If You Have Trusted Christ

If you have truly turned to Him, you are now a child of God — not because of your effort, but because of His finished work (John 1:12).

Your past doesn’t cancel His promise. Your weakness doesn’t disqualify you. He will not forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

But hear this: the Christian life is not part-time. It is not a casual add-on. It is a whole-life surrender. Every area — your thoughts, relationships, choices, ambitions — comes under His lordship (Colossians 3:17). That’s the call. That’s discipleship.

Following Jesus is not easy. You will face temptation, opposition, and sometimes rejection. But you are not alone. Christ walks with you, and He gives you His Spirit to strengthen you (John 16:33).

Growing as a Believer

  • Your relationship with sin: You are no longer bound to sin (Romans 6:6). When you stumble, don’t excuse or normalize it. Confess it to God honestly (1 John 1:9), turn back to Him, and keep fighting. Repentance is not a one-time event — it is the daily posture of a disciple.

  • Your relationship with God: Talk with God honestly and often (Philippians 4:6). Read the Bible daily. Apply what you read to your life (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). This is not to earn God’s love, but to grow in Christ.

  • Your relationship with the church: Don't go it alone. Join a faithful, Bible-preaching church (Hebrews 10:24–25). Be baptized as an act of obedience — not to save you, but to declare that you belong to Christ (Acts 2:38, 41).

  • Your focus: Don’t treat Jesus as a tool for success. Follow Him in both joy and trial. The goal is not earthly comfort, but knowing Him, becoming like Him, and glorifying Him (Philippians 3:10).

Common Lies to Reject

  • Thinking Jesus is just one god among many.

  • Believing good works or rituals earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8–9).

  • Expecting faith to guarantee health, wealth, or ease.

  • Treating Christianity as a way to get blessings without surrender.

  • Believing everyone will be saved eventually (Matthew 7:13–14).

  • Assuming a one-time prayer without real life change is enough (Matthew 7:21).

  • Exalting human leaders above Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12–13).

  • Mixing nationalism or politics with the gospel.

  • Isolating yourself from other believers.

A Word of Hope

Jesus died and rose to forgive you, free you, and make you new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
You are no longer under judgment, but under grace (Romans 8:1).

The same power that raised Christ now works in you to help you live faithfully (Ephesians 1:19–20). His Spirit equips you to obey when the world pulls the other way, to stand firm when compromise looks easier, and to endure when faith costs you something.

Your salvation is secure — not because you hold tightly to Him, but because He holds tightly to you (John 10:28–29). Fix your eyes on Christ, stay anchored in His Word, and keep walking in repentance and obedience.

He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

FAQ: Common Questions

What if I stumble again?
You might. But there is forgiveness when you confess and turn back (1 John 1:9). The difference now is that you fight sin instead of embracing it. Don’t lower your standards. Even other professing Christians will normalize sin — but you're not called to be like other Christians. You're called to be like Jesus.

Does following Jesus mean I’ll never sin?
No. Sin may still tempt you, but it no longer rules you (Romans 6:14). A true follower resists sin and relies on the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness.

How do I know I’m really saved?
Evidence shows in a growing love for Christ and others, disdain for sin, obedience to Scripture, and perseverance in faith (1 John 2:3–6). Salvation produces transformation — that change becomes more visible in your life overtime.

What if I don’t feel strong enough?
God gives His Spirit to strengthen and guide you (Acts 1:8; Romans 8:26). Depend on Him through prayer and Scripture, not your own strength.

Do I have to join a church?
Yes. Christianity is not meant to be lived alone (Hebrews 10:25). God calls every believer into a local church family for growth, teaching, accountability, and worship.

Being Part of a Healthy Church

Not every church is faithful. Some gatherings may call themselves churches but are spiritually dangerous. Below are red flags to beware of, followed by the marks of a healthy church:

Red Flags – “Sugarcoated” churches

  • Scripture is replaced with opinion, motivational stories, or cultural trends.

  • Sin is downplayed or normalized; God’s holiness is ignored.

