Unsure what to do next?

Skendit said in post 1:

How do I know if I have been saved? Have I been and I just don't realise it because I feel like there should have been something really dramatic to show it? Or am I to do more?

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All people need to do in order to become saved is believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ and the human/divine Son of God (John 20:31, John 3:36; 1 John 2:23), and that he died on the Cross for their sins and rose from the dead on the 3rd day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Luke 24:46-47, Matthew 20:19, Matthew 26:28).

After people become Christians, to help develop and keep up their relationship with God, they should pray to him every day, such as with the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), praising and worshipping him, confessing their sins to him, asking him for what they need today, and thanking him for all that he has given them (Philippians 4:6). And throughout the day, they should immediately bring to him in prayer anything that they become worried about at anytime (Philippians 4:6-7).

They should also fellowship with other Christians every day (Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25), at least in some fashion (Matthew 18:20), such as on this forum, being exhorted by them and exhorting them in turn (Hebrews 3:13).

They also need to examine themselves to make sure that they're truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 14:12). The way to do this is to read every word of the Bible (Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4) and see if they accept everything it teaches as having come from God (John 8:47; 2 Timothy 3:16). For just as a true faith will initially come from reading (or hearing) what the Bible teaches (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:15), so people can know that they're remaining in the true faith if they continue to believe that everything the Bible teaches came from God (John 8:31b; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1 Timothy 4:1, Mark 8:35-38).

Skendit said in post 1:

I would love to have a strong relationship with God . . .

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In order to have any real relationship with Jesus, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), most importantly people must believe the right things about Jesus (John 14:6-7): that he's God the Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), that he's the Christ (1 John 5:1; 1 John 2:22), and that he's the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16,36; 1 John 2:23), meaning that he's the only person ever born without any human father (Luke 1:34-35). And people must believe that Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21) and so he could die on the Cross for people's sins and rise from the dead on the 3rd day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He rose and will remain forever in an immortal, flesh and bones human body (Luke 24:39; 2 John 1:7) as saved people's eternally-human high priest/mediator (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:16-17, Hebrews 7:24-26).

Once people come into faith in Jesus, they must obey him, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, by repenting from all their sins and getting water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:27). And they must partake of the divine flesh and blood of the bread and wine of communion (John 6:53, Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30). And they can get hands laid on them to receive Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 8:17) and one or more of the Holy Spirit's wonderful Spiritual gifts (Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Then, washed from their sins by water baptism (Acts 22:16) and empowered by the Holy Spirit within them (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 3:16), they must each and every day for the rest of their lives deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23; 2 Corinthians 5:15), by continuing in the faith to the end (Hebrews 3:6,12,14, Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6; 2 Timothy 2:12), by repenting to the end from every sin that they might commit (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 12:45-46), and by doing to the end the particular spiritual works which he has given them as individuals to do (Mark 13:34, Romans 12:6-8, Titus 3:8).

But if they as believers wrongly employ their free will to refuse to do these things, then they can't expect to have any continued real relationship with Jesus, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. For a continued real relationship with them requires that people not only continue to believe in them, but also continue to obey them (John 15:10, John 14:21,23). Faith without works is dead (James 2:20) and can't ultimately save people (James 2:14-26, Romans 2:6-8, Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9).

Skendit said:

Hello all!

I feel really silly posting this because I think I'm overthinking everything which is why I feel like I'm at a loss.

I have recently started attending church and a "life group" (where a few people from the church meet weekly and we share how our week has been and do some bible study).
I have gone from being a non believer to a believer of Christ which is really exciting!

I have repented for my old life and sins. I pray daily (and all throughout the day I natter away to God as well!).

I'm just not sure what comes next. How do I know if I have been saved? Have I been and I just don't realise it because I feel like there should have been something really dramatic to show it? Or am I to do more?

I would love to have a strong relationship with God and besides reading the bible and praying I'm not sure if there is anything else I should do as well?

