Just saved a few minutes ago...

[JackPK]

Does anyone have advice for a new christian? I want to do this right...

 

[fm107]

Hi brother and welcome to the family of God!

I would advise you to begin reading the gospel of John, it's a great starting point. But before you even open your bible, pray to God and just ask him to help you understand what you read.

I also advise you find a church where you can receive encouragement.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch with me at anytime.

Keep talking to God and tell him about your thoughts, your worries etc. Your his son and he listens to you!


May God bless you.

 

[RobertZ]

Does anyone have advice for a new christian? I want to do this right...

God bless you, what is your testimony of how you became saved if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Ttery]

I am glad to hear the Good News! Cling to God always. I Suggest you also get a Bible. I use NIV 84, in my opinion it's the least changed Bible thats in English. I also suggest reading The Book of Matthew as a starting point, God sure has helped me through Matthew.

Well lets start out with this:

Colossians 1:16 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."

2 Corinthians 5:15 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

"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."

You and I and everyone else was created by Him for Him! We shouldn't live life like we used to, but to live life for Him who died for us. We should be Honor and Glorify God with the life He gave us Graciously. We need to turn from what is evil in God's Sight and pursue what is Righteous.

 

[CoconutPrincess]

QUOTE (post above): We shouldn't live life like we used to, but to live life for Him who died for us.

This is absolutely right, but remember, the Holy Spirit is inside you and He is the one enabling you to obey the Lord. He helps you to want to obey and to carry it out. You will fail sometimes, you're human, but keep running the race to win. Pray and talk with Him as much as you can, even if its just in your mind as you go about your day. Ask Him to show you how to live for Him through His Word (the Bible) and as you discover what pleases Him and what is sin, ask Him to help you to get rid of the sin in your life. If you use to steal, stop stealing, if you use to lie, stop lying BUT this isn't so you can be accepted by God, you are already accepted by Him if you've placed your faith in Christ shed blood at the cross for you. In God's eyes you are made right because you have the holiness of Christ given to you by your faith in Christ. You now can live right, not to GET saved, but because you ARE saved Never again can sin rule your life. You are set free from the power of sin

He is a loving Father and He is full of grace, mercy and forgiveness. He loves you and nothing will ever change that.

I praise God for your salvation! I would also get into a church and meet some Christian friends who can help you along with your new life in Christ!

God bless you!

p.s. You should read through Romans, slowly and take it all in and if you need help understanding anything, you can send me a message or you can ask someone at your church

 

[JackPK]

Thankyou everyone for your advice.

I have a sister. You might know her. Her name is Angel_Wings.

I have seen her change and tried to work out what it was that had changed her so much.

I was a Buddist but she never told me off about it. She just said that she wasn't interested in Buddah's teachings, even if they were honorable.

She was at church no matter what. Even if she was down about whatever.

I don't think she ever tried to talk about God to me unless I asked her something. Her answers were seemingly honest and had a backup from the bible.

She told me about this site and I joined not too long after her. It was more to hang out and muck around in the entertainment section but I learnt more about how kind christians can be.

Since then I have met more and more christians in the flesh and was sad to find some weren't as accepting as others.

It put me off for ages but Angel_Wings told me that everyone is still learning and only Jesus matters in the end.

After a while I got curious and asked alot more questions and liked what I was told. Most of it was about how Jesus died and why the heck would He do that?

It took me a long time to understand. I just wasn't into it.

After a few years I didn't think I was getting anywhere. I went over what I had learned about christianity and really considered it as a lifepath for me.

Yesterday I decided to return to the forums and ask more questions but I didn't get that far.

I won't go into detail but I guess I went into the wrong area and misunderstood what someone said. It hurt.

Between my sis and another person on the forums I was comforted and reassured that I wasn't a complete loser and that no one was judging me.

I wanted to be like them.

So I asked my sister how to become a christian and we prayed together.

So that's my story.

 

[Phaedron777]

Salvation Crystal Clear

Now that you are saved, you should have the holy spirit dwelling you, who will convict you of sins, cause you desire to be righteous, and now you mainly need to read the new testament and understand that Jesus paid the price for you with his blood. If this is true, then you belong to him now. Thus you have lost your life for him, that you may gain it. No one can say how you, specifically, should live for God in your current situation, but to be saved you must believe in Jesus, strive to keep the commandments, repent whenever you sin, aside from this there is great reward in soul winning, and you should testify to others that they need Jesus to be saved.

