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Dear Christian,
I believe that God's hand of guidance is the force behind your decision to be baptized. Now, keep holding His mighty hand. He is painting a beautiful “before and after” picture of your life.
Baptism is a wonderful display of God’s power and grace. As Jesus died and was buried, we must die to our selfish sinful nature and bury it. Then, as Jesus rose from the dead, we also rise out of a “water grave” to a new life. How refreshing to get a clean start with God!
Jesus' church is all about burying sinners and raising Christians (actually God does the raising). Regardless of how it feels, your feelings are not as important as your DESTINY! I am glad to walk on the same path to heaven with you.
It did not make Satan happy to see you give your life to Jesus. He will tempt you, harass you, and most of all, deceive you. But God is bigger and stronger than Satan is. You will struggle with temptation all your life, so it is crucial to study your Bible, participate at church, be constant in prayer, and keep your heart clean so that God can live there.
Near the end of the New Testament is a book called 1 Peter. I hope you can read it soon. It’s full of great teaching for staying strong in your faith. It begins right where your Christian life should begin; with a clear focus on God, His Holy Spirit and His beloved Son, Jesus.
From there, the apostle Peter explains and affirms our resurrection hope, our rebirth, our salvation, our faith on trial, our call to suffer, our hope defended, our gentle spirit and our fervent love. He even warns us about a “roaring lion” seeking someone to devour. That’s the devil.
Peter learned those lessons the hard way. Listen to him.
Peter’s strongest challenge for new Christians is, ‘Therefore, gird your minds for action.” (1 Peter 1:13). New Christian, good thinking and good action go hand in hand.
God is strengthening our church by bringing you to us. I hope we can be a source of joy in your life. A wonderful journey lies ahead for our church and for you. Pursue all the gifts of service that God has for you.
Jesus Christ is our head and we are mere parts of His body. At our church, these parts (due to our various gifts and backgrounds) are diverse. Sometimes these parts fall into need and disrepair. Sometimes we are disappointed with each other. But the secret to Christian unity is in the head, not the parts.
It was a joy to see you take the plunge with Jesus. He is kind, loving and merciful. You can trust in Him forever. May God lead you and us together into his loving will--wherever that takes us.
Because of His Grace,
Joel Mark Solliday, Minister
Joel Mark Solliday, M.Div., is the editor of Campus CrossWalk and the pulpit minister of the Brooklyn Center Church of Christ in Minnesota. A Pepperdine graduate, he later worked in their Campus Life Office and at ACU as a Missionary in Residence. He earned his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary.
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