Lesson 1. The Beginning of a New Life. The “A Christian’s First Steps” school is intended for new believers. Prepared by Pastor Dmitriy Leo for Father’s Blessing Church, 2022.
When you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you were born again—born of God. The burden of sin disappeared, and the peace of God now reigns in your heart. The joy of divine forgiveness, as well as eternal life, is yours. Since your name is now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you are no longer under condemnation but are justified by faith in Christ.
Now that you have been born again—born of the Spirit—God has become your Father, and believers throughout the world have become your brothers and sisters in Christ. All relationships with the devil have been severed from this point on: his power over you has been destroyed by the power of the risen Lord.
You were redeemed at an immeasurable price—the precious blood of Jesus—so you belong to God and have become His treasured possession. All divine promises belong to you in Christ. You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). Now you have truly begun to live!
All this happened after you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. However, after you took this step of faith and obedience, the devil rose up against you. He is your sworn enemy, and because Christ broke the chains of sin that held you captive to him, he may try to attack you.
Let me give you some advice that will help you repel the enemy’s attacks and walk victoriously along the new and living way.
Doubts May Come
Satan may try to make you doubt your conversion. He will say that you only imagine that you are saved. Or that you feel the same as before, which means that nothing has changed in your heart. If this happens, turn to Christ in prayer for protection from the fiery darts of the evil one. You also need to know what God has said about you in His Word, because using the Bible will be very helpful in resisting the enemy of your soul. Jesus quoted Scripture when He was tempted by the devil.
Remember that the devil is a liar. Jesus said so (John 8:44). Therefore, when he comes with troubling thoughts, pay no attention to him. You have no reason to doubt your conversion, because the Bible says: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). You did this, so declare and proclaim this promise of God.
Jesus said: “The one who comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). You came to Jesus—and since He did not cast you out, He has certainly accepted you.
The Word of God declares that whoever confesses and forsakes their sins will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Also: If we openly confess our sins, He will forgive them and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, because He is faithful and just (1 John 1:9). God promises to forgive and cleanse everyone who confesses and forsakes their sins, and He always speaks the truth.
Salvation is a matter of faith, not feelings. Even if you do not feel any different after dedicating your heart to the Lord, rely on His Word: But to all who received Him and believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). Your feelings may change, but the Word of God is unchanging!
Never think about turning back!
If the enemy of your soul cannot make you doubt your salvation, he will try to turn you away from faith and following Christ by tempting you to return to the worthless values of the world. Temptations may come to you through various avenues: your eyes, ears, sense of taste, smell, and touch. Your former worldly friends may invite you to join their group and “have fun.”
But let me urge you to avoid situations that could lead you into confusion. Shun corrupt company that will pull you down. Instead, seek the fellowship of believers, whose company can establish you in your new Christian experience.
Do not participate in the fruitless works of darkness; instead, expose them (Ephesians 5:11).
“Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18).
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. What do righteousness and sin have in common? What fellowship does light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).
Since light has nothing in common with darkness, and righteousness and unrighteousness cannot be mixed, we should not have close ties or intimate friendships with those who do not love our Christ or live for Him. Believers are set apart as God’s holy people.
A few more passages from Holy Scripture will not be out of place:
No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth at the same time (Matthew 6:24).
Do not love this world or the things in the world. Whoever loves the world does not have the love of the Father, because everything in this world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:15–17).
You adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever wants to be a friend of this world makes himself an enemy of God (James 4:4).
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
How to Overcome Temptation
Temptation is not yet sin. My dear mother used to say: We cannot stop birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests on our heads. This means that we cannot prevent temptations from coming to us, but we can keep them from settling in our minds. Suggestions to do evil will come to you, but do not flirt with them. If you do, you will be ready to give in.
Always remember: if you do not take the first step toward sin, you will never take the second!
Of course, many battles await you, but if you earnestly and continually turn to Jesus for strength in the hour of temptation, He will make you victorious (Romans 8:37).
