A new believer should, through baptism, become part of the Church of Christ, which consists of all true believers. Through baptism the new believer testifies before the world and Satan, with fellow believers as witnesses, that he or she has died to the old self-life of sin and has now begun this new life in Christ. Paul says in Romans 6:4:
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Finding a congregation or community of believers that functions on biblical principles, in love, is not always easy. The new believer who is not already part of such a congregation must pray earnestly and trust the Spirit of God to lead him or her to such a community. Persevere in trusting that the Lord will provide. Unfortunately, in almost every congregation – even those functioning on biblical principles – there are “Christians” who attend church merely “just in case.” People who are not truly convinced of the faith they are supposed to confess. There are also believers in whom the love of God does not always reign, where jealousy, pride, and various wrong attitudes often lead to enmity toward one another. The new believer must be alert to these negative things (remember that we live in a world under the power of the Evil One) and pray that the true love of God will reign in his or her own heart, to the glory of God and the building up of the body of Christ on earth.
Every believer must also realize that each one must accept responsibility for himself or herself. Therefore, every believer should do what the Bereans did while being taught by Paul. According to Acts 17:11:
“… they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
Please examine the Bible prayerfully and sincerely. Make sure that what is presented to you in sermons, lectures, books, tracts, etc., is in harmony with the message of the Bible. Do not accept every teaching without discernment, regardless of how smooth or convincing the presenter may be. Test everything against the Bible – even what is taught in this booklet. Be first and foremost a follower of the Lord Jesus. Be alert and always make sure, through prayerful Bible study and trust in the Holy Spirit, that the path on which your spiritual leader guides you is indeed the path that leads to the Lord Jesus.
Although the new life of faith is not burdensome (see 1 John 5:3), there are many obstacles in the believer’s path. Satan will do everything in his power to make you doubt. Therefore, every new believer needs to be lovingly ministered to by fellow believers in order to grow in faith. It is the duty and responsibility of every believer to minister to fellow believers with his or her spiritual gifts, in love, for the building up of the body. Read Romans 12:1–8 about the new life in Christ and how believers’ gifts should be used for the benefit of the congregation. Also read 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:1–16 for insight into how believers should minister to one another in love to build up each other—and thus the body. A living community of believers where believers minister to one another in love for the building up of the body is the place where believers are truly strengthened in their faith.
It is important to remember that the responsibilities associated with this gift of salvation from God are the necessary result or outflow of accepting it, and not the reason for salvation. These are not works by which a person can be saved. It is not even possible to contribute in the slightest to your salvation through works.
New birth
To be reconciled to God means the beginning of a new life. On the basis of the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross – in your place and for your sins – you now live again in a living relationship with the living God. You are no longer Godforsaken or alienated from God. Paul describes this change in 2 Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Through His Spirit the Lord Jesus is now in you, and you in Him. He encourages believers in John 15:4a:
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”
The Lord Jesus calls this new life “rebirth.” It is a spiritual birth—a spiritual revival—of someone who is spiritually dead in sin. He says in John 3:3:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
In verses 14–15 He compares Himself to the bronze serpent Moses had to lift up in the wilderness:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.“
Moses had to lift up the bronze serpent so that the Israelites, who were dying from snake bites, could be healed (receive new life) by looking at it (Numbers 21:8–9). They looked with the expectation of being healed. In the same way, in faith and expectation of a new (eternal) life, humanity must look to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Israelites were dying and could do nothing to save themselves. God made healing (life) possible through the lifting up, by Moses, of the bronze serpent. But they were required to look up to it. Those who did not look up died.
Likewise, the natural person is dead in sin because of the serpent (Satan’s deception). Only those who look to Christ in faith for deliverance from eternal death receive this new life from God. God remains the Giver; humanity receives it only through faith. Those who do not look to Christ in faith for rebirth (new life) remain in the eternal death in which they naturally exist because of the fall.