We are all collectively damned by God, unless we are saved. We have inherited sin from our ancestors, we are naturally inclined to walk after the flesh, we easily fall into sin given the right circumstances, the influences around us are all sinful, and one day satanists will rule the world and force people to take the mark of the beast, for which we must be willing to resist.

When you're born again you can feel it. There is a supernatural peace of God that passes all understanding. I didn't get it reading the bible as a child, then a lot of tragic events happened and I thought God hated me, but when I humbled myself, prayed the sinner's prayer, and read the Bible as an adult all that changed and I understood.

 

[CoconutPrincess]

Between my sis and another person on the forums I was comforted and reassured that I wasn't a complete loser and that no one was judging me.

I wanted to be like them.

So I asked my sister how to become a christian and we prayed together.

So that's my story.

Did you feel any sorrow for your sins against God? The reason I ask because many think if you just say a prayer, you're saved, but the Bible says that it is godly sorrow (grieving because we've sinned against God) that leads us to want forgiveness from Him and to be saved. That's why many who claim to be saved do not act saved, some are not truly saved.

We need to understand that we deserve death, all people everywhere because we have all broken God's laws, but because a human being can never repay God for what he has done, God sent Christ to take the payment. The punishment we should receive for our sin, Christ took in your place. He loved you so much that he died so that you could be made right with God by placing you faith in the sacrifice He made for you. He did for every single person who has ever lived, past and future. His blood washes our sins away, makes us clean, holy, perfect and without blemish in God's eyes. He forgives every sin you've ever done. We love Him because He first loved us and gave His life for us. What a wonderful loving and merciful God we have!

Obeying Him isn't so you can be saved, but rather, its done out of love for Him. Jesus said if we love Him we will obey Him and his commands are not grievous. We all still have the sinful nature in us and that nature wars against the new spirit given to us, as long as you are on this earth, you will have this inner struggle, but with the power of the Holy Spirit in you, you can put to death the acts it wants you to do and you can live unto God.

I just want to clarify for you because satan has used "the sinners prayer" to deceive many. We have to come to God in our brokenness for what we've done, there has to be sorrow for our sins and then He comes in and washes us clean. If someone just says a prayer, it really isn't what the Bible considers becoming saved.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

I really strongly encourage you to read Romans

God bless you!

 

[Peripatetic]

Thanks so much for your story, and welcome to the family! You don't need to put a huge amount of pressure on yourself to "do it right'. As you learn more about the heroes of the Bible, you'll notice that (other than Jesus) they all miss the mark and make big mistakes sometimes. But God knew their hearts and He knows yours. So accept the peace of your new foundation and remember that Christianity (and life itself) is a long race, not a short sprint.

A few very important points here for us to learn from you:

I have seen her change and tried to work out what it was that had changed her so much.

I was a Buddist but she never told me off about it. She just said that she wasn't interested in Buddah's teachings, even if they were honorable.

Notice that his sister's best influence was her own actions and examples. She wasn't harsh, judgmental, or impatient.

I don't think she ever tried to talk about God to me unless I asked her something. Her answers were seemingly honest and had a backup from the bible.

Way to go sis! Sometimes Christians have so much zeal to convince others that they end up turning others away. It is important to be ready for those opportunities that God presents us... not to use use a sledgehammer to turn people around.

Yesterday I decided to return to the forums and ask more questions but I didn't get that far.

I won't go into detail but I guess I went into the wrong area and misunderstood what someone said. It hurt.

Again, this should be a lesson to us. Christian Forums as a whole, and this forum in particular, is very important. We bear a responsibility. JackPK was courageous and willing to look past the judgmental, arrogant Christians. But how many just give up when they feel condemned or confused by the arguing that we see here? Your sister is correct, all of us are learning, and Christians are far from perfect. I'm so glad that you took the step that you did - it will change your life as long as you remember that there will still be ups and downs.

 

[Phaedron777]

Everything is Duality. We either Love or Hate Jesus, for he foreknew us from the very foundations of the world. No one can come to him unless called.

