Being a Christian is not about doing or saying the right things. It is about a vital, personal relationship with God. As you start out, you will probably have questions — and maybe even some doubts — about this relationship. The responses to the questions below will help you work through these issues.

How do I know that Christ is in my life?

Jesus assures us many times in the Bible that if we put our trust in him and accept him as our Lord and Savior, he will be faithful to respond and enter into relationship with us.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:27-29).

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).

If you have prayed and invited Jesus to be the center of your life, you have no reason to doubt that he will do as he has promised.

Do I have eternal life?

The Bible promises eternal life to every person who receives Jesus Christ.

“The witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13).

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). On the basis of this promise, you can know that Christ lives in you and that you have eternal life from the very moment you invite him into your life.

How can I grow as a Christian?

Spiritual growth results from trusting in Jesus Christ. “The righteous man shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail of your life. To help facilitate your spiritual growth, practice the following:

G – Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7). R – Read the Bible daily (Acts 17:11), beginning with the Gospel of John. O – Obey God moment-by-moment (John 14:21). W – Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19, John 15:8). T – Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7). H – Holy Spirit: Allow him to control and empower your daily life (Galatians 5:16-17; Acts 1:8).

Why do my feelings about God keep changing?

You might have expectations about how you should feel after placing your trust in Christ. While feelings are important, they are unreliable indicators of your sincerity or of the trustworthiness of God’s promise. Our feelings change easily, but God’s Word and his character remain constant. The promises of the Bible, not our feelings, are our authority. The Christian lives by faith in the trustworthiness of God and his Word.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).