Published by True Life Concepts Ministry, Newport, Tennessee
www.TrueLifeConcepts.org
Copyright: 2010 True Life Concepts Ministry
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Printed in the United States of America.
True Life Concepts Ministry is dedicated to producing cutting-edge resources focused for Evangelism and Discipleship.
A Message Just for You...
This book was designed with you in mind. Our greatest desire is to see you grow strong in your faith. The goal of the Christian life is spiritual maturity and to be like Jesus. Faithfully practicing the seven steps presented in this booklet will move you closer to this destination. And here is the really good news: your arrival at that destination is absolutely guaranteed! God is working His power in your life, and the Bible is clear on His promise: "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6)Millions of people, including the person who led you to Christ, can testify to the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ. Jesus changes lives, and He will change yours. These changes are real. The Bible says, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to be called the children of God, even to them who believe on His name." (John 1:12) When you trusted Christ, you became a new person with a new family. You really are a child of God!
As God's child you are meant to grow. In your physical life there are natural stages of development. An infant grows to adulthood, or maturity, very slowly over many years. So it is in your spiritual life. You will go through many stages on the path to Christian maturity. Each is designed by God to help you grow more faithful and more obedient.
You have embarked on a wonderful adventure, a journey filled with special joys and unique challenges. Sometimes the path may seem hard and narrow, but you have nothing to fear. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He loves you as a perfect father loves his child, and He will bring you home safely. Remember, God loves you and so do we!
Dr. Tony Crisp, Founder
True Life Concepts Ministry
Newport, Tennessee
Center for Holy Land Studies
Knoxville, Tennessee
Jerusalem, Israel
The First Step: Be Assured
THE FIRST STEP toward Christian maturity is to understand the Bible's great promise: be assured! How can you know that you are saved? How can you be sure? Listen to God's Word, believe it, and trust God's promises. The Bible was written for your knowledge and assurance.
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the Son of God" (I John 5:13)
All of Scripture testifies to God's unfailing love and care; salvation is its central theme. Faith is simply taking God at His word and believing that He will accomplish all that He has promised. The following passages will help you "be assured" in your own salvation and feel secure in your relationship with God.
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand" (John 10:28).
"All the Father gives to Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
When you call upon the name of the Lord in prayer and ask Him to save you, He will keep His word to you. You are His child forever. You can trust Jesus completely!
The Bible's promises are more than adequate for assurance of salvation. In Scripture you find the objective, external truth needed for a strong and maturing faith. But God has given us something more. This something is really someone; the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of God who comes to live inside every believer the moment one trusts Christ as Lord and Savior.
HOLY SPIRIT...YOUR ASSURANCE - The Holy Spirit personalizes and internalizes the objective, external truths of the Bible. In other words, God gives you someone on the inside to confirm His truth to you, to apply this truth to your life, and to assure you of your salvation.
"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:16). In the book of Ephesians the Holy Spirit is described as a security deposit or a down payment. "Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory."
(Ephesians 1:13-14). Rejoice in this blessed assurance, and live like you belong to Him, because you do!
HOLY SPIRIT . . . YOUR POWER TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE! - The Holy Spirit not only takes up residence in your life and assures you of salvation, but empowers you to live the Christian life. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described as the Helper and Encourager (John 14:16).
"For it is God who works in you both to will and do for His good purposes" (Philippians 2:13).
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The Holy Spirit will help you apply the truth of God's Word as you choose to obey and surrender your life to God on a daily basis. Remember this: as a believer, Jesus is not just a part of your life, Jesus is your life!
OBEDIENCE . . . YOUR LOVING RESPONSE! - It is Christ who first loved us (I John 4:9, 19) and now our love for Him is worked out by our willingness to obey His commandments and follow His direction which are given to us in the Bible. Love is the basis for our obedience.
The Bible clearly indicates that obedience to God is one of the primary marks of a changed life through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus teaches us this in many Scriptures:
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
"He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me..." (John 14:21).
The following steps in this booklet require your loving and submissive response to God, and therefore your obedience to God's Word and His direction. Discover the joy of obedience to a loving God. Jesus said that obedience is the way that his joy will remain in you, and that your joy will be full! (John 15:10-11).
