The Celebration Continues!

We are thrilled with your recent decision for Christ. You have started a brand new life and the greatest adventure ever. There is nothing that compares with knowing Jesus Christ.

One very important distinction we want you to understand is this: You did not make a decision to become religious. Rather, you have entered a personal, loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

There is a big difference between the two. Loving relationships involve people learning more about each other, growing in their trust of one another and seeking to live in a way that pleases the other. Religions present you with a lifeless list of do's and don'ts.

Now that you have begun a love-relationship with Jesus, it is our desire to help you get to know Him better. As you do, you will find your love for Him deepening.

We have designed this page to help you grow more deeply in love with JESUS.

Day 1 The Bible is Very Important!

Day 2 What Happened to me?

Day 3 Do I really Possess Eternal Life?

Day 4 What Do I Do When I Sin?

Day 5 What About Baptism?

Day 6 Is Church Attendance Important?

The Bible is God's Word. It is His love letter to you, so it's important to read it. It is also a very large letter, and can be confusing and intimidating to a first-timer. Let me give you a quick overview of this precious Book.

God's Word is organized into two major parts. It has an Old Testament, which begins on the first page and extends for about two-thirds of the entire Bible. The last third is the New Testament.

The Old Testament begins with God's creation of the universe and spans human history to about 400 years before Jesus was born. Much of it revolves around the nation of Israel.

The New Testament begins with four biographical sketches of the Lord Jesus. These four (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are called Gospels. The remainder of the New Testament is specifically addressed to Christians. Since you are just starting your love-relationship with Jesus, I would suggest you begin reading the four Gospels.

As you read your Bible you will notice there are lots of numbers. Usually, larger ones begin each chapter. Smaller numbers are either alongside the text or scattered through it. These denote the individual verses within the chapter, making it easier to locate passages. For example, if I asked you to look up John 3:16, you would turn to

John = book of John (see your Table of Contents)
3 = third chapter
: = serves only as a separator
16 = sixteenth verse

Give it a try. Locate John 3:16 in your Bible. It should read something like this: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

When you opened your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, what took place? Actually, quite a number of wonderful things happened in that moment.

Below are some verses that more clearly define what transpired. Look up each of the references and then fill in the blanks. (Follow this link for the answers.)

You became a new creation the moment you placed your faith in the Lord Jesus. God's Spirit took up residence in you. He will help you to live this new life. You are not perfect, nor will you ever be in this life. But you are forgiven, and your past no longer needs to haunt you or direct you. You have a whole new life ahead of you.

Most people do not believe it is possible to be 100 percent sure whether someone will go to heaven until they die. That's too late to find out, if in fact, you are not! The Bible states very clearly that it is possible to know for sure right now!

Look up the following verses to discover for yourself what the Bible says about eternal life. (Follow this link for the answers.)

Sometimes those who have recently received Jesus are plagued with doubts as to whether they really are saved and going to heaven. The key to our assurance is remembering that we do not measure our salvation by how we feel. Our salvation is guaranteed by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to keep His promises. Jesus promised to hold you firmly in His grasp. He said that no one can pull you out of His hand. He promised that you would never perish if you have put your faith in Him.

Now that Jesus lives in us, we have a desire not to sin. Nevertheless, all Christians still fail. When we do, the Holy Spirit makes us feel bad about it. This is His way of showing us when our actions or attitudes displease Him. The Bible says, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear" (Psalm 66:18).

What are we to do when we sin? Do we lose our salvation and need to ask Jesus to come back into our hearts? No! In yesterday's lesson you read that Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. You are held securely in God's grip. You are His child, you bear His name now, and He will never throw you out of His family.

Look up the following verses. (Follow this link for the answers.)

Before you became a Christian, your sin separated you from God. Upon receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord, you immediately became a child of God. All of your sins were paid for by Jesus on the cross. Therefore, now when you sin, it breaks your fellowship with the Lord, not your relationship with Him.

Sin does displease the Lord. Don't try to hide it from Him. When you fail, admit it to Him. Ask Him to forgive you. When you do, God will immediately restore your fellowship.

Don't wait until the end of the day to ask God's forgiveness. As soon as you become aware that you have sinned, acknowledge it to Him. The sooner you admit it, the sooner your enjoyment of God will return.

Many people say something like this, "I don't need to go to church to be a Christian." That's true--a person needs only to genuinely receive Jesus Christ to be a Christian. So, where does the church fit in? Look up the following references. (Follow this link for the answers.)

All new believers are described as spiritual babies. All newborns need a family to love them, protect them, feed them, and teach them. As a newborn believer in Jesus Christ, you also need a loving church family to help you grow strong in Him. Through regular attendance and involvement at church, you will find yourself learning and maturing in your faith.

The church is like the "pitstop" for race cars. It's a place to rest, refuel, and get some encouragement for your upcoming week. You will enjoy the added dimension that group worship brings. There is something different and powerful when you worship the Lord Jesus with others who love Him.

Making a habit of weekly church attendance is one of the greatest actions you will ever take.

Let the Celebration Begin

The Bible Is It Fact of Fake?
Common Sense Makes a Judgment
by Robert Gee Witty, Ph.D.