If you put your trust in Jesus Christ, you became a new person in the sight of God. This event can be compared to a new birth. This explains, for example, that you now have a completely different relationship with God. The Bible calls this „being justified“.
You now have peace with God.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)
Through Christ the problem of your guilt is settled.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sin through his name. (Acts 10:43)
You now belong to the family of God.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
Your eternity is secured.
Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
God Himself stepped into your life in the person of the Holy Spirit.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13) Is that not marvellous? Now you can grow in your new spiritual life. The following four points are especially important during this process.
Prayer – Speak with God everyday.
God is glad whenever you speak with Him, because, as your friend and father, He is interested in every little detail of your life. You should talk with Him about your family, your work, your joys, your worries and your desires. Thank Him for His graciousness. Ask for forgiveness if you have failed again. God always has an open ear for you. He wants to forgive you and always wants to stand by your side. You can ask Him every day for forgiveness. Even God's children are not perfect. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all nrighteousness. (1. John 1:9) Your prayer doesn’t have to take place at a special time or a special location – although both can help you to come to rest before God and to listen to His voice. In prayer God wants to bless you – therefore, pray regularly.
The Bible – Make the Word of God the foundation of your life.
God wants to tell you what He has on His mind. He can do that in different ways. You can hear His voice especially by reading the Bible. By this means, you will come to a better understanding what God is like and what His good plan for your life looks like. And find out what pleases the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10) It would be preferable for you to start with one of the Gospels in the New Testament, The Gospel of Luke, for instance. Then you can read the Epistle to the Romans, where the meaning and goal of our life is explained very vividly. The Holy Spirit Himself will guide you in reading the Word of God. You will experience, how you will gradually understand more and more.
Fellowship – Search for Christians who will support you in your life of faith.
It is God's wish that we do not walk through life as lone fighters, but rather meet other Christians and build loving relationships with each other. You can learn from each other, listen to God's Word together, accompany each other, and jointly carry the message of God's love to other people. God's friends need each other. For this reason: You should join a Christian church and experience how much the fellowship with others will strenghten your faith. There you will gain joy from using the gifts and abilities, which God has given you, for others. God takes this matter very seriously. He even pronounced a warning about it. Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching, when the Lord comes. (Hebrews 10:25)
Service – Show your transformed life as a Christian.
And now, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 10:12) To live a life that is pleasing to God should be your highest goal. Furthermore, you should be interested in dedicating your special skills to God's work. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10) Be willing to tell other people what the Lord has done for you. That is not only a duty for us who trust in Him, but also a joyful experience. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1. Peter 2:9)
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