The Christian Life: A Biblical Guide for the New Believer

By Roberto Tinoco

Many people begin the Christian life with enthusiasm, but when difficulties come to their lives they abandon the race and leave the Lord. This book has been written to help the new believer to walk with Christ but also as a tool for pastors and teachers that work in the formation of new believers. In this book, the reader will learn: details about the Christian life, it's importance and basic themes about faith that will help them understand their new life in Christ. They will learn about the need to grow spiritually, about the significance of their conversion, and about its application in their everyday life and what waits for a converted person. They will also learn that Christians will confront struggles, trials, and temptations everyday but these are part of the process of growth. Furthermore, the reader will learn about living in the Holy Spirit and how this can influence not only their behavior but also their personal development. In this book, there are lessons about prayer, fasting, studying the Bible, and how to implement these practices in their everyday lives. Lastly, this book teaches on the importance of assisting church, how to live a blessed life, personal relationships and how to serve God in this new life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664268845

Roberto Tinoco

Doctor Roberto Tinoco is a Christian minister who has dedicated more than twenty years to pastoral care and the training of Christian leaders. He graduated from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Arts and Religion and from the McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago Illinois, where he obtained a Doctorate in Ministry. He has been married for more than thirty years to his wife Normita with whom he has three children; Becky, Alex and Bobby. He is currently pastor of one of the Churches of the Apostolic Assembly; located in the city of Homestead Florida, where he has served as District Bishop.

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Copyright © 2022 Roberto Tinoco.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6885-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6886-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6884-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911130

WestBow Press rev. date: 06/15/2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Christian Life

Chapter 2 Growing In Christ

Chapter 3 Conversion

Chapter 4 Struggles, Trials, And Temptations

Chapter 5 The Armor of God

Chapter 6 Life In the Holy Spirit

Chapter 7 Prayer

Chapter 8 Fasting

Chapter 9 Bible Study and Bible Reading

Chapter 10 Attending The House of the Lord

Chapter 11 The Blessed Life

Chapter 12 Personal Relationships

Chapter 13 God’s Calling

Chapter 14 Called to Evangelize

Bibliography

FOREWORD

I have the great pleasure and privilege of presenting this book, whose author is not only a colleague from the ministry, but also a great friend that God has granted me. About the present work of his, I will say that it is not an easy task to present complex topics in a simple and friendly way, but the author has certainly achieved it. I am sure that the book The Christian Life will find its way into many libraries, not just Church ministers; but also, of lay people who seek to accumulate knowledge on these exciting topics and share them with others; especially with those who take their first steps on the beautiful path of Faith in Christ Jesus. I congratulate and thank Bishop Roberto Tinoco for bringing us this precious guide to the abundant life that Jesus promised us; and I encourage the reader to go beyond the pages of the book, and dare to put into practice the wise principles that are shared in it. Also, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed it.

Gabriel Pereira das Neves

Lisboa, Portugal.

May 2022.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Christian Life is a book that God allowed me to write as a tool for pastors, ministers and leaders; for the task of training all those who begin their new life in Christ. That is why I want to thank God for the privilege he gives me to be able to write about this topic that is so interesting and fundamental for the Christian life. I thank my wife, Normita, and my three children, Becky, Alex, and Bobby, for their unconditional support of my ministry as well as many other colleagues from the ministry for their continue support. I want to thank sister Jessica Rojas, for translating, revising and correcting this book. Finally, I thank the Church of Homestead, Florida, which has been my training workshop for the ministry; for your understanding and support. God bless you all, always.

Dr Roberto Tinoco

Homestead FL. USA

May 2022.

INTRODUCTION

The Christian life is something very beautiful that is experienced from the day one converts to the Lord. It is wonderful to walk close to Jesus, to know that He is with you, and to enjoy His presence and blessings. However, in the Christian life –although it is beautiful– we cannot rule out that there are many setbacks, struggles, and tribulations. Many people start the Christian life with enthusiasm, but when the struggles and trials come, they give up the race and leave the Lord. That is why this book deals with topics that are of vital importance to live in victory.

It is necessary to clarify that this book has been designed to help those who have begun to walk with Christ or are newly converted; and it does not include the fundamental doctrines that are usually taught before baptism. However, this book can be used by pastors, ministers, and leaders to help all those new members of the body of Christ, to learn the basics of the Christian life.

In this book the reader will learn details about the Christian life, its meaning, and the basic topics of the faith that will help them understand their new life in Christ. In addition, they will learn about the need to grow in Christ, using the resources that God has provided for the new believer to grow to resemble Christ, and reach maturity. They will learn about the meaning of conversion and its application in daily life; and the regenerate life, its implications, and what is expected of a person converted to Christ. They will also learn that Christians face struggles, trials, and temptations every day, but that these are part of the growth process. The reader will learn how to emerge victorious from each of these situations; if they use the spiritual weapons that God has given them well.

