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Okay … I’m Saved: Now What?by James Langston

“… what can or can’t I do? …”

** What Do You Do After You “Get Saved?”

he way some live their faith, it makes you wonder if they know what a true biblical relationship with the Father is.TWe make salvation the ultimate purpose for the church and its ministry: in other words

salvation is the ultimate goal for our lives; then afterward it’s “business as usual.”

As soon as someone “gets saved” some of us think, mission accomplished; now on to the next one.

As much as we emphasize salvation, we only give lip service to what happens after a person “gets saved.”

I think this entirely misses the point of the born again experience.

God’s plan for salvation from the beginning of time was never about just saving us.

God’s plan for salvation has always been about relationship.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 1:6 - “For I am confident of this very thing that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ.”

This simple verse tells us two profound truths about God’s plan for salvation:

1. God does not start anything that he does not bring to completion.2. God does not save us in order to save us. Salvation has a purpose. We have been created

to do good works.

** Introduction:

nytime I read a book other than the Bible, I first have to ask myself, “Will this help or hinder my walk with the Lord?”A

As you read the following chapters, you also need to ask yourself that same question “Is this book helping or hindering my growth and development as a Christian.”

I wrote this book for Christians of all ages; the new and the seasoned. As I penned the pages, I had but one thought in mind, “equip” you with the right tools to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord.

As I put the words to paper, at times it felt as if I was preparing a message to preach on Sunday morning.

The Heavy and Abiding Presence of the Lord not only made me anticipatory of the fruits of my labor, but awe struck at the Majesty and Might of our Holy God.

About two months ago, I told my wife, “Honey, I believe the Lord is moving on my heart to write another book.”

I did not have a title for it then, but I knew in it I would address many of the struggles Christians are facing today – which is always a precarious venture.

Although I was working on another book at the time, “The Cycles of Life,” (which I hope to finish someday), I instinctively knew this was my new tasking – my “marching orders” if you will. I had to trust the Lord to work out the details for all the other stuff.

Let me say upfront that this is not a book of denominational etiquette. It is a “benefit package” to Christians of all ages; countless Sons and Daughters of the King who are eager to enter into the fullness of their inheritance in Christ Jesus.

Sadly, anytime we are ignorant to the things that are rightfully ours (bought and paid for by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ), too often we will cast them aside without so much as a second glance – losing much more than we realize.

The Holy Spirit through the prophet Hosea would write, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .” (Hos. 4:6).

If you asked five Christians, “How are we to live this Christian life?” you probably would receive ten different answers. The truth is most Christians do not know how to live this Christian life.

** Chapter 1: I Can’t Explain It, But Something Happened to Me!

What is Sin? Why was a Perfect Sacrifice Needed?When Adam and Eve rebelled, man was separated from God through sin. God’s Holiness

required a punishment for sin; which was (and still is) eternal death (separation from God).

Our death alone is not sufficient to pay the penalty for sin. Only a perfect, spotless sacrifice, offered in just the right way, can be accepted as “legal” payment for our sin.

Jesus, the perfect God-man, came to offer the pure, complete and everlasting sacrifice to remove, atone, and make eternal payment for sin. Why did God do this? Foremost, God loves us and desires an intimate relationship with us.

How to Have Assurance of Salvation:If right now you would acquiesce to the “tug” of Holy Spirit on your heart, you too can have

that assurance of salvation. The moment you become a Christian, you make the most important decision and take the most important step ever in your life; conversely you begin a journey and adventure unlike any other. The call to salvation begins with God. He initiates it by wooing or drawing us to come to Him.

What does it mean to be a born again Christian? The classic passage from the Bible that answers this question is John 3:1-21.

The Lord Jesus Christ is talking to Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin (a ruler of the Jews). Nicodemus had come to Jesus at night. Nicodemus had questions to ask Jesus.

As Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He said, “‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’” (Jn. 3:3-7). The phrase “born again” literally means “born from above.” Nicodemus had a real need. He needed a change of his heart—a spiritual transformation.

New birth, being born again, is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes (II Cor. 5:17; Tit. 3:5; I Pet. 1:3; I Jn. 2:29; 3:9; 4:7; 5:1-4, 18). John 1:12, 13 indicates that “born again” also carries the idea “to become children of God” through trust and faith in Who Jesus is and What He did for us on the Cross of Calvary.

