News, Sports and Entertainment for St. Martin Parish, La.

Article Image Alt Text

An Article of Faith

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr.

If you sincerely prayed the following prayer from last week’s article:
“Dear God, I know that You love me because You proved Your love when Jesus died on the Cross for my sins. I know I have sinned against You. And God, I’m sorry for my sins. I was wrong. Please forgive me and cleanse me from my sins. I’m turning from my sin and I’m turning to You. I put my faith in Christ – and Christ alone – to save me from my sins. I surrender my life to You Lord Jesus. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for the free gift of salvation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
Then welcome to the family of God. You have made the most important decision of your life. You can be sure that you are saved from your sins and have the gift of eternal life.
As you begin your new journey it’s important to realize that Jesus wants to do more than just reside in your life. He wants to be Lord of your life. Confessing Jesus as Lord is more than just words. Confessing Jesus as Lord means trusting Him to direct your life. It’s like driving down the highway with another person. As long as you are driving, you are in charge. If you realize that you don’t know the way, but the other person does, you might say, “Here, you take the wheel and drive.” Then the other person is in charge and the two of you take the route he or she chooses.
As evidence of confessing Christ as Lord, you will want to identify with Him. The New Testament way of identification is to confess Jesus publicly:
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,” assures Jesus, “I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). This is the very first step in following Christ as Lord. The next step is believer’s baptism and church membership: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41a).
By way of review you know you have eternal life because God keeps His promises. You repented or turned from your sin (Acts 3:19) and you placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save you from sin (Ephesians 2:8-9). God heard your prayer:
“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ ” (Romans 10:13). And God recorded your decision to trust Christ: “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20)!
Now you need to grow as a Christian. The Bible calls new Christians “babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). Without certain essentials, babies will not develop normally. The Church is to a new Christian what the home and family are to a baby. Attend a Bible believing Church Sunday and share with the pastor that you have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior and you want to be baptized and become a member of the congregation.
Praying is to spiritual life what breathing is to physical life. Breathing must be regular and continuous. The Bible says, “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Learn to be specific in your praying: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Also God’s Word, the Bible, is to a new Christian what good food is to a baby. Good food is a daily requirement for proper growth:
“Like newborn babies, carve pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
First thing in the morning is the best time for daily prayer and Bible reading. Bible reading and prayer go hand in hand. Pray about what you’re reading!
Finally, learning to witness is to a new Christian what learning to talk is to a baby. Christ commands us to share the Good News with others:
“You will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).
Who would be happy to learn about your decision to follow Christ? Be sure to tell them what God has done for you today.

(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)

Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Martin Parish. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Follow Us

Subscriber Links