I am also finding it difficult getting satan out of my life. Any suggestions to help are appreciated!!

Thank you so much for your time.

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Blessings to you.

Connecting into church life, studying the Bible, & prayer are all vital to the Christian faith - so you are in a good place to learn & grow as a believer. These are regular practices you should continue in your Christian journey.

I would not seek a "dramatic" experience; a few new Christians may have a powerful conversion moment, but many do not, so I would not worry.

I think a good next step would be serving others through your church or in the community. Feeding the hungry in a food pantry, visiting the elderly or sick, etc...caring for "the least of these." It's a practical way to bring the grace of Jesus to others.

Another good next step if you are wanting to take it is to be baptized. Depending upon your church denomination, this could be by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling.

Also important is to learn about Christian & church history & tradition. If I had a good book to recommend I would share, but I need to find one first! It's good to learn about history & tradition to gain insight into how the earliest Christians thought & how different denominations have come to be & why they practice as they do.

Hi Skendit,
My friend just relax, you know your saved when the Spirit bears with your spirit. This covenant that we are in is about simple faith and belief. Walk before before your heavenly father with simple faith and it will please his heart. You are complete in Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!

Skendit-

We are saved from the moment we accept the gift of salvation which God himself laid out the blueprints for, and then accomplished through his Son, Jesus Christ:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:19-26,NIV)

And how do we repay God for this gift of salvation? We don't. In fact, in order to live our lives in the manner that God wants of us, we need to accept another gift, namely, the gift of his Spirit's indwelling within us. And his Spirit does not come to give us gifts with which we can 'show off' our faith. Instead, he comes to give us the gift of a new nature, which benefits not only ourselves, but also all who come in contact with us:

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26,NIV)

It is the motivations listed as 'the acts of the sinful nature' which we are to recognize as Satan's attempting to sabotage our work. For this reason we are to see those motivations as ones which we are to reject, even if they are camouflaged in pious wording. They are 'the poisoned tree', so nothing good can come from their being permitted to dictate our actions.

It is when our actions are dictated by the motivations listed as 'the fruit of the Spirit' that those actions have asssurance of conforming to God's will. And that is due to the actions only conforming to what God wants of us if the motivations which culminate in those actions also conforms to what God wants of us. Their importance to our actions is emphasized by the words which immediately follow their listing: "Against such things there is no law."

We may or may not receive gifts such as prophecy, teaching, etc. God knows what we need, and provides for us accordingly. And it is God who knows that irregardless of what he has planned for us, we need 'the fruit of the Spirit' in order to accomplish those tasks in the manner that he wants of us. So this 'fruit' he provides to all who accept his Son's sacrifice. Prophecy we can do without as a gift; compassion we cannot. And that is only one of the 9 'fruit'.

Skendit said:

Hello all!

I feel really silly posting this because I think I'm overthinking everything which is why I feel like I'm at a loss.

I have recently started attending church and a "life group" (where a few people from the church meet weekly and we share how our week has been and do some bible study).
I have gone from being a non believer to a believer of Christ which is really exciting!

I have repented for my old life and sins. I pray daily (and all throughout the day I natter away to God as well!).

I'm just not sure what comes next. How do I know if I have been saved? Have I been and I just don't realise it because I feel like there should have been something really dramatic to show it? Or am I to do more?

I would love to have a strong relationship with God and besides reading the bible and praying I'm not sure if there is anything else I should do as well?

I am also finding it difficult getting satan out of my life. Any suggestions to help are appreciated!!

Thank you so much for your time.

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If you keep the word, the words of Jesus, then you keep the Spirit of Jesus, and by that you know you are saved. Keep the words of Christ.

It is that simple. There is no other guarantee.

People will quote their favorite leaders. Slogans they live by. Christians live by the words and life of Jesus.

If you walk off that path - that path, not some interpretation of it - then you will get lost.

Salvation is between you and God, remember, not between you and some other guy, even some pastor or some church.

