Establishing New Christians

Early Instruction

Assurance of Salvation

God promises to save all those who call upon Him for Salvation

Romans 10:13 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The moment a person is saved, they receive the gift of eternal life. But Satan also begins working to undermine their faith. As mentioned previously, it’s not uncommon for a new Christian to experience confusion or doubt early on—sometimes right after the soulwinner leaves, sometimes later.

1 John 5:13 “13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Eternal life is forever

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

John 10:28–29 “28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Ephesians 1:13 “13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

Being born again makes you part of God’s family

John 6:37 “37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

1 John 2:1

Baptism

Baptism is an identification

Baptism is an outward expression of an inward possession

An example of this is a wedding ring. Just as wearing a ring does not make someone married, baptism does not make someone saved. But just as a wedding ring identifies a husband with his wife, baptism identifies a Christian with Christ. That identity is with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

Romans 6:3–4 “3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Baptism identifies you with a local church

Acts 2:41–42 “41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Baptism is for every Christian

Acts 8:36–38 “36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

Baptism should be by immersion

The word baptize literally means “to plunge or to dunk.” Because baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, only immersion correctly pictures this. We see in the examples in Scripture of people being baptized that it was always by immersion. Other passages in Scripture that speak of baptism use the word buried, showing that baptism in Bible days was understood to be by immersion. (See Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12.)

Baptism should take place soon after salvation

Acts 16:31-33

Bible reading and prayer

One of the most exciting things about salvation is that it gives us not only a future home in Heaven but also a personal relationship with God—here and now. A relationship, of course, requires communication, and in our relationship with God, communication takes place through reading the Bible and prayer. Reading the Bible is how we listen to God, and prayer is how we talk to God.

Church Attendance

Hebrews 10:25 “25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Nurturing Growth

Fellowship and hospitality

The local church is to be so much more than just a place where people come, listen to music and a sermon, and leave. It is to be a place where believers encourage one another in spiritual growth.

Church involvement

Once people get saved and baptised we should encourage them to get involved in the church

Discipleship

We must disciple new converts, they need encouragement, guidance and fellowship.

Committed to multiplication

John 4:28–29 “28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

1 Thessalonians 1:8 “8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

God’s plan is not merely addition, but multiplication, disciples make disciples.

In the early church people were added to the church but then as the book of acts goes on it goes from addition to multiplication.

Intentional involvement

Encourage a new Christian to invite others to church

Invite a new Christian to go soul winning with you

Offer to help a new Christian share the gospel with friends and family

Private prayer

We need to pray for our converts. Sometimes we spend so much time praying for them to get saved, that we fail to pray for them after they are saved.

Look at the Paul for example

Ephesians 1:16 “16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”

Philippians 1:4“4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”

Colossians 1:3 “3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”

1 Thessalonians 1:2 “2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”

Philemon 4 “4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,”

Speaking of prayer for new converts, missionary J.O. Fraser said, “Just as a plant may die for lack of watering, so may a genuine work of God die and rot for lack of prayer”

Faithful Testimony

Remain faithful as a christian

2 Timothy 4:6–8 “6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Remain faithful as a soul winner