The question logically remains, “Why does a person need to be born again?” The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins...” (NKJV).

To the Romans in Romans 3:23, the Apostle wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, a person needs to be born again in order to have their sins forgiven and have a relationship with God.

How does that come to be? Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

When one is “Saved,” he/she has been born again, spiritually renewed, and is now a child of God by right of this new birth.

**Chapter 3: Prayer

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phi. 4:6)

o often we relegate prayer to that special time we set aside to bring our financial, physical, spiritual, emotional, or material needs to the Lord.SAnd, while this is right and proper, our primary reason to pray should be to talk to our

Heavenly Father. And then to hear what He has to say to us (whereby we build a servant-to-Father relationship)!

As breathing is essential to the natural body, so is prayer to our spiritual life. In fact, prayer is akin to breathing – you do either to live.

If that is true (and the Scriptures attest to it), then why do so few Christians pray?

Although the reasons vary, a few that you often hear are, √I do not have time, √Prayer is not relevant to my busy schedule, √I get tired and sleepy, and the big one that I most often hear, √That is what preachers do.

Yet, how many would be honest enough to admit that they are not sure why they should pray or even how to pray.

Prayer is defined as, “The act of communicating with a deity (in petition or adoration, contrition or thanksgiving).”

And, even though its vitalness is reiterated throughout the pages of the Bible, it still remains an enigma in the life of many Christians.

If a Believer does not daily exercise their prayer life, they can reach a point where prayer becomes non-existent.

That is why Scripture is so emphatic that we remain in a constant attitude of prayer (Eph. 6:18)

The Lord must be our first thought in the morning, and last thought at night. He is now our life, our breath, our strength and joy, our first and last love, our hope, our dreams, and the substance of our life.

The Lord formed us to be more than a whisper in the wind, or a sound in the night. The Psalmist cries, “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them” (Psa. 145:19).

Simply put, prayer is a channel that is always open, a conversation that should never end! We must use it, live it and practice it.

** Chapter 4: Bible Study

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and Spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

hether your New Life in Christ began 50 years ago or just an hour earlier, one lesson you must learn is the importance of daily Bible study.W

Someone once said, “Ignorance is bliss.” I do not think the man walking through a minefield would agree with that assessment.

The Holy Spirit through the prophet Hosea would tell us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” (Hos. 4:6).

The Lord does not expect us to know everything regarding the in’s and out’s of this New Life, but He does demand that we build correct doctrine on this new foundation of Christ in us.

We should read and study the Bible because it is God’s Word to us. The Bible is literally “God-breathed” [II Tim. 3:16].

In other words, it is God’s very Words to us. There are so many questions that philosophers have asked that God answers for us in Scripture.

What is the purpose to life? Where did I come from? Is there life after death? How do I get to heaven? Why is the world full of evil? Why do I struggle to do good?

In addition to these “big” questions, the Bible gives much practical advice in areas such as: What do I look for in a mate? How can I have a successful marriage? How can I be a good friend? How can I be a good parent?

What is success and how do I achieve it? How can I change? What really matters in life? How can I live so that I do not look back with regret? How can I handle the unfair circumstances and bad events of life victoriously?

We should read and study the Bible because it is totally reliable and without error. The Bible is unique among so-called “holy” books in that it does not merely give moral teaching and say, “Trust me.”

Rather, we have the ability to test it by checking the hundreds of detailed prophecies that it makes, by checking the historical accounts it records, and by checking the scientific facts it relates.

Those who say the Bible has errors have their ears closed to the truth. Jesus once asked which is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven you,” or “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Then He proved He had the ability to forgive sins (something we cannot see with our eyes) by healing the paralytic (something those around Him could test with their eyes).

Similarly, we are given assurance that God’s Word is true when it discusses spiritual areas that we cannot test with our senses by showing itself true in those areas that we can test, such as historical accuracy, scientific accuracy, and prophetic accuracy.

We should read and study the Bible because God does not change and because mankind’s nature does not change with time. The Bible is as relevant for us as it was when it was written.

** Chapter 5: Church Attendance

ach week we spend roughly 40 – 50 hours sleeping, 35 – 60 hours working, 15 – 25 hours in some form of entertainment (e.g., television, movies, and recreation), 17 – 18 hours eating,

and 5 – 8 hours in personal hygiene.E

Yet, we invest only about 1.5 hours in church attendance or fellowship with other Believers.

