NOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN

Raymond Elliott

Several years ago the congregation I was working with conducted a gospel meeting during which there were fourteen baptisms.  The following Sunday I preached a sermon regarding what it meant now for these new converts as they began their life in Jesus Christ.  This was a lesson to encourage these babes in Christ to grow “in the grace and knowledge” of the Lord and to inform them of some of the spiritual blessings and of their new relationship they now have as children of God. 

1. This means that you have been born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5).
2. It means that your sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5).
3. It is now a time of rejoicing (Acts 8:39; 16:34; Ephesians 4:4).
4. You are now a babe in Christ and should desire to grow in the knowledge of your Lord (I Peter 2:2; II Peter 3:18).
5. God is truly your heavenly Father (Galatians 3:26, 27; Matthew 6:9).
6. All spiritual blessings in Christ are now yours (Ephesians 1:3).
7. You have the wonderful privilege of conversing with your Heavenly Father in prayer (Matthew 6:9-14; I Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12).
8. God will grant you strength in the time of temptation (I Corinthians 10:13; II Peter 2:9).
9. God can and will use your talents in His kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30; I Corinthians 12:12-27).
10. You can cast all your cares and worries upon the Lord knowing He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
11. You should develop study habits, learn the word of God and memorize passages of scriptures (I Timothy 4:13; II Timothy 2:15; Psalms 1:2).
12. Do not become discouraged because of your mistakes and failures.  You may lose a battle but not necessarily the war.  Great men of God have had their weakness and made their mistakes.  Examples:  Peter, Paul, etc.  (I Corinthians 9:27).
13. Do not permit the failures of others to cause you to stumble.  Look always to Jesus and get a firm grip of faith in Him (Romans 12:2; Hebrews 4:14).
14. Always attend the periods of Bible study and worship of the local congregation (Acts 2:42; 20:7; Hebrews 10:24, 25).  Learn to ‘want to’ and ‘not have to.’
15. Remember that God is forgiving (Psalms 103:8-14).  Your elder brother (Jesus Christ) pleads your case for you as your Advocate and your Great High Priest (I John 2:1-2; Hebrews 4:14-16).
16. True happiness comes by placing the kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:4-7),
17.  Encourage others to become a Christian (Matthew 7:12; 28:19).
18.  Remember that you are not your own and that you now belong to Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 6:19, 20).
19. Jesus Christ is now to be the Lord of your life (Matthew 7:21; Luke 6:46; Acts 2:36).
20.  Let you desire be to go to heaven when this life is over for you (John 14:1-3; Philippians 1:21, 23).