Attend church regularly Associate often with God’s people. Become an active member of a like-minded, Bible believing church. In the church find fellow believers who read and live the truth that can provide accountability to your commitment to surrender totally to the will of God. Don’t try to make it on your own.
“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.” Hebrews 10:25
Read and obey God’s Word
God’s Word is the source of faith and hope. Read it often, believe it and obey it.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10
Speak with God in prayer
Prayer is conversation and communion with God.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” I John 5:14-15
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
Resist the devil
Temptation is not sin but yielding to temptation is sin. We are called to be overcomers of sin.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Be separated from the sin of the world
As he instructed his chosen people, Israel, to remain apart from the world, He also instructed His church in the New Testament to “come out from among them, and be ye separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) The Bible knows nothing of salvation apart from obedience. A superficial decision to “accept the Lord” while retaining a love for the pleasures of the sin of the world will not yield the power that transforms the soul and consistently overcomes sin.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
Be transformed (fundamentally changed) within
A born again believer considers self-denial and self-discipline a privilege.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
Come out from among sinful men
Christ loved the sinners but not the sin. He was sinless as we should strive to be. How can we be ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) if we participate in sinful activities?
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? …Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17, 18
Practice holiness in your life
By the power of Christ through the Holy Spirit, seek to live an overcoming, pure life in all your thoughts, motives, conversation and actions.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13
Come boldly and with confidence in God, looking forward to the eternal reward
The Bible is the word of truth. If we read it, believe it, and live it we have a promise of heaven forever. We must never give up in this race. As Christ was resurrected from the grave so shall we be resurrected and live with him forever in heaven if we have repented, been redeemed by the blood of Christ, and remain faithful to death.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” Hebrews 3:14
“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17