for salvation (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). The Christian life is a
journey, but you can always be confident that God loves you and is
with you each step of the way (Matthew 28:20).
If you would like to talk to someone about the decision you just made,
or if you have questions about receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, send
a request to BBM: 3323CD56, WHATSAPP: +234 706 572 0601 to start a
live chat.
If you have any questions about the decision you made, or would like
to share your decision to receive Christ with us, you can submit your
question at: pstgabspeter@gmail.com
Congratulations! You have made a life-changing decision! Perhaps you
are asking, "Now what? How do I begin my journey with God?" The five
steps mentioned below will give you direction from the Bible.
1. Make sure you understand salvation.
First John 5:13 tells us, "I write these things to you who believe in
the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal
life." God wants us to understand salvation. God wants us to have the
confidence of knowing for sure that we are saved. Briefly, let's go
over the key points of salvation:
(a) We have all sinned. We have all done things that are displeasing
to God (Romans 3:23).
(b) Because of our sin, we deserve to be punished with eternal
separation from God (Romans 6:23).
(c) Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Romans
5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died in our place, taking the
punishment that we deserved. Jesus' resurrection proved that His death
was sufficient to pay for our sins.
(d) God grants forgiveness and salvation to all those who place their
faith in Jesus—trusting His death as the payment for our sins (John
3:16; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:1).
(e) The Holy Spirit comes to reside permanently within at the moment
of faith. He assures us of everlasting life. He teaches us God's Word
and empowers us to live according to it.
That is the message of salvation! If you have placed your faith in
Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are saved! All of your sins are
forgiven, and God promises to never leave you or forsake you (Romans
8:38–39; Matthew 28:20). Remember, your salvation is secure in Jesus
Christ (John 10:28–29). If you are trusting in Jesus alone as your
Savior, you can have confidence that you will spend eternity with God
in heaven!
2. Find a good church that teaches the Bible.
Don't think of the church as a building. The church is the people. It
is very important that believers in Jesus Christ fellowship with one
another. That is one of the primary purposes of the church. Now that
you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, we strongly encourage you
to find a Bible-believing church in your area and speak to the pastor.
Let him know about your new faith in Jesus Christ.
A second purpose of the church is to teach the Bible. You can learn
how to apply God's instructions to your life. Understanding the Bible
is key to living a successful and powerful Christian life. 2 Timothy
3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
A third purpose of the church is worship. Worship is thanking God for
all He has done! God has saved us. God loves us. God provides for us.
God guides and directs us. How could we not thank Him? God is holy,
righteous, loving, merciful, and full of grace. Revelation 4:11
declares, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and
honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they
were created and have their being."
3. Set aside time each day to focus on God.
It is very important for us to spend time each day focusing on God.
Some people call this a "quiet time." Others call it "devotions,"
because it is a time when we devote ourselves to God. Some prefer to
set aside time in the mornings, while others prefer the evenings. It
does not matter what you call this time or when you do it. What
matters is that you regularly spend time with God. What events make up
our time with God?
(a) Prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Talk to God about your
concerns and problems. Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance. Ask
God to provide for your needs. Tell God how much you love Him and how
much you appreciate all He does for you. That is what prayer is all
about.
(b) Bible Reading. In addition to being taught the Bible in church,
Sunday School, and/or Bible studies – you need to be reading the Bible
for yourself. The Bible contains everything you need to know in order
to live a successful Christian life. It contains God's guidance for
how to make wise decisions, how to know God's will, how to minister to
others, and how to grow spiritually. The Bible is God's Word to us.
The Bible is essentially God's instruction manual for how to live our
lives in a way that is pleasing to Him and satisfying to us.
4. Develop relationships with people who can help you spiritually.
1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us, "Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts
good character.'" The Bible is full of warnings about the influence
"bad" people can have on us. Spending time with those who engage in
sinful activities will cause us to be tempted by those activities. The
character of those we are around will "rub off" on us. That is why it
is so important to surround ourselves with other people who love the
Lord and are committed to Him.
Try to find a friend or two, perhaps from your church, who can help
you and encourage you (Hebrews 3:13; 10:24). Ask your friends to keep
you accountable in regard to your quiet time, your activities, and
your walk with God. Ask if you can do the same for them. This does not
mean you have to give up all your friends who do not know the Lord
Jesus as their Savior. Continue to be their friend and love them.
Simply let them know that Jesus has changed your life and you cannot
do all the same things you used to do. Ask God to give you
opportunities to share Jesus with your friends.
5. Be baptized.
Many people have a misunderstanding of baptism. The word "baptize"
means to immerse in water. Baptism is the biblical way of publicly
proclaiming your new faith in Christ and your commitment to follow
Him. The action of being immersed in the water illustrates being
buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures
Christ's resurrection. Being baptized is identifying yourself with
Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism is not what saves you. Baptism does not wash away your sins.
Baptism is simply a step of obedience, a public proclamation of your
faith in Christ alone for salvation. Baptism is important because it
is a step of obedience – publicly declaring faith in Christ and your
commitment to Him. If you are ready to be baptized, you should speak
with a pastor.
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