Feeding the Lambs - Christian Mindset

Made Alive in Christ

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
- Apostle Paul, writing to the first believers in Ephesus
Ephesians 2:1-10

[23rd message of the New Believer Series]

In the previous messages we have discussed about Christian traditions, commandments and ordinances.

Today we will talk about how a Christian mindset is supposed to be.

And we will highlight a passage of Scripture that should be seared in every new believer's heart (and not just committed to memory -- hidden in one's heart not merely head knowledge).

As a new believer, you aren't saved by what you have "saved," inside your brain's memory banks. But rather by what was "deposited" in your heart.

We once had hearts of stone (nothing can penetrate its hardened state).

We have resisted all previous attempts at seeing Jesus of Nazareth as to who He really is, listen to Him talk about who He said He is and who sent Him and why He was sent.

Made Alive

How ever we came to Christ and accepted Him as the Messiah and the Son of the Living God (the easy way, the moderate way or the hard way), the moment we came to that transforming realization, we instantaneously became alive in Him, and His Spirit took up residence in our heart.

Now this is not because we did something spectacular or are continuing to do something extraordinary. No. In fact, apart from Christ, we can do nothing.

Grace and Mercy

Our salvation was a gift. A gift offered to us by our Father in heaven.  All we did was accept that gift. It is free. But it is not cheap. The grace of God and the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth paid for that gift. It is priceless. No amount can ever purchase it.

God's mercy kept us from not being able to offer us a chance to receive this gift. At the right time, we opened our eyes, our ears and our heart and let the light show us the Way, the Truth and the Life and embrace Him.

Memory Verse

New believers cannot get enough of this radical transforming event, one where we were once dead in our trespasses and then alive in Christ.

But after some time, more often than not (for different reasons or circumstances), new believers like most believers throughout history will forget what brought them their new life and inclusion into the family of God.

It is for this reason that certain Scripture passages need to be laser printed on every new believer's heart of flesh.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 

So if ever you feel that you have overshot heaven because of how good you are, how talented you are, how eloquent, or how kind, how forgiving you are, how generous, how religious and so forth, please do not go the path of the morning star [Isaiah 14:12-15] or be counted among those who John the Baptist and Jesus Himself referred to as a brood of vipers [Matthew 3:7-9, Matthew 23:13-33].

As Believers

-Be humble. Stay humble.

-Be meek. Stay meek.

-Be wise. Stay wise.

-Be kind. Be loving. Be compassionate.

-Let the Spirit of God be your guide in everything you plan, say and do.

-Be blessed. And be a blessing.

-Be like Christ (these are what being a follower of Christ means).


New Believers Series