Welcome to the forum! You'll never hear me accuse you of over-thinking because I do it all the time! It's one of the reasons why I chose this screen name and tag line.

Skendit said:

I pray daily (and all throughout the day I natter away to God as well!).

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I love how you put that... "natter away to God". It's exactly how a relationship with God begins to grow: through communication. We speak to Him through prayer of any kind, and He speaks to us through His word - the Bible. It may seem impersonal at first, but the Holy Spirit actually gives each of us a unique experience with scripture each time. No matter how much we study and learn the history and context of the Bible readings, each day can bring new applications for our lives, new perspectives, or even perfectly timed encouragement.

The Bible can be hard read and even intimidating, so your Bible study is a good idea, and online devotionals can help too. The biggest way to escape the devil is to pursue God... it's all part of the same journey, and it takes time. No need to rush or put a huge amount of pressure on yourself. Don't worry if you don't have a dramatic conversion experience. Some do and some don't (myself included). It's another way that each of us is unique in our relationship with God.

graceandpeace said in post 4:

Another good next step if you are wanting to take it is to be baptized.

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Amen (Galatians 3:27).

graceandpeace said in post 4:

Depending upon your church denomination, this could be by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling.

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Note that based on the Bible, in order to be saved ultimately, believers must get water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus' death for our sins (Romans 6:3-11, Colossians 2:12, Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16). The original Greek noun for "baptism" (baptismos) is derived from the original Greek verb for "baptize" (baptizo), which means to immerse. For it's derived from the original Greek verb "bapto", which means to cover wholly with a fluid. We're to be "buried" in the water of baptism (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12), and no one is buried by having some water merely sprinkled on his forehead. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia admits that "In the Latin Church, immersion seems to have prevailed until the twelfth century. After that time it is found in some places even as late as the sixteenth century. Infusion and aspersion, however, were growing common in the thirteenth century and gradually prevailed in the Western Church". On what basis did the Catholic Church, or any other church for that matter, abandon the requirement of immersion?

graceandpeace said in post 4:

Connecting into church life, studying the Bible, & prayer are all vital to the Christian faith - so you are in a good place to learn & grow as a believer. These are regular practices you should continue in your Christian journey.

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Amen.

Regarding "studying the Bible", the best way to study it, as a whole, is simply to read every word of it (Matthew 4:4) over and over again. It ends up explaining itself once what it says has become engrained in your memory, and you see the connections between verses regarding something in one place in the Bible and other verses regarding that same thing in other places in the Bible. It's by comparing and combining related verses from different places in the Bible that we arrive at correct doctrine (Isaiah 28:9-10; 1 Corinthians 2:13).

It's also a good practice to always end each reading session with a prayer for understanding and remembrance of the whole Bible.

One way to read the whole Bible, over and over, is to think of it as 7 volumes:

1. Genesis to Deuteronomy
2. Joshua to Esther
3. Job to Song of Solomon
4. Isaiah to Malachi
5. Matthew to Acts
6. Romans to Philemon
7. Hebrews to Revelation

You can read a chapter in each volume every day. This will keep you current in every part of the Bible. After a while, there won't be any part that you haven't read recently enough to remember what it says. When you reach the end of a volume, simply start again at the first chapter of that volume. In this way, you will be cycling through smaller volumes like #6 and #7 much more often than larger volumes like #2, but the smaller volumes are so much more dense with doctrine that it can be profitable to read them over and over more often.

Also, you can listen to recordings of people reading the Bible, whenever you need to keep your eyes on something else while you listen (such as keeping your eyes on the road while you drive, or on a cutting board while you're preparing food, or on your clippers while you're trimming a hedge). In this way, you can listen to the Bible throughout the day, whenever you don't need to be thinking about something else (such as at your workplace). Also, you can listen to the Bible even while you're going to sleep, so that it will become part of even your subconscious mind.