The Second Step: Be Baptized
THE SECOND STEP towards Christian maturity is baptism. God commands every believer to be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 4:1). The word baptize or baptism comes from the ancient Greek language and means to "immerse." The believer is immersed in water as a symbol of his new life and as a public testimony of his belief in Christ. Baptism does not save you: you are already saved. Baptism will not cleanse you of your sin: only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away sin (I John 1:7). Baptism is an act of obedience, the first evidence of a changed life. Baptism/Immersion in water was the ancient way to show one's identification with a belief system and or a particular Teacher/Rabbi or Master. The act of going under the water was a symbolic act showing that you had died to your "old belief system and way of life and old master; being raised out of the water was symbolic of being raised from the dead to walk a new way of life! This is what the Apostle Paul was referring to in Romans 6:4, where the Apostle is references Spirit Baptism which is also symbolized by water baptism. No one will ever know you are a follower of Jesus unless you tell them and act on what you believe. Baptism gives you the opportunity to do both, quickly and decisively.
Baptism outwardly illustrates the inward reality of your new life in Christ. The water is symbolic of the grave. When you are immersed in water, you testify to your belief in these three things:
1) Jesus Christ died for my sins. He was buried and He arose from the grave vindicating his claims to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world (I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:4).
2) As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have died to my old way of life. The old person is dead and buried. I am a new person, raised to a new way of life (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
3) Even though I may die, God will raise my mortal body from the dead at the last day to be with Him for eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38).
In the act of baptism we see a beautiful picture of the believer's relationship with Christ past, present, and future. But baptism is more than a symbol. Baptism is a command. When God commands something, we as His children don't question, we just obey!
By being baptized, you publicly identify yourself with Christ and with those who believe in Him. For New Testament believers, this was especially important. Many who publicly professed Christ were persecuted or disowned by their friends and families. The call to be baptized, a very public act, tests the new believer's obedience and commitment to Jesus. Though you may never suffer so dramatically, the test is still the same. Do you value Christ more than the approval of men? Will you live your faith no matter the consequences? These are the questions baptism answers. Have you been baptized as a New Testament believer? If not, we encourage you to experience the joy of obedience and be baptized!
The Third Step: Feed Your Soul
We eat to live, and healthy living requires a healthy diet. Without proper nutrition our bodies weaken and tire. Many illnesses and premature deaths can be traced to poor eating habits. The same holds true in our spiritual lives. Our souls need constant nourishment, and God has provided the perfect diet.
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4)
God's Word is food for the soul. Reading the Bible is to our spiritual lives what eating is to our physical bodies. If you want to grow as God's child, if you want to mature in your faith, then follow this simple command: "Like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word that by it you may grow with respect to salvation" (I Peter 1:2; see Jeremiah 15:16). Scheduling the time to eat proper meals each day is not always easy and takes discipline, neither is scheduling time in the word, but taking the time for daily spiritual nourishment is much more important and much more profitable.
How can an ancient book feed your soul? Well, the Bible is unlike any other book known to man. In it God speaks directly to us. We call it God's Word because He is the author. The Apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) wrote these words to his friend and pupil Timothy, a young man pursuing maturity in Christ: "...from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:15-16) The Greek term translated "given by God" means literally "God -breathed." The very words of Scripture come from the mouth of God, and are free from any error. Additionally, Scripture will never mislead or deceive because it is inspired by "God who cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). His divine authorship is what makes the Bible nourishing, authoritative, and profitable.
This passage shows us not only the Bible's source and authority; it also reveals why it was given to us. The Bible, God's gift to His children, fulfills four purposes.
1) "All Scripture is given by God for DOCTRINE . . ."
The word "doctrine" means "a set of teachings." The Bible is our tutor, or teacher. It teaches us what we need to know and believe about God. It teaches us how to have a personal relationship with Him. And it teaches us how to please Him in our daily lives. Another way to understand this is the Bible gives us a "belief system". Our belief system forms the basis for how we live and act and the choices we make.
