Resource: I'm a New Christian

How to grow in my faith

Congratulations! You’ve believed the Gospel and the Bible calls this being born again or born from above. You are now a Christian. You are now a child of God. Your sins are no longer counted against you (past, present and future). You are a new creation in Christ. Old things have passed away and new things have come. You are literally a new person; you have a new nature; a new heart. The Holy Spirit has come to live in you. Your name has been recorded in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” and you have received eternal life.

There are some questions you may have which we have pre-empted and will hopefully help you as you begin your walk with the Lord. New Christians experience an overwhelming joy at the knowledge that they’re children of God and they’re not sure how to start this journey.

“How can I know for certain I am really saved?"

Firstly, the witness of the Holy Spirit

The most important way that you know that you’re a Christian is the witness of the Holy Spirit in you. You have the Holy Spirit in you and He is with you. The moment you became a Christian, God gave you His Holy Spirit to live within your physical body. You literally became “a temple of the Holy Spirit”. The Bible tells us we can know we are saved because “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” The Spirit within you causes you to have an overwhelming realization that God has transformed you and that you belong to Him. In addition to this, the promise of God is that His Spirit will never leave you or abandon you. He will always be with you.

Secondly, you know you're saved because the Bible says so

The Bible is God’s Word and God cannot lie. When it comes to the subject of salvation, the Bible clearly states that whoever believes in the Lord Jesus, receives Him into their lives and has received the gift of salvation. God confirms this again and again: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” Jesus Himself taught this when He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life”. Likewise, “For ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED’”.

You’ll start to see some changes happening in you and to you. As you’ve opened your heart to the Lord, He is now working in your life in very real and visible ways. You are likely to find that you will have an interest in reading the Bible, praying to your Heavenly Father and loving others.

You cannot lose your salvation

One of the lies that you’ll encounter on your journey as a Christian is that you are able to lose your salvation. We want to encourage you that the Bible is clear that your performance cannot undo what God has done in you.

Firstly, no one can snatch you from God's hand. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”. Once you become a Christian, God puts an eternal hold on you. Your salvation does not depend on you being able to “hold onto God.” Rather, your salvation is secure because God is holding onto you!

Secondly, nothing can separate you from God's love. When you were saved, God placed His love into your heart. He loves you with an everlasting love. Nothing will ever disconnect you from God’s love, for the Bible says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Thirdly, nothing can sever the seal of God's Spirit. When God saved you, He “sealed” you with His Holy Spirit. The Bible says, “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory”. The seal of God’s Spirit acts as a “down payment” (i.e. “pledge”) that guarantees the completion of the reward of salvation. The Spirit’s seal cannot be severed or broken by anyone or anything. Thus, our salvation is absolutely secure in Jesus Christ!

What is baptism all about?

Jesus told us what to do immediately after we are born again: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. After we become disciples (i.e. believers in/followers of Jesus), we are to be baptized.

What does the New Testament say about baptism? Baptism is for those who have already believed in Jesus, it is by immersion, it is to be done in the name of the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and it is an outward demonstration that witnesses to an inward spiritual reality. It is a means of grace which establishes our immersion into Christ as an experiential reality in our lives. Just our old lives have been buried and we have been raised to new life, so we are buried in the water and we rise out of it to new life in Christ.

Am I part of the Church now that I’m a Christian?

Firstly, yes! Now that you’re a Christian, you are also part of God’s church. When the word “church” appears in the Bible, it isn’t referring to the one universal church, but to local congregations in geographical locations. Local churches are tangible expressions of Christ’s universal church, and the place we work out our faith alongside others.

Secondly, the Church is very important because Jesus founded it. The Church is referred to in the New Testament: Paul called it Jesus’ Building. Christ is the Head of the Church, and all Christians, past and present, constitute the members of His Body. We function together as a unit under His leadership. The Church is also pictured as Christ’s Bride, His City, His Priesthood, His Vineyard, His Glory and a host of other metaphors.

Thirdly, find a church where you can worship, hear the Gospel preached, be discipled, encourage others, contribute and fellowship with other Christians. All of this is important to your walk with the Lord.

How can I understand the Bible?

The Bible is the written Word of God. It not only contains truth; it is truth. Reading and understanding the Bible is important for every Christian. Here’s how you can begin to do that:

Firstly, read the Bible. You would do well to begin reading a chapter or more in the New Testament on a regular basis. The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible and He will help you understand it. Read it, trusting Him to reveal its truths to you. You will end up grasping a great deal as you read through it.

Secondly, study the Bible. There are many tools in written form and online that can assist you in this. If you would like to know more, it is suggested that you speak to one of the mature believers in a local church you join. Also, you would be well advised to connect to a weekly Bible study with a mature believer teaching the scriptures.

How do I pray?

Prayer is talking and listening to the Lord. It’s a two-way conversation—a dialogue. We would encourage you to talk to God often.

He wants us to come to Him as a child comes to a loving Father. Imagine Him sitting in a chair opposite you and striking up a conversation.

One of the best ways to learn to pray more effectively is to spend time praying with other Christians. And this is why we encourage you to join a church and connect with other believers.

Why do I need Christian friends?

When you became a Christian, you joined the family of God. Every other Christian in the entire world just became your brother and sister. Now that is a huge family! Spending time with other believers will help you grow and mature in the faith. The Bible says that believers must not neglect assembling together with other Christians because in that setting of fellowship, we are able to encourage and stimulate one another to believe the promises of God and encourage one another to persevere in the faith in times of discouragement. Jesus said that whenever two or three Christians gather in His name, He is present in their midst. Having other Christians as friends and meeting regularly to chat (drink coffee!), pray, and encourage each other in life does informally what being part of a local church does in a more informal way. Both are a huge blessing to your walk in Christ.

What about day to day living with God?

The Bible tells us that God has prepared good works for you to do even before you were born: “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans of hope and a future.” The Holy Spirit will lead you into those plans, the good works He has prepared for you. These good works will involve your talents, your gifts, your possessions, your personality and the skills you use at home, at work and at your local church.

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