Calvary New Life Fellowship 

After receiving salvation, there are a couple of important steps that you can take. 1. Ask God to lead you to a bible-based church which allows for the operation and move of the Holy Spirit. A church that can take you through discipleship classes and mentor you on your journey as a New Believer. 2. Water Baptism: Water baptism is the outward expression of the inward confession of Salvation. It is so important that when Jesus approached John the Baptist to get baptized, "John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented" (Matthew 3:14-15). In Acts 8:26-40 we read about Philips ministry to an Ethiopian Eunuch who immediately after receiving salvation asked to be baptised. "35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." If you have not received water baptism yet, let you Pastor know that you would like to be water baptised. [***If you don't have a Church as yet, please don't hesitate to call us***] 3. Holy Spirit baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues: Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit which would come upon them (Acts 1:4-5, Luke 24:49). For 10 days they were waiting in an upper room to receive the promised Holy Spirit. “2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4). Holy Spirit Baptism can happen at the point of salvation or after in different ways: Hearing the Gospel (Acts 10:40-48), laying on of hands (Acts 19:1-7; Acts 8:14-17), by praying, asking Jesus to fill you with Holy Spirit and waiting for it (Acts 2:1-13). 4. Read your bible every day and live according to it. The word of God is spiritual food for your spirit/soul. Just has your body needs sustenance everyday, so too your soul/spirit needs to be nourished everyday. Develop your relationship with God by daily spending time in prayer, praise, worship, reading the word and thanksgiving to Him. 5. Listen to Gods voice and follow His leading. Through the Holy Spirit He will show you what He wants you to do and how he wants you live on a daily basis.

There is no easy way to answer this question, but one reason is that we are living in a fallen world because of the sin committed at the beginning of creation. Adam and Eve's disobedience to God (rebellion against God's commandments) caused the world to be open to failing and destruction, hence the term an imperfect or fallen world. This is opposite to what God originally intended for mankind when He created the Earth. Adam and Eve's disobedience seeded their authority and control of this world to Satan who seeks to destroy mankind and all of God’s creation (Romans 6:16; John 10:10). Through salvation we receive the authority that was lost by Adam and Eve, which enables Christians to be victorious in this life. We therefore look forward to what God says in His word, that when Christ returns the whole world will be renewed (a new heaven and a new earth without sin, pain, sadness, evil, destruction etc.). As believers we are not exempt from trials or tribulation, in fact Jesus specifically talks about the struggle’s believers will face for following Him, but He assures us that eternity with Him is worth the suffering of this present age. Another reason is because of "Free Will". God has given all of mankind free will to choose to live according to His Word or not. When we live within the boundaries of God's Word (for mankinds good), then we will live in His blessing and protection (Deuteronomy 28). If everyone on earth lived in obedience to the instruction God put forth in His Word, then there would be no evil perpetuated by man against fellow man.

God is indeed a very loving and good God and doesn’t want anyone to perish: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). So, what it really boils down to is FREE WILL. Each one of us have free will to choose Salvation through Jesus Christ while we are living here on earth or not. We have the free will to live according to God's Word and to repent of any and all sin or choose to live by our own truth and morality. If a person dies, and they have not accepted Jesus as Savior, that person will face God, the righteous Judge, who will judge us all on our sin, not on our "good works" (which cannot save a person). For example: In any nation, if you commit a crime and stand before a good judge for sentencing, you won't be able to avoid the punishment based on any "good works" you have done. If the judge lets you off the hook for murder, because you spoke about all the good you have done in this life, he would be considered a bad judge! The sentencing you receive is based upon the crime committed. In the same way when we stand before God on the day of judgement, we won’t be able to say "but look at all the good things I have done, I am not a bad person, surely my good outweighs the bad." Now because God is a Good Judge, He has to punish our sin accordingly. However He doesnt want us to perish so while we are still living, God has given each one of us ample time to learn about, know and recieve the message of salvation written about in God's Word. God gives everyone countless opportunites to repent so that they can receive the free gift of salvation which ensures that their debt is paid in full. By Jesus Christ's work on the cross, God ensures that we won’t have to face God's wrath on judgment day. The earth and everything in it, is a part of God’s creation and He has set Laws in place to govern what belongs to Him. We can all see what happens to a nation when there is lawlessness; chaos ensues! So too, since most people have chosen to govern themselves and not live according to the laws God has put in place for mankind’s good, to keep order and to ensure blessing, there is chaos and disorder all around the world. The choice is ultimately ours and we cannot blame God for being a Righteous and Good Judge, when He has given everyone ample opportunity to repent, accept Jesus as LORD and Saviour and choose to follow Him in accordance with His Word.