The simple faith is that God died for us to be saved. The complicated faith is our trying to reach "godhood" based on evolution, endless reincarnations, works, higher consciousness, meditation, etc etc.

So you can how history will unfold:

1) Everyone in the world hears about the gospel and makes their choice

2) It becomes Christianity vs a one world religion composed of everything else.

The time is soon to be here. The version of christianity included with the world wide calls Jesus a man who taught higher consciousness, not died for our sins.

 

[RobertZ]

Thankyou everyone for your advice.

I have a sister. You might know her. Her name is Angel_Wings.

I have seen her change and tried to work out what it was that had changed her so much.

I was a Buddist but she never told me off about it. She just said that she wasn't interested in Buddah's teachings, even if they were honorable.

She was at church no matter what. Even if she was down about whatever.

I don't think she ever tried to talk about God to me unless I asked her something. Her answers were seemingly honest and had a backup from the bible.

She told me about this site and I joined not too long after her. It was more to hang out and muck around in the entertainment section but I learnt more about how kind christians can be.

Since then I have met more and more christians in the flesh and was sad to find some weren't as accepting as others.

It put me off for ages but Angel_Wings told me that everyone is still learning and only Jesus matters in the end.

After a while I got curious and asked alot more questions and liked what I was told. Most of it was about how Jesus died and why the heck would He do that?

It took me a long time to understand. I just wasn't into it.

After a few years I didn't think I was getting anywhere. I went over what I had learned about christianity and really considered it as a lifepath for me.

Yesterday I decided to return to the forums and ask more questions but I didn't get that far.

I won't go into detail but I guess I went into the wrong area and misunderstood what someone said. It hurt.

Between my sis and another person on the forums I was comforted and reassured that I wasn't a complete loser and that no one was judging me.

I wanted to be like them.

So I asked my sister how to become a christian and we prayed together.

So that's my story.

Brother thats awesome! Jesus Christ died for you brother and as long as you trust and believe in him and what he did for you then you are saved.

 

[Aibrean]

What did she say you needed to do in order to be saved?

 

[JackPK]

What did she say you needed to do in order to be saved?

She asked me four questions...

1. Do I see how following Buddah was going against the one true God?
2. Am I willing to reject Buddah and accept Christ instead?
3. Do I see that without Jesus none of us would be acceptable to God. That we wouldn't have a relationship with Him?
4. Finally, do I see that God has loved me even in my rebellion and sin because He has sent Jesus to bring me back to a saving relationship with Him?

I felt bad for rejecting a being that loved me so much. Now I want to show Him at least a bit of the love He deserves. I reakon its impossible to give Him what He deserves because I'm not perfect. Still that's why He died isn't it.

 

[CoconutPrincess]

She asked me four questions...

1. Do I see how following Buddah was going against the one true God?
2. Am I willing to reject Buddah and accept Christ instead?
3. Do I see that without Jesus none of us would be acceptable to God. That we wouldn't have a relationship with Him?
4. Finally, do I see that God has loved me even in my rebellion and sin because He has sent Jesus to bring me back to a saving relationship with Him?

I felt bad for rejecting a being that loved me so much. Now I want to show Him at least a bit of the love He deserves. I reakon its impossible to give Him what He deserves because I'm not perfect. Still that's why He died isn't it.

That is wonderful He died so that He could save you. He took your punishment because He loved you so much and now, you love Him because He first loved you (Paul says this in the Bible). I will pray for you as you begin your new life in Christ We can never repay Him, but we so desire to live for Him because of all He has done for us. God bless you!

 

[Aibrean]

So she asked you questions rather than presenting the gospel? I have some major issues with the way she presented Jesus to you because it's not complete. It makes MUCH more sense when you get the whole picture.

