10 Things For New Christians To Remember

Salvation is an awesome and wonderful event.  From the moment that we accept Jeaus as our Lord we become excited about all the blessings we've heard comes with becoming a member of God's family. We're ecstatic about spending eternity in God's presence.   We're eager about spending time with our brothers and sisters in fellowship studying the Bible and praying together. 

Then God's enemies, and ours, begin to attack our minds as things happen because we still live in a fallen world.  As new Christian's we begin to wonder what's happening. What happened to all the joy and good times? What happened to God.  

Well God's still there and He loves you.  He will never leave or forsake you. He has left some reminders for you.  

Reminder #1 Creation

 The creation itself should remind us of how all powerful God is.  It is also evidence that He does, in fact, exist. The very fact that he created the universe and then allowed us to be masters over the earth should remind us that there is somebody out there who is bigger than we are.

Romans 1:20 (NLT)20  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

These things about God’s creation remind us of how big God is, His faithfulness, and proof that He loves you.

● The next time you see a sunrise, remind yourself, God is faithful.
● The next time you see snow-covered mountains with their peaks pointing toward the sky, remind yourself, God is faithful.
● The next time you see flowers that have burst into bloom because winter couldn’t stop them from developing in the hidden places, remind yourself, God is faithful.
● The next time you hold a soft-skinned baby in your arms, remind yourself, God is faithful.

And the biggest thing of all is that we are made in God’s image.

Genesis 1:26 (NLT)26  Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Reminder #2:  The People We Meet

God uses what we may consider chance meetings or encounters to benefit us later.  God had plans for you before you were born. Like the prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT) “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
You’ve never met anybody by accident.

Psalms 37:23 NLT The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Reminder #3:  The Circumstances We Go Through

 Our circumstances change and they change us.  For example moving from one city to another is a change in location or circumstance.  There are two possibilities. We can be put in a situation where it is more expensive to live than where we were before and that creates stress.  That’s a change for the worse, at least for a while. On the other hand we move from one city to another and we get a huge increase in income, that’s a change of circumstance that is for the good.  But in either case it the change in circumstance changes us.

Reminder #4:  Jesus - The Greatest Reminder

Jesus is the greatest reminder of all of God’s love.  When things seem so overwhelming we need to change our focus. When we realize that God gave His Son Jesus so that He could pay the ransom for mankind and take the punishment of sin we know that God loves us.  Jesus came and willingly laid down His life as our sacrifice He then sent the Holy Spirit by and through whom we are able to live a life that is pleasing to God.
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​10 Helpful Passages in the Bible to Share with New Christians 

1. Remember Jesus Is the Only Way 

John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

New Christians will face cultural shock when they share their testimony of God’s grace. In a culture that hates exclusivity, Jesus is the only way to the Father.

Acts of the Apostles 4:12 NLT There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

John 3:36 NLT And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John 17:3 NLT And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

1 Timothy 2:5 NLT For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:5 NLT For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

God sent His Son to die for our sins.

John 3:16 NLT “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 5:14 NLT And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:1‭-‬18 NLT  The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord : I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

New believers need to ask God for freedom to share their testimony about Jesus’ work in their lives. He is the only way and the only hope for those still struggling in their sins.

2. Thank God for Forgiveness 

1 John 1:5‭-‬9 NLT This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Confession of sin is how we can continually “walk in the light,” in fellowship with God.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

When we are forgiven and walking in the light—following Jesus, the light of the world we will not walk in darkness.

John 8:12 NLT Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin.

1 John 1:7 NLT But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

 Penance for sin or “forgiving ourselves” is not the biblical understanding for forgiveness. We are not saved by “sight,” or how we perceive or feel about ourselves, and we shouldn’t live by feelings as Christians either.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Jesus paid it all—He died once-and-for all for every sin.

1 Peter 3:18 NLT Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

This does not mean we are perfect; it means we are forgiven and no longer condemned.

Romans 8:1 NLT So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

God may bring discipline or correction but not condemnation.

 Proverbs 3:12 NLT For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12:6 NLT For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

Thank God for forgiveness.

3. Live Out the Great Exchange 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

We are not only saved by the Gospel message—Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised

1 Corinthians 15:2‭-‬4 NLT It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.

We need to live out the Gospel as we remember “The Great Exchange” of scripture. This is the doctrine of substitution.

