Thoughts for New Believers

By Milton Jamieson

“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee?” —Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV


Now that you have bowed to the lordship of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, He requires that you:

  • Turn your back on your old life – from the paths of sin and shame, and from worldliness and ungodliness.
  • Hate sin and love righteousness.
  • Do all your deeds in the light to the glory of God.
  • Walk no longer according to the darkness, and the thoughts and ways of men who know not God. Here are some practical suggestions to help you.

Read The Word
As God’s child, God expects you to spend time reading His Word and meditating on it. Do not neglect the Word of God – the Bible. We were born again by it (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). The Word is able to:

  • Build us up (Acts. 20:32),
  • Keep us clean (Jn. 15:3, 17:17; Eph. 5:26; Ps. 119:9),
  • Prevent us from sinning against the Lord (v.11), and
  • Guide us as a light for our path and a lamp to our feet (v.105).

We need the Word of God for every step of our life. It is by His Word that we judge all things and are able to distinguish right from wrong. We should therefore read it frequently (Josh. 1:8), meditate upon it deeply (1 Tim. 4:15; Ps. 1:2), receive it gladly (Acts 2:41) and obey it readily (Rom. 6:17; 1 Pet. 1:22). By this we will have prosperous Christian lives, and the Lord will use us greatly. He will bless our lives and make us a blessing to many people.

Spend Time In Prayer To God
It is said that prayer is the Christian’s vital breath; as breathing is important physically, so is prayer in the Christian’s life. If we stop praying we will start losing the power of the new life. How very true is the saying “Seven prayer-less days make one weak”! We are encouraged by the Lord to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16), to “pray without ceasing” (1 Th. 5:17), and to “watch … and pray lest [we] enter into temptation” (Mk. 14:38). When we pray we are in touch with unlimited power, talking to and communing with our God. Our Lord sometimes continued all night in prayer to Him (Lk. 6:12). The Lord is our perfect example; let us be like Him.

The first thing we read of Saul, a man who acted violently toward Christians, after he submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ was that he prayed (Acts 9:11). Ananias was afraid to go to Saul, but when the Lord told him that Saul was praying, he realized that Saul was no longer a persecutor. Instead, Saul was now a believer and a brother beloved in the Lord. Prayer is truly a sign of the new life and the relationship that we have come into, wherein we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).

Attend The Meetings
God has established local assemblies in various locations for our help, encouragement and usefulness. We must not forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb. 10:25). The Spirit speaks in the gatherings of believers, for He wants to minister to us not only as individuals, but also as the local church. We bear testimony to the Lord and to the one body of Christ to which all believers belong. In fact, there is no other gathering on earth to which the Lord promises His presence – but to the gathered saints alone. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20).

We encourage you to find the local assembly in your area and get the schedule of the various meetings. Be active as a member of the body of Christ in that locality. Do not let your seat at the meetings be empty, unless there is absolutely no way you can avoid being absent.

Get Baptized
Before our Lord left this world to return to His Father, He gave the commandment that those who believe on Him should be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19). While baptism does not save anyone, it is the Lord’s command.

When we are baptized we are publically placed under the lordship of Christ, declaring that we have died with Him, are buried with Him, and raised up to walk in newness of life with Him (Rom. 6:3-4). While being immersed in water does not bring about a good conscience (the blood alone does that), baptism is an answer to it before God (Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 3:21). It is one of the first steps in discipleship, saying we are prepared to follow and obey Jesus Christ as Lord. If you have not done so, do not wait; arise and be baptized in obedience to the Lord’s command.

Get Busy
Get busy in the Lord’s service. The Lord could have taken us home when we got saved, but He has left us here on earth to serve Him while He is away. When He was here He was the Light of the World (Jn. 8:12, 9:5). Now, like the sun at night, He is gone, and we are here to shine as the stars in this dark world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).

