

Fleurieu lake. Photo credits: Naomi
I am a Christian. How do I grow?
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Assurance:
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Be sure you are a Christian.
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Was there a specific moment in your life when you repented of sin, believed the gospel and accepted Jesus Christ as your saviour and Lord? If you can’t remember such a time, do that today. It is better to make two professions than to go to hell.
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If you have become a Christian, then you are permanently a Christian. Jesus said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” There are times when you won’t feel like a Christian, when you sin again or are going through trials, but you are still a Christian because Jesus said so.
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Bible:
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Read the Bible
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“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). Does reading the whole Bible seem too overwhelming? Start with the Gospel of John, one of four books that record the life of Jesus Christ on earth, then slowly work your way through the rest of the New Testament.
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Church:
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Find a good church you can attend in person.
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Commit to attending each week. The people at a church (for better and worse) will become like a family, and the preaching will be a key driver of your growth, so chose wisely. A good church must put the Bible first. Sermons should be centred on the Bible, not philosophy or opinion. And always ask for and check their statement of faith/theological position statement. If they don’t have one… hmm, watch out.
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Discuss:
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Talk about things of God with others (Malachi 3:16-18).
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Saw a verse in the Bible that excited you? Share it with someone. Ask other Christians how they dealt with the issues you are facing–but make sure any advice they give is from the Bible. Christians are humans and humans, including me, can give poor advice! Tell people you have become a Christian, and get excited about sharing what happened in your life with others
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I am not a Christian. How do I become one?
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I repent of my sin
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“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). I must be sorry for my sin and turn away from it.
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I realise I cannot save myself
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“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). I cannot save myself, no matter how religious I am (Philippians 3:3-7), how good I am (Ephesians 2:8-9) or how much wealth or prestige I have (Mark 8:36-37).
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I believe Jesus Christ died to save me from my sin
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“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18). God determined the penalty for sin was death, but also God sent His son, Jesus Christ, who is also God, to pay that penalty on my behalf.
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To become a Christian, I must repent of my sin and believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 19:4). This means:
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I am a sinner
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“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans3:23). I do not, and never will, meet God’s perfect standard. My sin means that I deserve to die, because this is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23).
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Cross amongst rubble
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I receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord.
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It’s not enough to know about God in a vague way, but there needs to be a specific moment I told Jesus Christ I wanted Him to save me from sin and tell me how to live. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
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