STARTING ON A NEW PATH
Congratulations!

You have chosen to accept the wonderful gift that can only come from Jesus Christ ... Salvation. You have made the single most important decision of your life.  Now what?

As you begin to talk to others about what to expect on your new path, you will more than likely hear about all the things you will have to give up to be a Christian. Then you will more than likely hear about all the things that you aren't suppose to do. And depending on the people you associate with, you may even have someone present you with a copy of the 10 Commandments to memorize and keep every day of your life. Another set of rules and regulations?

The New Testament gives alot of guidance and advice to new Christians, and can teach you about the new path that you have begun. So many new Christians become discouraged with the people always giving them new rules and "Thou Shalt Not's" every time they turn around, that they become discouraged and slip back into their old way of life.

The Bible promises that "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new."   2 Corinthians 5:17

You have been made new through Jesus Christ. What a wonderful experience, and gift. So, the first thing you can do is get to know more about the Savior who died for your salvation.

Who is Jesus Christ?

The best way to get to know more about your Lord is to read about His walk here on earth. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John give accounts of what Jesus was like as He walked as a man. They tell about the miraculous things He did and about the revolutionary things He taught. But most of all, they tell of His love and compassion. As you read, you'll notice that the four Gospels seem to be repeating themselves. And although each of them cover alot of the same things, they were written specifically to reach different groups of people. As you read, you will notice that each book has things about Jesus that isn't duplicated in the other books. Matthew gives the family tree that Jesus came out of, because that book was written for the Jews. Because of their promise from God many years ago about a Savior coming from a certain family line, this is to show them that the promise has been fulfilled.


The path of a Christian can be exciting and filled with miracles! As you read more of the New Testament, you will find that the lives of the apostles were full of adventure. Then you look around you and see that the lives of most of the Christians today, aren't much different than your life was before you accepted Christ.
The easiest way to explain the new Christian walk is like this:

You are at an intersection in your life. You choose to accept Jesus as your Savior and take a right turn at that intersection. As you begin down the new road, you'll notice that your surrounding haven't changed much, until you look ahead and see that your destination is new. As you progress down the new road, the scenary and events are beginning to change and become completely different from the old road. You can go as fast or as slow on this new road. If you become completely sold out to Christ, and seek a strong personal relationship to Him, your progress on this road will be quick and your life will change drastically. There are alot of people who have been Christians for many years who haven't gotten very far from the intersection where they turned off. They can't seem to let go of their old life and the ways of the world and get their eyes on Jesus and their new destination. Sadly, those are the people that the world calls hypocrites.

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."  1 Corinthians 2:12

Before you accepted Christ, was your life going smoothly and wonderful, or did you have a void in your heart that desperately needed to be filled? Why would anyone pass up an opportunity to have joy, excitement, and the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit just to walk with one foot in this world and one foot in the Spiritual World? Jesus said it can't be done. We must each choose whom we will serve.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
   Ephesians 2:10
"Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If a man therefore purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work."
                                                 -- 1 Peter 4:1-2
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