“Let none hear you idly say, ‘There is nothing I can do,’ while the souls of men are dying and the Master calls for you” (Daniel March, 1816-1909) to act. Take a few gospel tracts with you everywhere you go and hand them to people. Some will refuse, but others will be only too glad to receive them. Tell everyone you meet about the Savior; write letters, texts and emails; call your friends and tell them; put a gospel tract with your letters. Help in Sunday School and young people’s programs. Be at the street meetings, prayer meetings and all the other meetings. Don’t wait to be asked to do something; open your eyes and see what needs to be done, be it great or small. Do it for the eyes of the Lord rather than to please men or to get praise for oneself (see Col. 3:23-24). All praise should go to Him.

Keep busy! Satan will find things for you to do if you do not keep yourself busy for the Lord. Visit the Sunday School children and their parents at their homes, the sick and the shut-ins, read for them and pray with them. Attend Bible camp in summer – meeting other faithful Christians of your own age, sharing with and sticking close to them.

Remember The Lord In The Breaking Of Bread
In Acts 2:41-42 we see that not only were the early disciples baptized to show their allegiance to the Lord Jesus, but they continued steadfastly in the teachings of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayers. It is the Lord’s desire for you to fellowship with His people. You need to be in that company of believers where the Lord is pleased to take His place in the midst, and where you will have things in common with others who are saved. We find that after Saul was converted he was in the company of the disciples who were at Damascus (9:19).

Another thing close to the heart of the Lord, which He would have you do, is to remember Him in the breaking of bread. On the night before He went to the cross, having gathered with His own, He took bread and gave thanks; He likewise took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Lk. 22:19). We therefore ought to carry on this happy function of remembering our beloved Lord.

The early disciples used to practice this every day, but later it became the custom to break bread every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). The breaking of bread is so close to the heart of

the Lord that after He ascended into glory, there at the Father’s right hand, He revealed these things to the apostle Paul. So let us remember Him. We cannot do so too often. He said as often as we do it we do so in remembrance of Him, and in this way we show His death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

What If I Sin?
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn. 2:1). God hates sin, and we should hate sin too. But if we sin our Christian life does not end, for we have an Advocate with the Father. He represents us in the courts of heaven on the basis of His shed blood. We, as believers in Christ, are told to confess our sins, and He (God) “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1:9). Do not hide or try to cover your sins, but confess them to God (Prov. 28:13). He loves us as our loving Father, and He will never leave us to suffer forever in sin. Instead, He will pick us up and clean us up that we may fellowship with Him again!

So, what does the Lord require of us? We are to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Mic. 6:8).

A Letter To New Believers

By Paul Palmer, Sr.

Dear fellow believer,

When you made the decision to believe on the Lord Jesus and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior, that was the greatest decision you could ever make on earth. You now have “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Pet. 1:4 NKJV). Such promises are from the Lord Himself, and they are for time and all eternity.

You have eternal life; this is priceless and precious. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son … These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 Jn. 5:11,13). The life we now have – this eternal life – enables us to have fellowship with God the Father and His Son: “Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1:3).

You are embarking on a tremendous future with God in your life. “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:3).

Let me share with you some things which will help you as you begin your Christian walk. I would encourage you to tell others about your decision to follow the Lord Jesus. I know you may be a little afraid – I was too – but the Lord will help you. “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). The Lord Jesus, after His resurrection, said, “Go and tell” (Mt. 28:10); “He is not ashamed to call [us] brethren” (Heb. 2:11). The apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He said, “It is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). He also said, “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12). The apostle wanted Timothy and us to “not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord … but share … in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God” (v.8). The Lord will strengthen you (4:17), enabling you to stand up for Him. Ask the Lord for the right words and all that you need to be a testimony for Him.

Praying is extremely important. You must make everything a matter of prayer. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6). “Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Th. 5:16-18).

Reading the Scriptures is also extremely important. You will need a Bible to read regularly. This is how you will grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. A good place to begin is by reading the Gospel of John. It is the fourth book in the New Testament. You will enjoy reading God’s Word – remember to do what it says. The Lord Jesus loves to see growing Christians. Growth is one of the characteristics of living things. Because we have life in Christ we are able to grow in Him.