In addition, the reader will learn about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and how it can influence not only behavior but also the development of their spiritual life. In addition, in this book we will teach about the spiritual disciplines: prayer, fasting, and Bible study. The reader will also learn fundamental basics and how to implement these practices in their daily lives. Finally, this book will teach about the importance of the believer to attend church, worship God, and live a blessed life in Christ; and about their personal relationships and the call of God to serve and testify to other people of what God has done in their life.

We believe that this book will be a blessing for everyone who begins their walk with Christ, and that it will help them in every area of their life to better serve God and His Church. Therefore, we advise that it be studied, and carefully consider what is presented here.

Chapter 1

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

—2 Corinthians 5:17

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INTRODUCTION

Life in Christ is the most wonderful thing that can exist; however, we must learn how to live it. Many people approach the church looking for a solution to their problems and, in fact, it is precisely in the church where they can find that solution. But getting closer to the church is not the only thing people should do. The Christian life encompasses much more than attending a Christian temple. In this walk with Christ, believers are often seen simply passing through the Church. They give themselves to Christ and are baptized, but later, when problems or difficulties come, they unfortunately abandon the way. This is probably because they were not ready to serve God, or they did not know the basics of the Christian life. In this chapter, the reader will learn how the Christian life is lived and what God expects of the believer. In addition, we will offer several tips to make this journey a blessed experience.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

The Christian life is the lifestyle that the believer adopts when converting to Christ, the way of living that Jesus taught through His Apostles, and the church that He established. When someone is called by Christ, there is a conversion to a new life, a new way of being, and a new realm to belong to. The apostle Paul clearly states this in 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Every person who has been converted to Christ experiences a change of life, sometimes even a change of occupation or activity. Let’s look at some examples.

Peter and Andrew were the first men that Jesus recruited to be His disciples, with words as powerful as these: Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19). They were fishermen by trade, who, at being called by Jesus, did not hesitate to leave their nets, and follow the Master. From then on, we see them in the gospels and the book of Acts walking with Jesus, doing the things that Jesus does, and ultimately leading the Lord’s Church.

Jacob and John also changed their lives and jobs. Just like Peter and Andrew, they were fishermen but when they were called by Jesus, they left their nets and their father, and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:21–22). Jacob and John understood that a new stage of their lives was beginning, and their usual trade would be changed for a new one. From that day forward, they would become fishers of men. The fact of leaving the fish nets—which represented the method of generating their income and the sustenance for their respective families—meant they would be entering a stage of total dependence on Jesus, under the promise that they would lack nothing. It also implied a connection to a new family, as they left their father to be adopted into the family of Jesus.

Matthew was a tax collector who left his paid job to follow Jesus (Matthew 9:9). Just like the fishermen, Matthew embarked on an unprecedented adventure. From the moment he went after Jesus, Matthew would depend on what Jesus did for him, since his work as a tax collector was in the past.

Paul was a law-zealous Jew who persecuted the church and believed that he was doing good for the faith of his nation. But when he was confronted by Jesus, he changed his way of life. God dealt with him drastically, leaving him blind, but upon receiving Christ and being baptized, he was healed and immediately began to preach the Gospel. Acts 9 tells us that the people were stunned when they heard Paul. Study this chapter.

These biblical examples teach us that everyone who is called by Jesus to follow Him will have to leave something or change something and start a new life. When you made the commitment to serve Jesus, you started a new stage of your life, but you need to learn to go through it and to properly live your new life in Christ.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RACE

An excellent analogy to illustrate the Christian life is the racetrack. Paul uses this analogy in some of his letters. Let us take this into consideration. The Christian life, according to the apostle Paul, is like an athletic race where we are all runners (2 Timothy 4:7). According to the Apostle, all believers are in a race that began the day we were baptized and will end when the Lord decides to take us with Him. Paul also says that we must all run to obtain the prize (1 Corinthians 9.24). From this analogy we can learn several things, which we will detail below.

Races and Their Resemblance to the Christian Life

In athletics there are several types of races. For example, short- and long- distance races, obstacle races, relay races, and field races, among others. Some of the races that were practiced in the time of the Apostles (and are still practiced today) are closely related to the Christian life. Let’s see:

1. Long-distance races. They are the longest races in the world of athletics. The distances of these races vary from five kilometers to forty-two kilometers, which is the distance of a marathon. The relationship of this type of race to the Christian life is that the Christian race is not short or medium distance, but long. It is a race that lasts a lifetime. As believers we must understand that being a Christian is a race for life and not just for a few months or years. One must be a Christian until death!

2. Obstacle course. In this race, the athlete must complete a certain distance by jumping over some