Skendit said in post 3:

You mentioned the lords gifts - are hey something I must receive? Not to say I don't want any of them! I just mean, if I don't receive a gift does this mean that I am not a true child of his?

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Have you been Holy Spirit baptized?

For besides getting water baptized, believers can get Holy Spirit baptized (Acts 11:15-16, Acts 10:44-46). They usually have to ask to receive the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13b) baptism, for it's not usually automatically given to them the moment they become believers. That's why Paul the apostle asked some believers: "Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2).

Believers usually receive Holy Spirit baptism through prayer accompanied by the laying on of hands, subsequent to water baptism (Acts 8:15-17, Acts 19:5-6). Holy Spirit baptism won't result in speaking in tongues for everyone (1 Corinthians 12:30), but for almost everyone, as tongues are one of the Spirit's lesser gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8,9,10,11,28; 1 Corinthians 14:5). Many believers haven't yet experienced Holy Spirit baptism simply because they haven't yet asked for it, under the principle of "ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2b). Many believers haven't yet asked for it because they've come under the influence of mistaken teachings which say that it's no longer in effect. Believers can get hands laid on them to receive Holy Spirit baptism at any Pentecostal-type congregation, or at any charismatic-type congregation, which can be of almost any denomination.

The Holy Spirit's gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), which operate in believers who have received Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 19:6, Acts 11:15-16, Acts 10:44-46), won't cease operating until Jesus' 2nd coming. For 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 means that just as only when children become adults do they put away childish things, so only when believers become perfect when they see Jesus face to face at his 2nd coming (1 John 3:2) will they no longer need the Spiritual gifts of prophecy, tongues, and the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8,10). During the future tribulation, which will just precede the 2nd coming (Matthew 24:29-31), are some in the church going to reject the ministry of the two witnesses, simply because it will involve them prophesying and performing miracles (Revelation 11:3,6)?

Because the 2nd coming, like the preceding tribulation, hasn't happened yet, all the Spirit's gifts are still operating in the church today, within Pentecostal- and charismatic-type congregations. God's Word commands believers to operate in the Spiritual gifts when believers come together (1 Corinthians 14:26-31). So congregations today should be careful not to quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), such as by despising prophesyings (1 Thessalonians 5:20) or forbidding all speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39). Tongues are one of the Spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10) through which believers can be regularly edified (1 Corinthians 14:4,5,12,26). Again, not all Holy Spirit-baptized believers will speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30), but almost all will (cf. Acts 19:6, Acts 10:45-46), for tongues are one of the Spirit's lesser gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:5).

Different believers receive different kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10). Some tongues are languages which people can understand (Acts 2:4,8), while other tongues are languages which people can't understand (1 Corinthians 14:2), not even the speakers (1 Corinthians 14:14). Unintelligible tongues could include ancient human languages which are unknown to history, ancient human languages which are known to history but aren't understood, and angelic languages (1 Corinthians 13:1). Unintelligible tongues aren't useless, however, for when they're prayed or sung privately to God without interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:2,28), they edify the spirits of those who speak or sing them (1 Corinthians 14:4,14-15, Jude 1:20), to bless God and thank God (1 Corinthians 14:16). And when unintelligible tongues are prayed or sung out loud in a congregation, and then Spiritually interpreted (1 Corinthians 12:10b-11), their interpretation edifies the whole congregation (1 Corinthians 14:5b,12,13,26). When Christians sing in tongues to God, they're singing the "spiritual songs" which the apostle Paul distinguishes from psalms and hymns (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16).

The apostle Paul sets no restrictions on how much believers can pray and sing to God in tongues out loud at home, or silently in church (1 Corinthians 14:28) (just as regular praying can be done silently: 1 Samuel 1:13,17). Indeed, Paul prayed and sung to God in tongues in private more than anyone (1 Corinthians 14:18-19). But regarding church meetings, Paul sets strict rules on speaking tongues out loud: They aren't to be spoken out loud in church meetings unless there's someone present who can Spiritually interpret them to the whole congregation (1 Corinthians 14:28). And even when a tongues-interpreter is present, at the most only 3 people should in turn speak out loud in unknown tongues, which should then be interpreted to the whole congregation (1 Corinthians 14:27). Everyone who has received the gift of tongues should be praying for the separate gift of the interpretation of tongues, so he or she can edify others (1 Corinthians 14:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:10b).

