New Believer

 

We are very glad that you have chosen to make the decision to become a Christian and grow closer to God.

Knowing Jesus Christ is the most exciting relationship you can have. It is the beginning of a life of tremendous adventure with an all-loving, all-powerful God.

There are four simple points that concisely explain all a person needs to know to begin a new life in Christ. A brief review of these will help us as we look at some principles of growing in your relationship with Christ:

1: God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

2: Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.

3: Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.

4: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

God has given us very specific, credible promises in the Bible which form a foundation for knowing for certain that we can spend eternity with God.

You can be confident in your new relationship with Christ because you have been completely forgiven and accepted by God. Only Christ's death on the cross is sufficient to provide this proper relationship with God.

The book of Ephesians is one of the New Testament letters written by the Apostle Paul. A portion of it reads,

"God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." Ephesians 2:8,9

There are three important concepts in the first sentence of this text that explain the basis of our acceptance before God. Look over these questions and answers to gain insight into these concepts.

Q. What role did "special favor" (Grace, unmerited favor, an underserved gift) play in establishing your relationship with God?

A. You didn't deserve this relationship nor did you earn it by any good works. Rather it is a free gift from God that you accepted when you received Christ as your Savior..

Q. What do you think it means to say you are "saved" (Rescued, spared from disaster) ? From what are you rescued?

A. Romans 6:23 says that the final result of sin is death. When you received Christ's death on the cross as a payment for your sins, you were rescued from eternal condemnation...from having to pay the penalty for your own sin.

Q. What does "belief" (Faith, trust, or commitment of mind, attitude, action) have to do with receiving Christ?

A. Simply put, faith is believing or trusting God and His Word.

When you received Christ, you put your trust in Christ and His death for your sin. Instead of believing in your own ability to earn God's favor, you now trust that you have been reconciled to God through what Christ has done for you.

There are many exciting things that are true in your new relationship with Christ. Understanding these truths will help you build a firm foundation on which to grow.

Here are three basic, foundational truths:

1. Christ forgave your sin.
Colossians 1:13,14.

When you trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, all your sins were forgiven...past, present, and future. Knowing that your sins are forgiven can help you live a more enjoyable and guilt-free life.

2. Christ made you a child of God.
John 1:12.

When you received Christ, you began a loving relationship with God. He adopted you as a permanent member of God's family. As such, you can expect to experience God's love, protection, blessings, peace and strength just to name a few benefits.

3. Christ came into your life and He will never leave you.
Hebrews 13:5.

This verse is just one of a number of places that the Bible makes it very clear that your relationship with God is permanent. There are no circumstances under which Christ will leave you. That is why the action of asking Christ to come into your life is called "receiving eternal life."

In addition to the three basic truths we just gave you, there are two more.

4. Christ gave you new life.
2 Corinthians 5:17.

When you trusted Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you began a new spiritual life. You will begin to see changes take place in your new life as you understand and apply these truths to your life. You will see God increasingly produce many new qualities in you as you grow in Him.

5. Christ gave you eternal life.
1 John 5:11-13.

Eternal life is based on having Jesus in your life. You have eternal life with God from the moment you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, and it will never end.
These wonderful benefits are based totally on Jesus Christ. None of them can be earned. You received them the moment you placed your faith in Christ.

The Bible contains many more additional things that now apply to your life. As you read the Bible, be looking for further insight or other ways in which you see these five initial truths mentioned.

Take a moment to reflect on the five truths that you've just learned.

Christ forgave your sin Colossians 1:13,14
Christ made you a child of God John 1:12
Christ came into your life and He will never leave you Hebrews 13:5
Christ gave you new life 2 Corinthians 5:17
Christ gave you eternal life 1 John 5:11-13
Are any of them especially meaningful to you right now? If so, why?

We would like to welcome to the Family of God. Now, you must find a Bible-teaching, loving fellowship. We would love to have you with us, but if that isn't a possible, please please, get plugged - in.

Lord Bless you!

Calvary Chapel Life

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