Now that you are saved and have this assurance from the Word of God, God wants you to continue on in your Christian life. Remember that Ephesians 2:8, 9 tells you that you were saved “by grace through faith” and not by good works you have done or ever will do. After a person is saved, he becomes a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) and all things become new. You now have a desire to do what is right and the spiritual ability to live a godly life because you have God’s Spirit or new nature. When we obey and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us we are being obedient to God’s Word.
As a new Christian, you will want to do things that please the Lord. Let’s look at several of the first things we need to do as a new Christian. We have responsibilities to the Lord.
Public Profession Of Your Faith
Let other people know that you have been saved. Let your friends know what has happened to you. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: (Romans l:16). One of the best ways to do what the Bible says.
Being obedient to what the Bible instructs us to do. It will also strengthen you in the Lord, because as you obey and do what the Bible instructs you to grow and mature as a Christian. It is like a child who begins to attend school in the first grade. The teacher instructs the child in learning the alphabet. If the child obeys and learns them, then soon he is beginning to read.
Maturing in Christ is similar. God’s word is our textbook to teach us how we should live. It tells us how to live the best life we possibly can. As we obey the commandments of the Lord, we learn them and then go on to learn other lessons. As a new Christian, you should seek to obey the Bible, which is God’s instruction book on life. The more obedient you are the faster you will mature in Christ.
Baptism
Jesus gave the disciples some instructions just before He ascended back to heaven as recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” The word “teach” in verse 19 means to disciple or win the lost to Christ. After a person is saved, the second thing he is instructed to do is be baptized (verse 19). Since the beginning of the first church, believers have given evidence of their faith in Christ by being baptized in water. We mean a person is to be immersed under the water as a picture or symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
In the Bible, baptism always comes after a person has been saved. Baptism does not save you or keep you saved. It is an act of obedience to Christ and pictures of what has already taken place in your heart. It describes our union with Christ as seen in Romans 6:3-5. Every Christian should be baptized soon after receiving Christ as Savior. Have you been obedient to Christ and been baptized?
The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper and baptism are the two ordinances of the church. The Lord’s supper is also only for the saved person. I Corinthians 11:23-26 tells us what it represents. The bread represents Christ’s body and the grape juice represents His blood which was shed for us. This is a reminder of what Christ has done for us until He comes back. This is a serious time and should never be taken lightly.
Giving To The Lord
Giving Yourself Paul says in Romans 12:1, we should, “. . . present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The Lord wants YOU more than anything else you might give to Him… Surrender yourself totally to Him and determine to follow Him and be obedient to Him. Let Him have control of your life.
Giving Your Praise and Thanksgiving. Hebrews 13:15 tells us to offer to God our praise for all that He has done for us. We praise Him with our lips through prayer and telling others about what Christ has done for us.
Lesson 3 Assessment
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Your Responsibilities as a Child of God