Skendit said:

Thank you all SO much! You have truly helped out my mind at ease knowing I'm at least on the right path and not missing a vital "first step".

I really cannot thank you enough!! Xx

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You are very welcome. In fact, your thanks was just what I needed last night as I was feeling down about myself for some reason.

One other thing to remember: God knows our heart and motivations. He never misunderstands and we don't have to worry about explaining things or convincing Him with the right words. This is very important for anyone who is worried about missing a specific step or action in Christian development.

When my children express love and the desire for a relationship with me, I'm not very concerned about what words they use, what specific actions they take, or how awkward it is... it's the motivation that fills me with joy. God is the same way.

On this forum (and even in this thread) you will hear different opinions and positions about salvation, free will, types of baptism, etc. It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed, so just remember that God knows us completely.

Skendit-

Different churches have different means of receiving new members. Some churches, such as the Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian, have catechism, which is a set of classes which teaches the prospective member exactly what that denomination teaches. At the end of this set of classes the person is asked if he accepts what he has learned, and on the basis of his answering in the affirmative he is then welcomed as a full member in a service conducted specifically for that purpose.

There are other denominations which want to hurry up the process. Those in this part of the USA who want to hurry it up teach that baptism is by full immersion only, and that this full-immersion baptism is absolutely essential to the person's obtaining salvation. But many of them do not tell the person that by permitting one of their heirarchy to perform this baptism the person has automatically joined that particular denomination. This outcome includes those who have expressed a desire to remain with their own denomination, but simply want full-immersion baptism. A letter is sent by the church secretary to whatever denomination the person was a member of, telling that denomination that his membership has been transferred.

As for baptism needing to be by full immersion, the problem with that belief is Jesus himself. He was a Galilean Jew, not a Greek. So he taught his disciples in either aramaic or hebrew, not greek. In aramaic there is the word 'mikvah', which when translated means to bathe or wash. There were even special pools built in order for people to perform this 'mikvah'. But those pools were only deep enough for the water to cover the person's ankles, rather than its being deep enough for total immersion. Even the River Jordan very rarely gets deep enough for that, so the water is poured, rather than the people being 'dunked'.

But the endresult is that the person has been washed. In greek the closest word they had in their vocabulary to 'mikvah' was 'baptism', but its intended definition was 'to wash' rather than its being 'to bury'. So when we read the word 'baptism' in Scripture, we are not reading what Jesus himself said. Instead, we are reading the closest eqivalent in greek to the aramaic word 'mikvah', which simply means 'to wash'.

Also there is a word of caution: I am 67 years old, and have been approached by denominations preaching that unless one is fully immersed they are not really saved. In each and every case when I pressed them they admitted that their insistence on baptism by full immersion in order to obtain salvation was only the first of a neverending list of ecclesiastical laws which the person had to follow, or else lose his salvation. And in each and every case the ecclesiastical laws were intended to give the heirarchy of that denomination total dominance over every aspect of the person's existence, even to the point of telling that person whom he could converse with (I personally know a man who is now in his 80's, but has not spoken with his son for 20 years, due to his son's having been ordered not to converse with his own father because his father is a Roman Catholic).

Peripatetic said:

You are very welcome. In fact, your thanks was just what I needed last night as I was feeling down about myself for some reason.

One other thing to remember: God knows our heart and motivations. He never misunderstands and we don't have to worry about explaining things or convincing Him with the right words. This is very important for anyone who is worried about missing a specific step or action in Christian development.

When my children express love and the desire for a relationship with me, I'm not very concerned about what words they use, what specific actions they take, or how awkward it is... it's the motivation that fills me with joy. God is the same way.

