Next Steps - What Follows Salvation?

I. ____________ of salvation - "How do I know I am really a genuine Christian?"

(12) "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
(1 John 5:12-13)

What does it mean to "believe in the name of the Son of God?"

We must believe (place our faith, trust) in Jesus who is God's Son, that He died for our sin, and that He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

II. Keep focus on ___________________________ vs. mere religious activity.

A. _____is a formal public identification with Jesus and His Body, the Church.


B. Commit to a local ___________ that helps grow your relationship with Jesus.


II. __________________________ with God is essential for relational growth.

A. God speaks to us primarily through His Word, the _________________
(2 Tim. 3:16-17).

B. We speak to God through _____________________ (Phil. 4:6-7).

Next Steps - What Follows Salvation?
(11/8/09)

I. ASSURANCE of salvation - "How do I know I am really a genuine Christian?"

(12) "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (13) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
-- 1 John 5:12-13)

What does it mean to "believe in the name of the Son of God?"

We must believe (place our faith, trust) in Jesus who is God's Son, that He died for our sin, and that He rose from the dead

(1) Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. (2) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (3) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
-- 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

II. Keep focus on RELATIONSHIPS vs. mere religious activity.

A. BAPTISM is a formal public identification with Jesus and His Body, the Church.

(18) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
-- Matt. 28:18-20

B. Commit to a local CHURCH that helps grow your relationship with Jesus.

(24) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
-- Hebrews 10:24-25


III. COMMUNICATION with God is essential for relational growth.

A. God speaks to us primarily through His Word, the BIBLE

(16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (17) so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
-- 2 Tim. 3:16-17

B. We speak to God through PRAYER

(6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (7)And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
-- Phil. 4:6-7

I really felt God speaking through Pastor Louis this morning. The truth about the gospel was strong and clear. He made it easy to understand what it means to be a committed follower of Jesus and that we are called to make a public declaration of our faith and to join a local body of believers.