical body, and

feelings are affected by fatigue, diet, and other factors. Also, our

emotional makeup varies. Salvation is by faith, an act of our will,

entrusting our life to Him. Feelings will follow as we learn to experience

God's love, joy, and peace; but do not let your varying fleshly feelings

affect your assurance of God's unswerving grace: "... the life which I now

live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and

delivered Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20).

 

WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE

In spite of our sin, we are recipients of God's amazing grace. "What shall

we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it

never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1,2).

The Bible makes it clear that we should no longer sin. Yet, it recognizes

the imperfection of our present state and tells us of God's provision. The

Apostle John wrote in his first epistle that we might not sin, but,

paradoxically, he recognized that "if we say we have no sin, we are

deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). God's

provision is that if anyone does sin, "... we have an Advocate with the

Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1), and "If we confess our

sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

New Christian, it's as simple as this: do not sin, because sin grieves

God's spirit, breaks your fellowship with Him, and hurts yourself and

others. But if you should, quickly confess it to God and receive

forgiveness and cleansing. Then determine, with God's help, to avoid such

sin in the future.

Equally important -- once you have confessed your sin, press forward and

never look back on what God has forgiven and forgotten. Satan, who is

called the "accuser" and a "thief," will try to rob you of your confidence

in God's forgiveness. But God says that "There is therefore now no

condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Believe God.

Rest in Him!

WHAT NEXT?

God knows you and loves you as a unique person. He has a unique plan and

purpose for your life, and He will lead and guide you in a special way that

will apply to no other person. He will unfold much to you in the weeks and

months ahead. But to begin with, there are a few basic things you should

do.

1. Pray

Prayer is talking to God, and listening to Him. Even though He is invisible

to the natural eye, He is still a real Person. Knowing someone and

fellowshipping with someone requires two-way communication. So praying to,

or communicating with God is quite natural for a Christian. Yet, it is an

act of faith because we cannot see Him, and faith pleases God.

Prayer can be praise, worship, thanksgiving, and petition for yourself and

others. He wants to hear from your heart. He wants you to just be honest,

open, and unpretending. How awesome to talk to Someone who knows you

through and through! Yet, how relaxing. No need for pretending. All masks

are removed. And He still loves us!

Pray throughout the day as situations arise and as the Spirit prompts. A

quiet time without distractions in a private location is also advisable.

If you are burdened with a matter and do not know how to pray with your

mind, let God's Spirit intercede for you. "The Spirit also helps our

weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit

Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; ... He

intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26,27).

2. Read and meditate upon God's Word.

God has given us His Word, the Bible. "All Scripture is inspired by God and

profitable for teaching, for reproof, for corrections, for training in

righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

God speaks to us through the Bible. He reveals Himself, His ways, and His

purposes for mankind and for us individually. Sometimes He will emphasize

one passage of Scripture directly to your heart to meet a specific need.

The Bible does not necessarily have to be read in order, straight from front

to back. Some suggest starting with the Gospel of John in the New Testament

for insight into the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is like getting to

know the author before reading the book!

You may prefer the King James Version, but to aid understanding and study, a

modern translation is also recommended, such as the New American Standard

Bible.

Pray before you read God's Word. Meditate on it. Reread and memorize as

God leads.

Remember, this is not just an exercise. Jesus said that His words are

spirit and life (John 6:63). God's words are actually "living and active

and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of

soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow ..." (Hebrews 4:12). God also

says that "they are life to those who find them, and health to all their

whole body" (Proverbs 4:22).

3. Become a part of a local church.

All Christians are part of God's overall church, the Body of Christ, in the

broad sense. In addition, God wants you to be a part of a specific group of

believers in what is sometimes called the local church. God says that we

should not forsake "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" (Hebrews 10:25).

God has ordained the church with people with special callings and talents,

such as pastors and teachers. It is a place where you can hear the Word of

God taught and find pastoral guidance and help. Together, believers

encourage and build up one another. The gifts of the Spirit are manifested

in the corporate Body. We can be a blessing to others as we are blessed.

This is God's family in action and is His desire and purpose.

Ask God to lead you to the church of His choice for you, and He will. The

true test of His church is whether Jesus Christ is honored as Lord and the

Bible is honored as God's Word.

Beware of false cults. Typical characteristics of a cult may include:

placing Jesus Christ as less than or not equal to God the Father; a revered

book other than or in addition to the Bible; an undue emphasis on one

person, leader, or founder; and emphasis on salvation by works rather than

by grace through faith; and being controlled by and forcing service to the

organization or leader rather than voluntary service to the Lord Jesus

Christ.

4. Live for Him.

"He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for

themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf"

(2 Corinthians 5:15). This means that as you have confessed 

Jesus Christ as Lord, then let Him be Lord of your life, your

time, your family, your talents, and your finances. In doing

so, you will not only please the Lord, but you will be allowing

Him to bless you and use you as He desires.

(Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible or the King

James Version.)

Rev. Elmer Magnussen is Pastor of Evangelism and Discipleship at the McLean

Bible Church, McLean, Virginia.

 

HELP FOR NEW CHRISTIANS


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