On this forum (and even in this thread) you will hear different opinions and positions about salvation, free will, types of baptism, etc. It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed, so just remember that God knows us completely.

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Good thoughts for the OP.

Harry3142 said in post 13:

But many of them do not tell the person that by permitting one of their heirarchy to perform this baptism the person has automatically joined that particular denomination.

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That idea is mistaken. For immersion baptism doesn't join believers to any particular denomination. After getting immersion baptized in one denomination, they can go and join any another denomination they want, any time they want, without having to get anyone's permission.

Also, believers shouldn't be identified or identify themselves after any man-made denomination (1 Corinthians 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:4), but should simply be "Christians" (Acts 11:26b; 1 Peter 4:16). For the one true church, or body of Christ, consists of all believers everywhere (Ephesians 4:4-6), no matter what their denomination.

Harry3142 said in post 13:

In greek the closest word they had in their vocabulary to 'mikvah' was 'baptism', but its intended definition was 'to wash' rather than its being 'to bury'.

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Note that the Bible itself says that we must be "buried" in our baptism (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12).

Dear SKendit. You have repented and are truly sorry for your past sins. Now you want to Be Born Again, become a changed person. Jesus gives us good advice in Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus points out this great truth: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God wants our Love, freely given and No conditions tagged on. A good start is to treat all you know and all you meet, friends and not friends, as you would love to be treated: kindly and always with friendly words, and a helping hand where neded. God will see your sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless you.
Jesus told us to " ask and ye shall receive," then we thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. ( Matthew 7: 7-10) We keep asking God and thanking God, then share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. A Christian`s
great weapon is Love, with love we will overcome all enmity and wrong behaviour. We will find that people around us will treat as the same as we treat people, Love is very catching, SKendit. You might stumble and forget at times, but then ask God to forgive you, and carry on Loving and Caring.
Jesus will help and guide us: JESUS IS THE WAY. God is Love, and God wants loving men and women: all we say or do, all we advice and stand for, MUST BE DONE WITH LOVE AND COMPASSION. I say this with love. Greetings from
Emmy, your sister in Christ.

Hi Skendit,

You will find that there are aome topics that Christians can argue over for hours on end. Baptism is one of those topics.

The bible only says that we should be baptised, it does not say what form the baptism must take (immersion in water or pouring of water).

Personally I do not think it is such a big issue, I definitely do not think that you will lose your salvation if you choose the "wrong" type of baptism. I mean if someone lives in the Sahara desert where water is precious and they receive a baptism of just a few drops poured on their heads, I am sure God will be okay with that. It is what is in the heart that matters.

For myself I grew up in a conservative church and was baptized as a baby by having water poured on my head. Later in my life I felt the need to be baptized again, simply because I did not have a say in the matter as a baby.

So I got baptized as a adult by immersion because Jesus was baptized that way and I figured what was good enough for Him was good enough for me too.

To answer your question, I think that to be baptized must be your next step.

In addition to all the great advice others have given you, I would like to add a thing about standing on God's Word.

Faith can sound very vague, but keep in mind that it is about standing on what God has declared. If He declares the terms of being saved, and you have followed those terms, then faith is a matter of believing that what He said is true.

We will reason away what He has for us, thinking we don't deserve it, and we don't -- His offer to us is about what He can do, and does.

When Satan is in your life, standing on this contract is also that firm. Read him his rights. You have no strength in yourself that can stand against such a powerful force, but the legalities of what God has declared -- that says everything.

Getting a feel for this approach takes time, and we forget as soon as we implement us, and we fight against the logic of it. But faith in what God has said is everything. We cannot save ourselves. God freely gives.

Freely you have received; freely give.

How do I know if I have been saved? Have I been and I just don't realise it because I feel like there should have been something really dramatic to show it? Or am I to do more? ...I am also finding it difficult getting satan out of my life.

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