You have to start at the beginning. Why is there sin? What is sin? That's the law. The law is there to condemn us. You can start at the 10 commandments (although law is anything God tells us to do/not to do). Following Buddah would be sinning against the commandment to have no gods before God. Because of that one sin, you are condemned to hell. That condemnation goes to everyone who ever sinned - and that is all of us. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now God knew that this first covenant he made was not complete. People couldn't keep the law. Because of that he sent Jesus to make a new covenant. That is where the gospel comes in. Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice and cover our sins. The deliverance from sin comes from him, not us. We can't ever be delivered from sins ourself. Now of course, we are by nature sinful. By nature we don't want Christ. We are dead to the calling of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit works by the hearing of the Gospel. It opens up a channel to our hearts. We can't ever on our own "accept" Christ. We can only reject Christ. Why? Because our faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us faith and the power to believe in Christ. The power to understand the Bible. The power to realize we are sinful. Then, when we believe and receive Christ, we are also led to fix our lives. We don't want to sin anymore because we know of the great sacrifice of Christ and that's not something we can do on our own but with the help of the Holy Spirit. Of course, we are still fighting with our humanity and we will sin on this earth. But the sin of a repentant sinner will be forgiven.

Law and Gospel in Luther's Galatians Commentary I suggest you check this out. It helps

 

[JackPK]

So she asked you questions rather than presenting the gospel? I have some major issues with the way she presented Jesus to you because it's not complete. It makes MUCH more sense when you get the whole picture.

You have to start at the beginning. Why is there sin? What is sin? That's the law. The law is there to condemn us. You can start at the 10 commandments (although law is anything God tells us to do/not to do). Following Buddah would be sinning against the commandment to have no gods before God. Because of that one sin, you are condemned to hell. That condemnation goes to everyone who ever sinned - and that is all of us. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Now God knew that this first covenant he made was not complete. People couldn't keep the law. Because of that he sent Jesus to make a new covenant. That is where the gospel comes in. Jesus came to be the ultimate sacrifice and cover our sins. The deliverance from sin comes from him, not us. We can't ever be delivered from sins ourself. Now of course, we are by nature sinful. By nature we don't want Christ. We are dead to the calling of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit works by the hearing of the Gospel. It opens up a channel to our hearts. We can't ever on our own "accept" Christ. We can only reject Christ. Why? Because our faith is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us faith and the power to believe in Christ. The power to understand the Bible. The power to realize we are sinful. Then, when we believe and receive Christ, we are also led to fix our lives. We don't want to sin anymore because we know of the great sacrifice of Christ and that's not something we can do on our own but with the help of the Holy Spirit. Of course, we are still fighting with our humanity and we will sin on this earth. But the sin of a repentant sinner will be forgiven.

Law and Gospel in Luther's Galatians Commentary I suggest you check this out. It helps

Im sorry I thought it went without saying that she gave me the gospel's to read. I had already said that she had backed everything up with the bible.

 

[paul1149]

JackPK, this is awesome. Each of us comes to Christ our own way. Jesus is the same, human needs are basically the same, but often there is a specific door to each of our hearts that Jesus finds and knocks on. You were fortunate to have such a mature and committed sister to help you.

Let me also say that you show some great wisdom yourself in recognizing that people in the Body represent all kinds of maturity levels. It is crucial to let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, and not get drawn into arguments about words. If I may say, keep the focus on Jesus and you will do well indeed.

I'd like to offer a scriptural prayer for your continued growth in the things of the Lord.

Be blessed,
p.

For this reason I kneel before the Father
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,
and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,
and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -Eph 3:14-19​

 

[Aibrean]

Reading is not hearing.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

I'm not saying you aren't saved. I don't know your heart. I am saying your sister didn't present the gospel (and law) to you the way the Bible says to.

Someone can hand me a book about brain science but that's not going to make me a brain scientist when I'm done reading it.

 

[JackPK]

JackPK, this is awesome. Each of us comes to Christ our own way. Jesus is the same, human needs are basically the same, but often there is a specific door to each of our hearts that Jesus finds and knocks on. You were fortunate to have such a mature and committed sister to help you.

Let me also say that you show some great wisdom yourself in recognizing that people in the Body represent all kinds of maturity levels. It is crucial to let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, and not get drawn into arguments about words. If I may say, keep the focus on Jesus and you will do well indeed.

I'd like to offer a scriptural prayer for your continued growth in the things of the Lord.


Be blessed,
p.

For this reason I kneel before the Father
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit,
and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,
and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -Eph 3:14-19​

Thankyou muchly

 

[JackPK]

Reading is not hearing.



I'm not saying you aren't saved. I don't know your heart. I am saying your sister didn't present the gospel (and law) to you the way the Bible says to.

Someone can hand me a book about brain science but that's not going to make me a brain scientist when I'm done reading it.

Ok then...