In the Old Testament, God gave His people the law to illustrate His holiness and demonstrate their inadequacy to achieve that holiness. Then He instituted the requirement for a substitute to pay the price for their sin—the sacrifice of an innocent animal.

Exodus 29:41‭-‬42 NLT Offer the other lamb in the evening, along with the same offerings of flour and wine as in the morning. It will be a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the Lord . “These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the Lord ’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you.
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This is how the Old Testament believers could have sins forgiven and enter freely and righteously into God’s presence. On the Day of Atonement, a scapegoat symbolically transferred the sins of the people onto the goat.

Leviticus 16:7‭-‬10 NLT Then he must take the two male goats and present them to the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle.  He is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the Lord and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness of Azazel. Aaron will then present as a sin offering the goat chosen by lot for the Lord . The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the Lord . When it is sent away to Azazel in the wilderness, the people will be purified and made right with the Lord .

In the New Testament, substitution is rooted in what Jesus came to do—to die as our substitute, take our sins and give us His righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

1 Peter 3:18 NLT Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

He is the only acceptable sacrifice for our sin, the perfect substitute. When we live in light of this great transaction as new creatures, we can manifest His righteousness in our lives through faith.

Romans 3:21‭-‬26 NLT But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.​

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​4. Put Good Works in Perspective

The Bible says there is nothing we can do to make ourselves worthy of salvation. Salvation is by faith alone 

Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 NLT God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Romans 3:28 NLT So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

Galatians 3:24 NLT Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.

This is sometimes confusing in light of other scriptures that seem to indicate righteous acts are necessary for salvation. This is expressed in James 2:24. But in context, James also emphasized that genuine faith in Jesus will produce a changed life with good works.

James 2:20‭-‬26 NLT How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.  So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

If a person claims to be a Christian but does not evidence good works, genuine faith may not be present. This is why Paul says “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith”

2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you ; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

Paul says while we are saved by Lord’s good grace and not by our works, God, before the foundation of the world, prepared good works for His children to do.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The biblical perspective is, we are saved not by works, but for works.

Hebrews 10:24 NLT  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

5. Keep in Step with the Spirit 

Galatians 5:16‭-‬26 NLT So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would indwell believers permanently.

John 14:16 NLT And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

Ephesians 1:13 NLT And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.

The Holy Spirit is given to assure believers of their future glorification in Christ.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

2 Corinthians 1:21‭-‬22 NLT It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

After this indwelling at salvation, believers are to yield to the Holy Spirit’s control by walking in the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:16) for growth and freedom—not walking in our fleshly desires, which are in conflict with the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:16 (NLT2)16  So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 

Galatians 5:25 (NLT2)25  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 

When we walk in the Spirit, we will evidence the fruit of His presence and control.

 Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT2)22  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

As we keep in step with the Spirit, we’ll also grow in our relationship with the Father..

2 Peter 1:3-8 (NLT2)3  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.4  And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.5  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge,6  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,7  and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.8  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Ephesians 4:1-3,13 (NLT2)1  Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.2  Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.3  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  
13  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 

We follow our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT2)1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.2  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.3  He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.4  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.6  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
We find encouragement to grow in our journey.

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT2)25  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 

6. Learn God’s Word to Stay Pure 

New Christians need to go beyond simply reading scripture—although that’s a good start. It’s important to learn biblical disciplines early so they won’t be shaken by the world, Satan, or their own sinful flesh.  When we live by God’s word it can keep us on a path of purity. The scriptures help us war against our sins.

Psalm 119:9-11 (NLT2)9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.10  I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands.11  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Christians are wise to store up scripture in their hearts—to memorize scripture and treasure God’s Word. It is a light for our path;

Psalm 119:105 (NLT2)105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 

Giving us direction and a process for growth. The Bible is our trainer for godly living.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT2)16  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

Delighting in the Word and meditating on it will help a new believer become spiritually grounded and stay steady when trials and temptations come.

Psalm 1:1-6 (NLT2)1  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.2  But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.3  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.4  But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.5  They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.6  For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Our aim should be to live a holy life, pleasing God

Colossians 1:10 (NLT2)10  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

Hebrews 12:14 (NLT2)14  Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 

Purifying ourselves and “perfecting holiness”
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2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT2)1  Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 
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​7. Put on the Armor of God 

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NLT2)10  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.12  or we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.13  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.14  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.15  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.16  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.17  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.19  And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.20  I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.  