This new life is from God (John 1:13; 1 John 3:9; 5:1). It comes from Him. God makes this new spiritual birth possible through His Holy Spirit. A person may want to do many things but cannot always do everything he wants. The new life in Christ is one of the things a person cannot live out by his own ability, no matter how much he desires it. No one can live it by human strength. When a person hears the message, believes it, and decides to accept it, he has still done nothing to earn it – he has nothing to boast about. He has simply done what one does when accepting any other undeserved gift.
This new life replaces the old life of sin. One cannot continue in the old sinful life and at the same time live this new life. Paul says in Romans 6 (especially verses 6–8) that the old self was crucified with Christ and died. In this new life that comes from God, the self – the ego – can no longer be the most important thing. The life of the reborn person is no longer about self, but about Him. He is now first in my life. Someone who wants to continue in the old life does not truly believe – or worse, he does not want to give up the old life for the sake of the new. He has not counted the cost. A little prayer in which one “accepts Jesus” is not enough; there must be a willingness to receive this new life from God in place of the old. Only then is it a living faith that saves.
Surrender
This means nothing less than total surrender. A reborn person no longer belongs to himself, but to God. He is born of God and is now a child of God. Galatians 3:26–27:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The new life means living fully for Christ and no longer for self. 2 Corinthians 5:15:
“… and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
The old life (nature) is crucified with Christ, and the Christian believer is no longer a slave to sin. Romans 6:6:
“… knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
This means deliverance from sin (Romans 6:18):
“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
To be delivered from sin means turning away from a life of sin to a life under the control of the Spirit of God. Would such a reborn person, living the new life, want to continue living in sin?
Holiness
What does it mean to be holy? Does it mean identifying all the major sins in your life and stopping them? When is a person holy? Holiness certainly does not mean pretending to be pious and judging other believers while still living for yourself. That is hypocrisy. Holiness means being set apart for God – surrendered, as discussed above. A person is nowhere near holy if he merely stops obvious sins but still lives for himself. The new life is a holy life and surrender to God means being devoted (holy) to Him.
Does this mean never sinning again? It would have been wonderful if that were possible. Yet we live in a broken world, and one can easily think, say, or do something wrong at times. There must, however, be a sincere longing and striving for wholehearted devotion to the living God, and a continual trust in His Holy Spirit for this. If that is a person’s desire, His Spirit will make one aware immediately when you transgress – and even make you aware of it before or during wrongful actions.
Holiness is important to God; therefore, Scripture insists on it. 1 Peter 1:15–16:
“… but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
Hebrews 12:14 also insists on a holy life:
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:”
So does 1 Thessalonians 4:3:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification (holiness)“
Paul urges holiness in 2 Corinthians 6:17–7:1. In Ephesians 4:24 he says one must clothe oneself with the new self:
“… and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
James expects perfection, expressed through patience (love). The first letter of John expects a holy life. He does not use the word “holy,” but makes it clear that someone born of God does not sin (act lovelessly) (1 John 3:6–10).
God’s love in believers
Because God is love, He desires to see love in humanity. This is why love is the essence of His law. In Matthew 22:37–39 Jesus summarizes God’s law in the command of love:
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Some teachers – perhaps without fully thinking it through – incorrectly teach that one must learn to love oneself in order to obey this command. If that were necessary, it would imply that Jesus did not know that every person already loves himself, regardless of circumstances. Self-contempt, feelings of inferiority, or unhappiness about failures are in fact proof of self-love. Someone who does not love himself would not care if things went wrong in his life. Even someone who commits suicide loved himself – otherwise deep unhappiness would not have occurred. Furthermore, it would imply that the second part of God’s law does not apply to anyone who has not yet “learned” to love himself.
Paul confirms that love is the fulfilment of the law in Romans 13:10:
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
And in Galatians 5:14:
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
When a person acts in love (biblical love) toward God and neighbour, he lives out God’s law practically. And this is possible, because although humans can never have perfect love like God, the ability to live in love is a gift from God. He gives it to believers according to Romans 5:5:
“… the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Therefore, He expects believers to live out this love.