  • Focus is on entertainment, wealth, personal experience, or celebrity leaders.

  • Teaching emphasizes self-help, prosperity, or easy faith over repentance and obedience.

  • Truth is compromised for popularity, unity, or cultural approval.

Red Flags – “Hard-hearted” churches

  • Leaders act superior or arrogant, making followers feel “less spiritual” if they don’t measure up.

  • Teaching emphasizes intellect, complex doctrine, or human ability more than love, humility, and obedience.

  • Community lacks warmth, encouragement, or genuine fellowship; people are measured up instead of cared for.

Red Flags – False foundations

  • Authority shifted away from Scripture. If tradition, human leaders, or extra writings are treated as equal to or above the Bible, it is not faithful (Mark 7:7–9).

  • The gospel distorted. If salvation is taught as something earned by works, rituals, or sacraments — rather than by God’s grace through faith in Christ alone — it is a false gospel (Ephesians 2:8–9; Galatians 1:6–9).

  • Christ reduced. If Jesus is presented as merely a teacher, example, or one of many ways to God — instead of the Son of God, Savior, and only Mediator — it is not biblical Christianity (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5).

  • Worship misdirected. If prayers are offered to saints, angels, Mary, or anything other than God, it is unbiblical (Exodus 20:3–5; Matthew 6:9).

Marks of a healthy church

  • The Word of God is central. Scripture is taught faithfully and clearly as God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2).

  • The gospel of Jesus Christ is foundational. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. His death and resurrection are central to all teaching (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Romans 10:9–10).

  • Scripture alone is final authority. Every teaching and practice is tested against the whole counsel of God’s Word, not tradition, opinion, or a leader’s charisma (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

  • The people live as a family in Christ. Members show humility, love, and accountability, helping each other grow in holiness (John 13:34–35; Galatians 6:1–2).

  • Discipleship is serious. Believers are trained in obedience, knowledge of Scripture, and practical faith — not just attendance (Matthew 28:19–20).

  • Leaders meet biblical standards. Elders and pastors demonstrate godly character and maturity (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).

  • Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are observed biblically. They are acts of obedience and public declaration of faith, not ways to earn salvation (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

  • The Spirit produces real life change. Genuine love, holiness, humility, and godly living are evident, not just words or appearances (Galatians 5:22–23; James 1:22).

Being aware matters. A faithful church points you to Christ, not to itself. Avoid any gathering that elevates personality, pride, self-focus, entertainment, tradition, or worldly values over Scripture. True Christianity clings to Christ alone, Scripture alone, grace alone, and faith alone — producing love, humility, and genuine community rooted in God’s Word.

Resources for Further Exploring Christianity

If you want to learn more about the life of Jesus, the resurrection, and the Christian faith, these books and articles are trustworthy and accessible:

Read the Bible Digitally

  • English Standard Version
    The ESV (English Standard Version) is a trustworthy, word-for-word translation of the Bible that balances accuracy with readability. It preserves the original meaning of Scripture without watering it down, making it ideal for study, discipleship, and spiritual growth. 

  • Download ESV Bible on the App Store

Evidence for Jesus and the Resurrection

  • Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell
    A thorough, easy-to-follow look at the historical evidence for Jesus, including His life, death, and resurrection.

  • The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
    A journalist investigates the evidence for Jesus’ life and resurrection, asking the questions many people have.

Understanding God, Faith, and Doubts

  • The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
    Addresses common questions about God, the problem of suffering, and whether Christianity makes sense today.

  • Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
    Explains the core beliefs of Christianity in clear, logical terms, showing why Christians believe what they do.

How the Bible Can Be Trusted

  • Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace
    Uses forensic logic and detective methodology to show why the Gospel accounts hold up.

Science and Faith

  • The Language of God by Francis S. Collins
    Written by a scientist, this book explains how faith in God and modern science can fit together.

  • The Creator and the Cosmos by Hugh Ross
    Shows how discoveries about the universe point to a Creator.