Peter urged believers to “abstain” from sinful desires that wage war against our souls.

1 Peter 2:11 (NLT2)11  Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 

The Armor of God, Paul said, will help us “be strong in the Lord” in His mighty power and enable us to take a stand against Satan’s schemes to defeat us. 
New Christians need to understand there are spiritual forces at work to bring them down spiritually, but the full armor of God can help the believer stand firmly in faith. A biblical balance of spiritual warfare is important. We need to wage war against sin in ourselves.

Romans 6:12-14 (NLT2)12  Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.13  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.14  Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. 

But also must oppose the destructive schemes of Satan.

James 4:7 (NLT2)7  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, footwear of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit are all tools the Holy Spirit uses to help the Christian be fearless in the battle against temptation and distraction from living out the Gospel daily. Put on the full armor of God to stand strong.  

8. Seek God for Peace 

In this world, it’s hard to find peace. Shocking reports in the news, dysfunctional relationships, unexpected tough circumstances—everything around us conspires to rob us of peace. It’s easy to give in to fear and anxiety; but Paul tells us how we can guard our hearts and minds and find His peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT2)6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

When new believers learn to seek God first, they will find in Him all they need, including His peace. Jesus said He would give us His peace, which is not like the world’s fleeting and imperfect sense of peace.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT2)33  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  

John 14:27 (NLT2)27  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

When we focus on God—when our minds are steadfastly fixed on Him—we will find His “perfect peace” 

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT2)3  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 

We are not to be anxious in our journey, but to pray with thanksgiving and guard our thoughts and choices. We must transfer all our fears over to our ever-present God and dwell in His peace, not our fears.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT2)6  So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” 

9. Practice Godly Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NLT2)4  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud5  or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.6  It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.7  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.8  Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!  

This passage,often described as “The Love Chapter”—defines the outworking of the love of God in us to others. Love is patient, kind, not envious, not boasting or proud. It does not dishonor others and is not self-seeking. It’s not easily angered and doesn’t keep an account of others’ wrongs. It doesn’t delight in evil.

What love does do is rejoice in truth, protect and trust others, hope, and persevere. Paul says this kind of love “never fails.” Faith and hope are wonderful, but Paul says love is even greater! 

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT2)13  Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 

We are commanded to love as Christ’s disciples, to love with righteous actions and in truth. 

John 13:34-35 (NLT2)34  So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

1 John 3:18 (NLT2)18  Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

Godly love purposes to live with a clear conscience.

Acts 24:16 (NLT2)16  Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.  

Christians must strive not to injure others, but instead, practice forgiveness and keep relationships strong.

Colossians 3:13-14 (NLT2)13  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT2)8  Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 

Romans 12:16-18 (NLT2)16  Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!17  Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.18  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 

10. Obey Christ’s Commission

All Christians are called to obey Christ’s “Great Commission” to share the Gospel and learn how to disciple new believers, counting on His presence to help them. New believers can begin to fulfill Christ’s command by sharing their personal testimony of how God saved them and changed their life.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT2)18  Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.19  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

It is also helpful to learn key scriptures, like the “Romans Road”

Romans 3:23 (NLT2)23  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

Romans 6:23 (NLT2)23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Romans 5:8 (NLT2)8  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 

Romans 10:9 (NLT2)9  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Romans 10:13 (NLT2)13  For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 

This is a simple method of showing someone how to be a Christian. The first disciples immediately became Christ’s witnesses.

Acts 1:8 (NLT2)8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Jesus told His disciples they would need to deny themselves and take up their own cross daily to follow Him.

Luke 9:24 (NLT2)24  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 

Luke 14:33 (NLT2)33  So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. 

Obeying the commission may not be easy; there may be something we need to renounce, or there may be persecution and even suffering. But if we are to follow in His steps as His disciples, we will obey, regardless of the cost.

1 Peter 2:21 (NLT2)21  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 

New Christians must not be ashamed of the powerful Gospel message.

Romans 1:16 (NLT2)16  For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 

 It should be our joy to follow in the Lord’s steps and acknowledge Him before others.

Matthew 10:31-33 (NLT2)31  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.32  “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

Editor's Note:  The list was excerpted from an article written by Dawn Wilson, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
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