So, you followed your heart and prayed the prayer of salvation. Congratulations! You may have questions and may wonder what does this really mean--what happens now and what do I do next?

 

Well, it certainly doesn’t mean that you are perfect and that you will never sin again. However, it does mean that you have become a new creation in Christ. Human beings are tri-part beings. The real us is “spirit,” and we possess a soul (mind, will, and emotions) and we live in a physical body (our flesh). When you were saved, your spirit was made new. The very life of God came into your spirit and recreated you. Your nature was changed and, at that moment, you received the very nature of God.

 

Nature is the very essence or the qualities of your personality that makes you who you are. Before Christ, you had a sinful nature, the nature of Satan. After Christ, you have God’s nature; a righteous nature.

 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

 

YOU have been changed! In order for you to continue to grow, you must develop new habits. I have listed several tips that will help you on your growth track:

• Daily begin to pray/talk to God from your heart and thank Him for His blessings in your life

• Daily begin to read the Bible beginning with the Gospel of St. John, and continue reading until you have completed the New Testament

• Immediately, begin to faithfully attend a Bible Teaching Church, and if necessary, pray and ask God for His leading and guidance

• Immediately, begin to surround yourself with other Christians who believe the Word of God and, if necessary, pray and ask God for new friends

 

Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of your new life in Christ:

• You became a child of God, He became your Father

• Jesus became your Lord and Savior

• The Holy Spirit of Promise has come to live in you; you have received the fruit of the Spirit as stated in Galatians 5:22-23

• Healing belongs to you in every area of your life; so, take it by faith

• Safety, wholeness, and deliverance is part of your benefit package

• Provision has already been made for you; you should be encouraged because God always takes care of His children

• Long life is one of your covenant rights

 

Praise God! This was His plan for you all along. I know that you are glad that you responded to His love.

 

Now, I will let you in on a little secret. The devil is not happy about the decision you’ve made. He will use circumstances, situations and people to bring pressure against you. The goal is to get you to walk away from the decision that you made and to live life without Christ. But, don’t be afraid, and don’t give in to this trick. Instead, just begin to laugh and trust God. He will cause you to win, no matter what satan attempts to bring against you.

 

Below are scriptures that will help you to understand your salvation and how you got saved and became a child of God:

The Sin Issue: Romans 5:12; 3:23

The Rescue: St. John 3:16, Romans 6:23; 5:8

The Savior: Acts 4:12, 1 Peter 3:18

The New You: Romans 10:8-10, 13

The Gift: Ephesians 2:8-9

The Adoption: St. John 1:12

 

Embrace the gift of your new life. Learn all that you can about God’s Word, because studying His Word will equip you to live a fulfilling Christian life. As you study the Word of God, your mind will begin to be transformed; and, you will begin to think as God thinks. You will see things from His perspective and ultimately you will begin to get His results manifested in your life.

 

 

This truth is clearly seen in the scripture below.

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

 

What are you waiting for? Grow into the person God intended for you to be!

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Read More from the GROW and Change the World Booklet - Chapter One

by Evangelist Marie Diggs