In short no other religion guarantees salvation. Most religions are works based, which means eternity in heaven is dependent upon how good or how much good you have done on this earth. Christianity teachers that you can do nothing to merit or earn salvation which grants a person access to eternity with God in heaven. Salvation is a free gift that has to be entered into by grace through faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 The bible says that when you accept the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, repent of your sin and receive Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour, then your sins are forgiven, your debt is paid, your name is written in the book of life, and you will be able to enter into Heaven. "Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Why are we so convinced about what we believe? Because of the overwhelming historical evidence for the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ substantiated by the Word of God (Refer to the evidence presented by world renowned experts in the historicity of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection: Gary R. Habermas, PhD and Michael R. Licona, PhD). It takes faith to believe, but we can assure you that when you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will not encounter a harsh, angry and distant God. You will know a loving God who wants you to draw close to Him and He will draw close to you (James 4:8). A God who is compassionate and gracious, who will reveal Himself to you as you seek Him with all your heart, soul mind and strength (Jeremiah 29:13 and Acts 17:27). It takes humility to acknowledge the need for a Saviour, which means we have to lay down our pride and willingly surrender to a loving Savior. Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

When you receive Salvation and you genuinely repent with a humble and contrite heart, Jesus will forgive any and all sin! "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous/just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12). "When you come to Christ you become a NEW CREATION!!! Your old life has passed away and all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Genuine repentance means that you turn completely from sin endeavouring never to sin in the same way again. We can't do this in our own strentgh but through the power of the Holy Spirit that is at work within us. Unfortunately some people believe the lie that what they have done is so bad that they cannot be forgiven. They feel shame and guilt that keeps them from accepting Jesus and His free gift of Salvation and restoration. We encourage you to put your trust in Jesus and believe in His word that when you repent of sin, then you are forgiven and He remembers it no more. Forgive yourself and accept Gods grace toward you.

Repentance basically means "to turn from evil, and to turn to the good." There must be a turning away from everything the bible declares as sin or evil and live righteously before God in holiness. This is an impossible task without the knowledge and belief in the grace/mercy of God and the empowerment and help of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:5-9 5 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." 1 Corinthians 6:11 "11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." We cannot save or sanctify ourselves; it is the work of the Holy Spirit (God in Spirit) within us, and we need to surrender to His inner workings. At the time of salvation, we receive a deposit of the Holy Spirit, which is a free gift from our Heavenly Father to help us in this life. It means that we forever have "God in Spirit" within us, to help us follow the example Jesus put forth in His Word, to live a holy and righteous life of worship and service to God. After or at the time of salvation, there is the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5 & 2:1-4) with the evidence of speaking in tongues, which is crucial for every believer. [Refer to question "What should I do after Salvation?"]

Prayer in its simplicity is just talking to God. In the same way you converse with your loved ones and friends, you are able to talk to God and He hears you. Prayer is not confined to a building or a special prayer room, which means you can pray (speak) to God anywhere at any time. God is a loving God who wants to be in relationship with His people and invites to us to come to Him with anything and everything. Hebrews 10:19-22 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. At times it may not be as easy to hear or recognize God's voice (in the form of thoughts or through His Word) speaking back to you, but that will develop the more time you spend with Him in prayer and in reading and applying His Word (The Bible). Romans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

As our physical bodies need food every day to survive and thrive, so too our spirit needs spiritual food to be healthy; and that food is the Word of God and spending time in His presence. When babies are born, they must feed approximately 8-12 times a day. As a newborn babe in Christ, it is paramount to spend as much time in the Word and prayer as you can, to grow spiritually and ensure a solid foundation in your faith. Without the Word of God, we won't know what God expects of us and we can easily be deceived into believing false doctrines or fall into unbelief when hard times come. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.