STE: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.