2) "All Scripture is given by God . . . for REPROOF . . . "
Like a good parent, God reprimands his children when we disobey. The Bible was given to show us when we are wrong. It lays out God's standard for right living and proper conduct. When we make a habit of measuring ourselves against this standard, it becomes very clear when we are "missing the mark", or sinning. The feeling of guilt that follows is called "conviction." When we agree with God's Word and admit that we have done wrong (this is called "confession"), He promises to forgive and cleanse us of that sin (I John 1:9). We need the Bible to reveal our shortcomings and show us what we need to confess.
3) "All Scripture is given by God . . . for CORRECTION . . . "
The Bible not only shows us where we fall short; it also shows us how to correct and prevent such spiritual failings. This is the positive aspect of God's standard. By teaching us the right way to live and act, God provides us with corrective measures and real solutions. In other words, the Bible helps us change our ways.
4) "All Scripture is given by God . . . for INSTRUCTION
IN RIGHTEOUSNESS . . ."
This last purpose encompasses the other three, and it brings to light the ultimate goal of doctrine, reproof, and correction. God wants us to be like Christ, completely righteous and without sin. The Bible, centering on this goal, gives us direction and guidance in all areas of life. If we strive to live by all its principles and instructions, we will grow and mature into righteous children of God.
Feed your soul - now! Begin immediately with the Gospel of John and the Epistle of I John. When you are finished, move on to Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. To nurture your Christian growth, it is important to establish a daily program of Bible reading and study. Join a Sunday School or Bible study class. You can log onto http://blog.truelifeconcepts.org and start reading the scriptures each day! If you have questions, you can ask them on the blog just ask and we will seek to get you answers quickly to help you on your journey!
The Five Basic Rules of Interpretation of Scripture:
- If the plain sense of any Bible passage makes sense as you read it, let that be the sense lest it all become nonsense. If it is a narrative take it literally as historical. If it is written in figurative language take it as the mode of speech it is written in such as a parable, allegory and the like.
- Always interpret an unclear verse (one that could be interpreted more than one way) by a clear one (one that can only be interpreted one way.)
- Always interpret a passage within the context. Every text or passage in the Bible has a "context ("con" is the Latin word meaning "with"). There is the immediate context; that is the verses just before and after the passage you are reading. Other types of context to consider is the context or occasion of the Book and much more, but that will get you started. Again you can always ask for help from your pastor or Bible teacher where you are attending church or ask on the blog and you will receive help and instruction.
- We must Always interpret our experience(s) by the Word of God; not the Word of God by our experience(s). Sometimes you will hear people say, "God told me to do this or that" or "God led me to do this or that." Anything you feel God is "telling" you to do must align with the teaching of the scriptures.
- Every believer has the Spirit of God living in his/her life. The Holy Spirit is able to make plain what He authored in the books of the Bible (I John 2:27). However, God has also chosen to use human teachers as well to teach and give aid in understanding. (Example: Ephesians 4:11ff)
The Fourth Step: Prayer
IF READING GOD'S WORD is like eating, prayer is like breathing. For our bodies, breathing is the purest instinct; we do it without thinking, without effort. In our spiritual lives, prayer is a practice that quickly becomes as instinctive as taking a breath. One of the marks of a mature Christian is a natural impulse to communicate with God. The Bible commands us to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17), to turn to God in every circumstance and with every concern. Jesus prayed about everything.For a believer unaccustomed to prayer, it can be very difficult to get started. "What should I say? How should I pray?" Do not be embarrassed by such difficulties. Even Jesus' twelve disciples were confused about prayer. To help them, Jesus provided a model prayer.
"In this manner, therefore pray; our father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13).
You have probably heard the Lord's Prayer before or even recited it, without grasping its significance. This model prayer or the "Lord's Prayer" was intended to teach the disciples how to pray properly and effectively.
"Our Father in heaven"
Pray to your heavenly Father, acknowledging His authority and your relationship to Him. This suggests that our prayers should be directed humbly and reverently to God alone.