Why such disparity? The reasons vary, but ultimately it boils down to our being ignorant to the tremendous blessings, strength and support we receive each time we fellowship with others of like faith (Matt. 18:20).

Sadly, this inconsistency has allowed the thief an unabated, yet slow and methodical invasion (“stealing,” “killing,” and “destroying” (Jn. 10:10)) into the lives of untold Christians.

Although some may argue that that is “his” summation, I do know that it is far easier to take a priceless possession from the holder when they do not recognize the value, than when the value and worth is realized.

Let me ask you three simple questions regarding church attendance, 1) “Why should we attend?” 2) “Where should we attend?” and, 3) “How often should we attend?”

I will preface my response by saying; “No person is an island unto their self. If the Lord needed His three disciples, Peter, James and John, in the Garden of Gethsemane; this should tell us how much we need one other.”

First and foremost our reasons and motives for attending church must line up with the Word of God.

If not, we can easily find ourselves trapped in a religious works mentality and never experience what true worship and service mean.

There are a number of Christians who boldly proclaim to love God, but who do not attend church on a regular basis.

Although, there are a number of reasons for this phenomenon, the most prevalent reason is that Satan has fooled Christians into thinking that church attendance is not important and that God understands ones reasons for not attending church.

Well, neither of these statements is true. Every Christian should be a member/partner of a Bible-teaching church and should attend on a regular basis.

When this is not done, God does not “understand,” but rather is disappointed in the lack of reverence for His Word and Will.

Who are our examples?As Christians, we should strive to be just like Jesus. Jesus had a custom of going to church.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world” — I Jn. 4:1

“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read” — Lk. 4:16

The Spiritually MatureFollow the example of other seasoned Christians who walk in the promises from God the

Father.

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” — Heb. 6:12

Does the Bible say Christians should go to church?Those who have professed to be Christians should not allow things to hinder them from

going to church. They should also encourage others to do the same.

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised ;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” — Heb. 10:23

Those who truly love God are happy about going to church.

** Chapter 7: What is Adultery? What is Fornication?

Seventh Commandment

“Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Ex. 20:14)

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning” (Rev. 18:9)

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Gal. 5:17)

Sexual Adultery: Adulterer is a man who has sexual intercourse outside of the institution of marriage. An adulteress is a woman. (Matthew G. Easton)

Fornication: Sexual intercourse between unmarried persons (heterosexual couples (male and female) (WordNet))

Scenario 1: Richard and Jane have lived together for ten years without the benefit of marriage. They recently accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. Should they, a) Separate, b) Marry, or c) Continue as before?

Scenario 2: Bruce and Cynthia are Christians and soon to be married. They talked about sexual intimacy, but agreed that it is Biblically and morally right to wait until married.

Friends tell them that since they are engaged it is okay. However, they believe the Bible is the defining standard, and that makes everything else irrelevant. Is it?

hese two scenarios depict an age old battle that has raged since the fall in the Garden of Eden; the “flesh” and the “Spirit” (Gen. 3:1-7).TThe Apostle Paul gave us great insight to this fight when he wrote, “For that which I do I

allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I” (Rom. 7:15).

Although he was Saved and Spirit-filled when writing this passage, Paul found he could not live a victorious overcoming life by his own strength and ability.

While he certainly had the will and the desire to do that which was right, he within his own strength and abilities cannot stop sin in his life.

Unfortunately, most Christians not understanding the Cross as it refers to Sanctification are facing this same plight.

The cold hard truth is that anytime you fight the flesh in your own efforts and machinations, you are doomed to failure. And with each failure, the accumulative loss is always greater than you can pay.

Congress, psychiatrics, psychologists, educationalists, movies, and television may say sex without the benefit of marriage is okay. However, what they fail to mention is that those who engage in this promiscuous lifestyle before marriage will more than likely continue down this same path after marriage; especially when crises or challenges arise (disagreements, stress, boredom, etc.). (Anne Morse/Richard Ames, “Is Adultery Okay?”)

Those who fail to accept the Laws of God as Laws intended for our good, will eventually reach a place where law (Divine or moral) no longer matters.

Whenever the Lord says “No,” He is not intentionally withholding pleasures from us. He knows if our innate animalistic nature is left unchecked, it will destroy us.