Because this is God’s command and desire, living out this love toward one’s neighbour is also love toward God Himself, and proof of one’s love for God. If a person loves God, he will obey His commands. John writes in 1 John 5:2–3:
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
Jesus confirms this in John 14:15:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” and verse 21: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” and verse 23: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;”
Therefore, God expects believers to live out this love practically.
Is this love an emotion? Does God expect believers to feel emotional affection toward their neighbour? Is that not impossible? According to Scripture, one’s neighbour includes strangers and even enemies. Jesus says in Matthew 5:44:
“But I say to you, love your enemies”.
And in Deuteronomy 10:19:
“Therefore love the stranger,”
It is crucial to understand what this love is—otherwise one will never be able to live it out.
No one can obey a command to feel emotional affection toward a stranger or an enemy. Is God unreasonable? Certainly not. Scripture teaches that God is just and cannot act unjustly.
God knows humans have no direct control over emotions. Love as a feeling is a secondary reaction, triggered by circumstances or relationships. One cannot simply decide to feel fear, sadness, or joy. Emotions are initiated by something outside one’s direct control.
Therefore, God does not expect believers to “like” everyone or feel attracted to everyone. He knows that is impossible. God Himself, who has perfect love (perfect benevolence) toward all, “likes” some people more than others. David was “a man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). God did not “like” Esau (Malachi 1:3). God loved both equally – He desired good for both – but He liked one more because of their attitudes and choices, which He knew beforehand.
God’s love – His perfect benevolence, His desire for the good of every person – is an inherent attribute of God. It is His chosen disposition. Therefore, biblical love in humans is also a decision, a disposition – something under human control because God enables it through His Spirit. Because humans can control this disposition, God can require it. If the believer wills it, God will enable it.
The believer should have this disposition of benevolence (love) toward everyone he encounters – including those he does not like, and even his enemies. It means placing God’s interests above one’s own, and one’s neighbour’s interests equal to one’s own, and then acting according to what the situation requires. This act of love must not be done for personal gain, recognition, or praise. Biblical love is selfless benevolence. Paul describes this disposition in Philippians 2:3–4:
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Even a good deed done for selfish gain is sin. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 13:3:
“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (NIV)
Biblical love (God’s law) is always doing to another what you would want done to you in similar circumstances. Jesus explains this in Matthew 7:12:
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Two lessons arise from the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37): what love is, and who one’s neighbour is. The Samaritan likely despised the injured Jew, yet he showed love (benevolence) despite negative feelings. The injured man was someone who crossed his path, was in need, and whom he could help. He understood that he was the neighbour of anyone he encountered – and that such a person was his neighbour. He applied the golden rule (Luke 6:27b & 31).
(27b) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” & (31) “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”
Biblical love is not merely words or prayers. John writes in 1 John 3:18:
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
If everyone on earth lived out this practical, selfless benevolence, the world would be a paradise. No one would harm another. There would be no fear. This is likely why John writes in 1 John 4:18:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,”
Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
One can write, say, pray, and preach the most beautiful things, but if you do not have this love and do not live it out, it benefits you nothing. If you are impatient, unkind, jealous, easily offended, keep record of wrongs, gossip, etc., you are not living out love. Then you are nothing, and it benefits you nothing, no matter how wonderful you may otherwise be.
A holy life is to live out God’s law of love in practice. It is to place God’s interests always above your own, and your neighbour’s interests equal to your own. It is to be set apart for God. A new life in Christ can be nothing other than being set apart for Him. How can a person be reconciled to God and still live for himself?
It is, unfortunately, our experience as Christians that it is difficult – perhaps even impossible – to be holy by living out this love in practical ways. We realise how easily we think, do, and say the wrong things, yet we must persevere to the very end. The Lord Jesus says in Mark 13:13, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
But where will our help come from?