"Hallowed be Your name"
Hallowed is an old word that means holy, which means set apart. God's name is different than anyone else and we need to recognize that truth in addressing Him. Acknowledge God's holiness, praise His sinless character, and pray that His name would be glorified in all things. At the same time, recognizing the Father's holiness and your own sinfulness, thank Him that you can freely talk with Him (praying) - because of Jesus Christ.
"Your kingdom come, Your will be done . . ."
"Pray that God's purposes will be accomplished always and everywhere, especially in your life. Ask for strength and commit yourself to doing His will.
"Give us this day our daily bread. . . "
Pray that God will provide for all your needs, and thank Him for His constant provision.
"Forgive us our sins . . ."
Pray for forgiveness, confessing all sins great and small. Ask God to help you forgive others. (I John 1:9)
"Deliver us from the evil one"
Acknowledge your weakness and God's strength; pray for mercy and help in times of temptation, and for protection and deliverance when faced with evil (I Peter 5:8-9).
"Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."
Express your confidence in God's eternal authority and almighty power.
The Lord's Prayer is not a rigid pattern, like dance steps, that must be followed exactly. Nor is it a chant to be recited mindlessly. Jesus intended it to illustrate some of the essential elements of God's pleasing prayer. You can pray about anything! Pour out your heart to God; share all your hurts, concerns, and joys. He will listen because He loves you! Remember, you can talk to Him as your compassionate, loving Father. He delights in our expression of love, trust, and reliance. As God's beloved child, you can pray to Him anywhere at anytime for any reason.
Just as we set aside a time for reading the Bible, so we must make prayer a regular discipline in our daily lives. Prayer completes the circle of communication. God speaks to us through His Word, and we speak to Him through prayer. A heart quieted by prayer is filled with peace and contentment. And the praying child is open to his Father's leading and receptive to His plan.
Take a moment to thank God for the gift of prayer and for making you a part of His family. Remember, pray constantly.
The Fifth Step: The Church, Getting Connected
THE FIRST FOUR STEPS (Assurance, Baptism, Bible Study, and Prayer) deal mainly with you as an individual believer. Of course, salvation is a very personal thing, but a mature Christian is not a spiritual loner or a self-reliant individualist. You need the fellowship and support of other believers. In short, you need the church. To understand the role of the church in your new life, it is helpful to define exactly what we mean when we speak of the church.Let's refer to the Church (capital "C") as referring to the entire family of God. All believers from all places and all times (present and past) are included in this distinctive family - even you! This Church is the big family you became a part of when you turned to God in faith. Christians around the world are now your spiritual brothers and sisters, and everyone who has trusted Christ is a member of His Church.
A church (small "c") is best understood as a visible, organized group of baptized professing "Church" members. This is usually called the local church, and much of the New Testament acts as a guideline for its purpose. The great emphasis of the New Testament is on the conduct, manners, business, and growth of the believer in relationship to a local assembly. In fact, most New Testament books are epistles, or letters, first written to encourage or instruct particular local churches. Is it necessary to join a local church (Hebrews 10:24-25)? Baptism - the public profession of your faith in Christ and the outward sign of your inclusion in His "Church" - is what most congregations consider the qualification for membership and certainly what the New Testament requires for obedience. You will never become all God wants you to be as a follower of Christ without being vitally connected to the local church!
The local church is to the new believer what a family is to a newborn baby. An infant needs constant care and attention and feeding! The "born again" believer requires the spiritual equivalent. In God's design, the local church family provides the love, nurture, and training you need to mature and grow in the faith. No organization on earth, no matter how good its intentions or how vast its resources, can accomplish the life-building task God has reserved for the local church. You need your new family to encourage you, accept you, and help you become the mature man or woman God wants you to be.
The Bible provides us with several analogies, or word pictures to help us understand the form and function of the church. Each believer is a part of the entire family of God (Church) as described in these passages.
The Primary Analogies for the Church in the New Testament are as follows:
The Church is a Body.
This analogy helps us understand the relationship between the Lord Jesus and those who follow Him. Jesus is the Head, and we believers are members of His body (I Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22). Each body part has a particular role to play, but the parts do not function separately from the body. The Body moves as the Head directs. Jesus directs the body. He brings order and balance to what would otherwise be chaos.