Remember this; anything the Lord does, or asks of us is always out of love – His unconditional (Agape) love.

The cold hard truth is that anyone is capable of doing anything under the right conditions and circumstances. Just as bad people do bad things, sometimes good people do bad things.

Presidents, governors, athletes, religious leaders, and a mass of others have been caught breaking their marriage vows. Research indicates men still outpace women in unfaithfulness, but if trends continue, that won’t be for long. Nearly as many wives stray as do husbands.

** Chapter 10: I Have Sinned; Will God Forgive Me?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1:9)

o sin means we have “missed the mark” (violation of the Divine law of God in thought or act). Yet, thankfully, if we go to the Lord with a repentant heart, He has promised not only

to forgive, but to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.T

However, this promise is not a license to continue in sin. A Christian who habitually sins, and feels no shame, remorse or conviction is treading on dangerous ground.

In general, the attitude of most Christians toward sin is, “If no one gets hurt, it’s all right.” In fact it is almost impossible to find a church that preaches against sin.

And, for those that do, you won’t find many in attendance: after all, who wants to hear a message of correction – especially one that challenges our valueless, and moral less system.

Churches are focusing more on “love,” and making people “feel” good about sin than what really matters – eternity.

Can God Forgive Me? – Rejection and RebellionForgiveness is an act of pardon. Even when we choose to reject Him, God is still anxious to

forgive us. “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isa. 43:25). God graciously declares that He is ready to forgive us.

He could have just as easily chosen to destroy us, freeing Himself of our disobedient nature. Yet, in His greatest expression of love, God’s posture towards us is the Giver of Grace. God chooses to pardon our sins, blotting them out as a cloud blots out the sun’s rays [Isa. 44:22].

It is not always easy to comprehend an omnipotent God as gentle and tender-hearted. Our rebellious nature impacts everything about us.

Often we continue to reap the consequences of our rebellion. Yet, God chooses to give us not what we deserve, but to give us what we need, forgiveness.

Can God Forgive Me? – Paying the PriceIn the Old Testament, God required an animal sacrifice, such as a bull, for forgiveness. He

required the sprinkling or pouring out of blood as a sin offering upon a consecrated altar.

This represented the fact that the life of the sacrificed animal was given to God instead of the sinner’s life.

This was a ransom, the price demanded for the Israelites’ sins [Lev. 4:14-21]. For more than a millennium, God placed the payment of a blood sacrifice for forgiveness at the very center of Jewish life.

David, the Jewish shepherd-boy and king of Israel, may have wondered, “Can God forgive me?” David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba and conspiracy to murder her husband resulted in the death of David’s firstborn son.

God can’t violate His righteous nature—sin must be atoned [paid] for. Yet God responded to a repentant David and forgave him [II Sam. 12:13-14]. But, when David desired a census of his military men, Israel paid a high price for their leader’s pride and self-sufficiency.

God permitted David to choose the form punishment for disobedience—an angel was sent to destroy Jerusalem [I Chr. 21:10-15].

David then confessed his personal sin and urged the Lord to spare the innocent people. “David built an altar to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings . . . Then the Lord spoke to the angel and he put his sword back into its sheath” (I Chr. 21:26-27).

It is only through God’s infinite mercy and grace that the full price for David’s sins was not demanded.

** About the Author:

ames Langston faithfully served his country for 27 years in the U.S. Navy before retiring in April 2003. He is a husband, a father, a grandfather and senior pastor of the Pilgrim

Outreach Ministries.J

James is ordained and licensed through World Evangelism Fellowship of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He is a 1976 graduate of El Campo high school in El Campo, Texas.

James oversees all day-to-day operations and the ministries Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Internet feeds in the United States, Canada, and a myriad of international countries.

He teaches in ministerial workshops, and gives primary leadership to the evangelistic, administrative, global outreach and audio and visual departments of the ministry.

Duty Stations:

√USS Dubuque (LPD-8)√Naval Telecommunications Center (NTCC) Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines√USS Fletcher (DD-992)√Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California√Naval Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS), European Central, Naples,

Italy√Service School Command, Radioman “A” Communications School, San Diego, California

Awards: NATO Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal

James and his wife Cecilia have been married for more than 36 years and have six children and thirteen grandchildren.  They live overseas in Italy.