Philippians 3:20 -Our citizenship is in heaven
So what happens next, after you’ve obeyed the gospel call and been baptized? What do you do next? Do you just sit there? Or are there things that we are supposed to be doing? Let us, as in all things, consult the Bible!
First things first…Rejoice!
It is a great day when someone comes to Christ! That person should rejoice in their salvation and the promise of eternal life. In fact, don’t just rejoice then, but continue in your rejoicing over it for the rest of your life.
Acts 8: 38-39 -Ethiopian Eunuch rejoices
Philippians 4:4 -Rejoice always in the Lord
Acts 5:40-41 -Rejoice even when persecuted
Now, why would you rejoice at being beaten? Think about it: that means that people are seeing you living the life of a Christian! That means that people can tell where you stand! And if they can see that, then they see the example you’re setting. Which means they’re probably learning from you. So even if you are persecuted (and we are fortunate to not face beatings in this place and time), rejoice!
I Peter 4:16 -Glorify God when we suffer as Christians
Study and Learn More About God’s Truth
Baptism is truly the starting point of it all. Once you have obtained your citizenship, you must continue to study God’s word, that you can better understand what God’s will is, and how to accomplish it.
Ezra 7:10 -Ezra’s example of setting our heart to study
Romans 15:4 -The things written are for our learning
Acts 18:24-28 -Apollos, mighty in the scriptures, was taught
It is something that never ends. We never “know it all.” We must continue to study and search out in the scriptures what God wants.
Live a Christ-like Life
As a Christian, you must begin molding your life to match Christ’s. This takes a great deal of time and study to do. We must shape ourselves to His will and example.
I Corinthians 11:1 -Follow Paul’s example in following Christ
I Peter 2:21-22 -Called to follow Christ’s example
I Timothy 1:15-16 -The example of patient teaching
This is what it means to “walk with God.” If we wish to walk in the light, then we must match ourselves to Christ. We must be in agreement with Him.
I John 1:5-7 -Walk in the light
Amos 3:3 -Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Colossians 2:6-7 -As you received Christ, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him
Grow as Christians
After we convert and come to Christ, we must grow and develop. Part of this is an outcome from studying God’s word.
II Peter 3:18 -Grow in grace and knowledge
Hebrews 5:12-14 -The milk of the word, the first principles
II Peter 1:5-8 -Growth by adding these things
Part of growing as a Christian is to actually get out and practicing what you learn. We cannot stop with study, but as we have seen, we must put it into practice.
James 1:22-25 -Do not merely hear the word, but do it
We should, as Christians, be eagerly looking for ways in which we can grow. We should be looking intently at ourselves, looking for our failings so that we can improve in those areas. We should be looking for ways we can serve each other. We should be looking to take on more responsibility in our service to God, perhaps looking to be a teacher or an Elder some day.
I Timothy 3:1-7 -Elder must not be a new convert
Titus 2:3 -Older women should be able to teach the younger women
Teach Others
We must strive to teach others. As we talked about earlier this week, teaching is an integral part of what we must do. And there is no one who cannot teach. After all, if you have obeyed the gospel, then you can explain to others why you did so, can you not?
Matthew 28:18-20 -Go to all the world, teaching
Acts 8:4 -The church is scattered, and goes teaching
Endure to the End
We must continue our walk with God until the end. We must not give up. We cannot stop. We cannot “retire” from being Christians. It’s a life-long commitment. And as the song says, “the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.”
Matthew 24:13 -He who endures to the end will be saved
Revelation 2:10 -Be faithful unto death
If we do not endure, if we do not continue to walk with God, then it has all been for nothing. And make no mistake, it is possible to reject your salvation!
Luke 8:11-15 -Seed on the rock = fallen away
Hebrews 6:6 -If one falls away
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