The Church is a Bride.
The Bible likens Jesus to a Groom, and the church to His bride (Ephesians 5:22-32). This rich analogy stresses the love relationship between Christ and believers. He is our protector and provider. He saved us because of His great love for us, and one day we will all be one with Him, a pure heavenly bride united to her groom. The Bible even refers to our celebrations in heaven as "the marriage feast."
The Church is a Building.
God is the architect and builder. Jesus is boththe foundation and the cornerstone, the first and the most important part of the Father's construction project. Believers are compared to "living stones" laid down to form a glorious assembly that will stand for all eternity (I Peter 2:5-9.)
All these images reveal the absolute supremacy of Jesus Christ and the very real unity believers share in Him. These passages should inspire us to humble, selfless service in the local church. God expects every believer to give the best part of his time, talents, and treasures to Him. Take time to read the book of Ephesians, especially Chapter 4 to better understand God's plan for His church and your responsibilities in the Body.
As soon as possible, you should find a Bible-believing church that preaches the entire Word of God faithfully, and a church that endeavors to practice what it preaches, standing for righteousness in this generation. In this environment you can begin to grow in grace with the family of God (2 Peter 3:18.) If you have any problems locating one near where you live then log onto www.truelifeconcepts.org and "Contact us" and ask for a recommendation; we will be delighted to help you.
The Sixth Step: Live to Give
YOUR FAITH rests solely on the generosity of God. Salvation is a gift.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. . ." (John 3:16).
"Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins . . ."(Galatians 1:4).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).
We are saved "by grace."
Grace means unearned, undeserved favor - a gift. To put it as simply as possible, grace is God's generosity in action. Salvation is His work and His accomplishment. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. For we are His workmanship . . ." (Ephesians 2:4-5, 10).
You are God's child today because He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in your placed on the cross. He suffered for your sins, and He rose again to secure the one thing you never deserved and could never earn: eternal life. When you turned to God in faith you did nothing to save yourself --Christ has already done everything!
This amazing generosity is part of God's eternal character. It is in His very nature to give. How should we respond to such grace and generosity? "Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2).
We imitate God by living to give.
First, we imitate Christ's generosity by giving ourselves to God: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). We are His possession, created by Him to walk in good works. We should commit our whole lives to serving Him in love and obedience (Ephesians 5:10).
Secondly, we imitate God's generosity by giving to the church. We serve Him by serving the Church body and others in His Name. To repeat a truth from the last step, God expects every believer to give the best part of his time, talents, and treasures to Him. Our treasures include all material blessings given to us by God. He owns everything - we are merely stewards, or asset managers, of the resources He has provided. "Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the firstfruits of all your increase" (Proverbs 3:9).
Giving to the church is often called tithing.
A "tithe" is a tenth, or ten percent. This term comes from the Biblical practice of giving back to God from the "firstfruits" of one's labor. This was done to honor God's ownership and to express thanks for His gracious provision (Deuteronomy 14:22-23; Genesis 14:18-20; Luke 11:42). It's a simple way of saying, "I have, because God has blessed."
Can you give too much? Never! "He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). Generosity and abundant giving are signs of maturity. Many fail to give because they lack faith; some are simply selfish. Giving tests the sincerity of our love and the strength of our trust in God. He will always provide abundantly for His children. This promise is crystal clear. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over . . . For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38). The cheerful giver can truly say, "My cup runs over."
If you live to give, God will bless you (Malachi 3:10). In the next few weeks, pray that God will show you how to give of your time, talents, and treasures. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver! (2 Corinthians 9:7).
The Seventh Step: Be a Witness
First, before a person can appreciate the good news, they must understand the bad news. The Bible says "There is none righteous, no not one . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 23). Every man, woman, and child is a sinner by nature and choice. And our sin has a horrible consequence: "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). This death is both physical and spiritual. Because all life comes from God, death in the Bible is the same thing as eternal separation from God. Unsaved sinners can not have a relationship with their holy, sinless Creator. Before we were saved, God's Word says that we were dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Sinners are as lifeless and as powerless as corpses. We can do absolutely nothing to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is bad news indeed!