There are many good biblical books and magazines available. Read them with your Bible open, looking up referenced verses. Good publications will help you to understand and appreciate more and more the preciousness of God’s Word. If you find something that the Lord used to help you, share it with others that they too can be encouraged and rejoice in the Lord. Seven days without praying and reading makes the Christian weak. Be like the Bereans: “they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Fellowshiping with, which implies “being with,” other believers is also important. Ask the Lord, as the psalmist did, to direct your steps by His word (Ps. 119:133). The Lord will never lead you to a group where His name and Word are dishonored, nor where the Holy Spirit is quenched or grieved.

You have begun your walk with the Lord; continue with Him. “Continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22) until you see the Lord Jesus face to face. Many years ago Philip Doddridge (1702-1751), wrote these encouraging words: “Grace it is, free grace, which keeps us on the road. Till we behold the Savior’s face and city of our God.”

“He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

May these thoughts be of help to you.

Channels Only

How I praise Thee, precious Savior, that Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me that I might Thy channel be.

(Chorus)

Channels only, blessed Master, but with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us every day and every hour.

Just a channel, full of blessing, to the thirsty hearts around,
To tell out Thy full salvation, all Thy loving message sound.

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me, a clean vessel in Thy hand;
With no power but as Thou givest graciously with each command.

Witnessing Thy power to save me, setting free from self and sin;
Thou who bought me to possess me, in Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water from our inner man may flow.

—Mary E. Maxwell

“I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
Acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.”
—Romans 12:1 NASB

Good For All Believers

By Paul Alberts

When a person plants a new tree in his yard, he will give it special care to be sure it grows and becomes strong. Unlike other, established plants on his property, the new tree may need extra watering and fertilizer during the first month or so to help it grow strong and healthy. Once a tree is well-rooted, it doesn’t generally need the same kind of care on a frequent basis, although some additional water and compost may still be good from time to time.

Our lives as believers are very similar. When we have just been born again, the Lord encourages and guides us by various means to help us take root in the faith. Writers this month seek to provide some advice, as led of the Lord, for individuals who are newly saved. If you are one of those individuals, we rejoice with you in this new relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. May you carefully follow Him, staying close to Him each and every day.

The articles in this magazine are valuable as well for those of us who are more mature believers. We need reminders to encourage us to continue walking in a manner pleasing to Him. The apostle Peter was not bashful about repeating points to the saints, for they were intended to stir them up in their faith. He wrote: “I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder … I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles” (2 Pet. 1:12-13, 3:1-2 NASB). Both Paul and Jude gave reminders in their letters as well. We need them!

Like a tree of any age, we need to be rooted in the source of life continually in order to avoid the dangers that exist, get through the hard times that come, produce fruit honoring to the Lord and prosper in God’s sight (see Ps. 1:1-3). May we take to heart the instruction from the Lord, which is good for all believers, and grow in Him to His glory!

Magazine May 2018

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Emphasis: Good For All Believers -Paul Alberts
Worship: Channels Only -Mary E. Maxwell
Feature: A Letter To New Believers -Paul Palmer, Sr.
Feature: Thoughts For New Believers -Milton P. Jamieson
Feature: Flight Safety For New Believers -Stephen Campbell
Uplook: What If A Believer Sins? -H. L. Heijkoop
Family: A Few Words For Mothers -Norman Anderson
Series: The Son’s Prayer In John 17 -David Anderson
Discover: Discover Questions -Alan Groth
Issues: Tithing: What Does The Bible Say? -Brian Reynolds
Serving: A Life That Magnifies God -Timothy P. Hadley
Overview: Ephesians -Leslie M. Grant
YouAsked: How do we truly know when we are forgiven? -Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.
GoodNews: What It Means To Be Forgiven -Sam Hadley
Full Magazine PDF: Magazine PDF