Salvation

Salvation is a free gift given by God to anyone who is willing to receive it by faith. It’s a gift that is absolutely unwarranted and certainly unmerited. There is nothing you can do to earn it, because we are saved by grace. Ephesians 2:5 “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).

At the moment of salvation many wonderful things instantly occur in your heart.

1. You become a child of God. John 1:12
2. You are born again. John 3:3, 7
3. You are given eternal life. John 3:16, 36
4. You become justified. Romans 8:1
5. You become a new creature in Christ. II Corinthians 5:17

You have a new mind, heart and spirit. You are a new person in Christ Jesus, and have now become submitted to His will.

You are now ready for the first step of obedience after your salvation – water baptism.

Baptism

Water baptism is an act of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Jesus who said in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

After you make a decision to accept Jesus Christ to be your personal savior and you are baptized into his death, burial and resurrection now is the time to saturate yourself with the Word of God.

So how do you saturate yourself with the Word?

First, unite with a local body of believers at a church where God’s word is being taught by a pastor established by God. Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

Next, make a quality decision to put the Word first in every area of your life. Set aside time each day for studying the Bible, prayer and meditation. You may use books and tapes too. But do not allow them to take the place of your prayer and Bible study time. And, of course, be absolutely sure those materials line up with the Word.

Apply the Word to yourself personally and allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

For a balanced prayer time use the following guide. Devote five minutes to each section and you will spend one full hour in prayer.

1. Praise
2. Wait
3. Confess
4. Scripture Praying
5. Watching
6. Intercession
7. Petition
8. Thanksgiving
9. Singing
10. Meditation
11. Listen
12. Praise