The bad news shows just how good the good news really is. God knows our dilemma, and He desires that all men might come to know Him in a personal way (2 Peter 3:9). There is only one way to come to God and be saved. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). He is the only solution to man's problem. He alone is the Savior from sin and death.
Jesus Christ did what no one else could do: He lived a perfect, sinless life. He was God walking, talking, healing and teaching on earth (John 1:1,14,18). But He was also a man, as fully human as we are. Jesus came to die - to settle man's debt with God by paying the penalty for sin. His death on the cross was "substitutionary." He did not die for His own sins; He had none. God can forgive sinners because "Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God . . ." (1 Peter 3:18). His resurrection from the dead proved the power and sufficiency of His sacrifice.
Scripture provides us with an important summary of the good news and of our responsibility to share it with the lost:
"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors of Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. "For He made Him who know no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
Christians, all Christians, are ministers of reconciliation. When we share the good news of salvation in Christ, we help to reconcile sinners to God. How should we instruct men to be reconciled? When God gives you the opportunity to share your faith, the following is the simple Gospel message you can use to share. It is helpful to share the actual Scriptures in the Bible.
Message of Salvation:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"Repent therefore and return to God, that your sins may be wiped away." (Acts 2:38)"But God shows His great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:8)
"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10).
You can help someone pray this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know I am a sinner. I turn from my sin and ask you to forgive me. Come into my life and make me your child. I give away the rest of my life to you. Be my Lord and Savior, and take me to heaven when I die. I believe you, and will trust you. Amen.
This confession and trust is the substance of saving faith which leads to eternal life and should be the content of the gospel message we share.
Over the next few days, pray that God would give you opportunities to witness, especially to those closest to you. If your church has an organized witnessing program, join up! If you have trouble or difficulties, do not despair. Ask some mature believer for help: remember, you are not alone in the church. Lastly, and most importantly, pray that God would give you the strength and the grace to live a life that testifies to the truth and power of faith in Christ and seek opportunities to share the life-changing message of Jesus with others.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Bible has the answers to your questions . . .
When you are worried or anxious: Philippians 4:6-7 · Matthew 6:25-34 · 1 Peter 5:6-7
When you need peace: Romans 5:1-5 · Philippians 4:6-7 · John 16:33
When you need to forgive: Ephesians 4:30-32 · Matthew 18:21-35
When your faith is weak: Hebrews 11:1-40 · Psalm 42:5When you are tempted: Matthew 4:1-11 · I Corinthians 10:13 · James 4:7-8 · I John 2:15-17 · I John 4:4
When you think no one cares: Hebrews 4:14-16 · 1 Peter 5:7 · Hebrews 13:5-6
The importance of Love: I Corinthians 13:1-13 · Luke 10:27
The Christmas story: Luke 2:1-52 Matthew 1:18-2:23
The Easter Story: Matthew 28:1-20 · Mark 16:1-20 · Luke 24:1-53 · John 20:1-31
Catch the Spirit!
The purpose of True Life Concepts Ministry is to provide evangelistic and discipleship tools through preaching and teaching and through events which advance the Christian faith.
Dr. Tony Crisp, Founder
True Life Concepts Ministry
Newport, Tennessee
The Center for Holy Land Studies
Knoxville, Tennessee
Jerusalem, Israel
True Life Concepts Ministry, 244 Heritage Blvd. Suite 10, Newport, Tennessee
www.truelifeconcepts.org
- What the Bible says about Christian maturity.
- What are the basics of the Christian life?
- How do you grow in Christian maturity?
This handy reference guide will help you understand the basic principals that ensure Christian maturity. The Bible is very clear on the "steps to Christian maturity." This booklet is packed with practical biblical guidance to assist you in your Christian growth.
You will be challenged to:
· Be Baptized
· Feed Your Soul
· Pray Always
· Join Your Family
· Live to Give
· Be a Witness
Keep this guide close at hand for quick and insightful guidance!
For other resource materials to help you know God and to understand the Bible better, log on to www.truelifeconcepts.org.| < Prev | Next > |
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