Once we grasp the high price Jesus paid to have us as his children, our lives should never be the same. As a new believer, you will still experience temptation, and there may be times of doubt and failure. But he will never give up on you, and as you include him in your life, you will experience his faithfulness and the power to live for him. If you are ready to begin this new life with Christ, we encourage you to review these promises and growth principles.
New Life in Christ
If you have made the decision to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you are his child for all eternity. As his child, you are given an inheritance that includes the following wonderful promises:
- Jesus enters your life, never to leave.
- Jesus forgives all your sins.
- Jesus gives you eternal life with him.
- Jesus hears and answers your prayers.
- Jesus gives you power to obey him.
Receiving Jesus’ Unconditional Love
Jesus promises to indwell you and be your friend and Lord forever. His love is not based on how good you are or how you feel. The emotional high you might experience now won’t always be there, but Jesus will be.
If Jesus died for you and me, then what does that say about our self-worth? Jesus says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Apparently, God loves us enough to die for us; there is no greater act of love.
God loves us just the way we are. Living better lives or thinking deeper thoughts will never make him love us more than he already does. Tidball says, “Don’t confuse God’s love with the love you get from people. Love from people often increases with performance and decreases with mistakes. Not so with God’s love. He loves you right where you are.”
Making Your Life Count for Him
As you consider what Jesus has done for you, you will want to make your life count for him. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
Once you begin your new journey with Christ, he begins to change you into the person he planned you to be. But don’t expect immediate results; the Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint. The best runners always spend hours in training. Training in Christian life involves five basic areas:
- Spend time in God’s Word. (Read Reading God’s Word)
- Spend time with him in prayer. (Read What Is Prayer)
- Learn to obey him by faith. (Read Obeying God Faithfully)
- Worship him with others. (Read Connecting with God’s Family)
- Tell others about his love and grace. (Read What Is Evangelism?)
“Next Step” in Your Spiritual Journey:
Let’s begin your new spiritual journey by laying a solid foundation for your relationship with God. There is an e-book titled, The Adventure of Living with Jesus in this app. Start this critical study to deepen your understanding of your new life in Christ.
Born Again as a New Creation
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Christian? Some people believe that they are Christians because they have joined a church. Others think that following certain rules or standards is what’s required. But in reality, Christianity is not about membership or adopting a code for a living, it requires total transformation. Everything must become new.
In order for you to begin the journey that leads to heaven, you must be born again — this time spiritually. Physical birth produces physical life. Spiritual birth creates a spiritual life.
The spiritual new birth is the gateway to a new beginning — the start of your journey with God.
When you are born again, all things become new. (Read Embracing Your New Identity in Christ)