Fight courageously for the faith (1 Timothy 6:12).
Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven, and Christ dwells in your heart through faith! And because He has conquered the devil, you share in His triumph. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
You must consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God. It is not a matter of your human wisdom or strength prevailing over the enemy and enabling you to live the Christian life, but of allowing Christ to live victoriously in you. Believe that He is able to guard what you have entrusted to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12).
All the trials you have faced so far have been nothing other than ordinary human trials. God will never allow you to be tested beyond your strength, and He is faithful to His promises. When you are faced with a trial, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Blessed is the one who endures testing. When he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).
Controversial Issues
Sometimes questions of a controversial nature arise when you are unsure whether a particular action should be considered a sin. In this situation, the advice of John and Charles Wesley’s mother is very helpful: Make this your rule: whatever violates the gentleness and innocence of your conscience, dulls your awareness of God, or diminishes your enjoyment of spiritual things is sin for you, no matter how innocent it may seem in itself.
Even if certain activities seem harmless in themselves, they may steal precious time from you that could be devoted to truly important goals. As you study the Bible and pray, God will give you wisdom to discern good from evil.
I would like to draw your attention to how Jesus explained the parable of the sower: The seeds that fell among thorns are those who hear the word, but over time the cares of daily life, wealth, and pleasures choke it, and their fruit does not mature (Luke 8:14).
If Sin Overcomes You
God’s children have nothing in common with sin. The Bible says: In the same way, consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus… Sin must not rule over you, because you are not under the Law but under grace… We died to sin; how can we continue to live in it? (Romans 6:11, 14, 2). You have turned your back on the flesh, the world, and the devil.
However, if you carelessly yielded to the tempter, do not despair or give up, considering yourself incapable of living as a Christian. Nothing would give the devil greater pleasure than your abandoning all hope of a victorious life!
If you have fallen into sin, humble yourself before God as quickly as possible, asking Him for forgiveness. Then get up and continue on your way, being more vigilant and prayerful than before so that you can recognize all the enemy’s schemes. There is no point in stopping at the beginning of the journey simply because you stumbled. This is God’s gracious attitude toward you: My children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, remember that we have Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, who speaks to the Father in our defense (1 John 2:1).
Inconsistency Between Words and Actions
It is sad, but nevertheless a fact, that sometimes those who claim to have turned to God act in an un-Christian manner. If you see such inconsistencies in the lives of people who call themselves Christians, do not let this trouble you excessively. Fix your eyes on Jesus and pray that God will help you keep your actions consistent with your claims.
Instead of allowing hypocrites to extinguish your love and zeal for God and His Kingdom, do everything you can to show the world through your life that, despite the many imitations of Christianity, there are righteous men and women in this wicked and corrupt generation who truly fear God and love Christ.
Expect Opposition
Now that Christ dwells in your heart through faith, you are truly rich! You really are a son or daughter of the King! However, do not expect everyone around you to congratulate you on this step of faith and obedience to God that you have just taken. Of course, some people will admire your decision and offer you a helping hand, while others will begin mocking you because of your identification with Christ and His Church.
But remember that you are now on the Lord’s side, and He is on your side! And Christ, who is in you, is greater than all the enemies you encounter along your way. He has given you this encouraging word: The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
In times of crisis, God will give you grace and strength. Therefore, stand firmly yet lovingly, without hesitation, committed to your Lord and Teacher, and ready to endure whatever persecution may come upon you as a Christian. Never be afraid! Do not deny your Lord! Be faithful to Him at any cost!
It is better to suffer for doing good, if that is God’s will, than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17).
If you are insulted because of the Name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—rests upon you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or as someone who meddles in other people’s affairs. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let them not be ashamed, but let them glorify God for bearing this Name (1 Peter 4:14–16).
Everyone who wants to live in accordance with their faith in Jesus Christ will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you because of Me and say all kinds of lies about you. Rejoice and be glad, because a great reward awaits you in heaven! For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10–12).
