I discovered basketball at age 10. I remember watching it on TV and seeing my older siblings play and wanting to emulate them. Then I joined a team and realized how much I had to learn to play with those better than me. 

When we come to faith in God through Jesus Christ, it can look like that. We’re excited about a new life and journey, but also nervous because we think, “I have no idea what I am doing.”

We have a great starting point in Romans 5:8-11:

“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.  And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.”

Here are some points from this passage that can give us a good foundation as we begin our new life in Christ:

SALVATION THROUGH DEATH

The word ‘saved’ in verse 9 means to be ‘made safe.’ When we repent and follow Christ, we are made safe by Christ’s work on the cross. 

Isaiah 53:5 speaks of the coming Messiah (Jesus) who would be pierced, crushed, punished, and wounded for us.

We were standing in the sights of God’s holy wrath to be punished for sin. But by turning away from our sinful lives to pursue Christ, we are spared that wrath because Jesus took the punishment on the cross. 

NEW LIFE THROUGH RESURRECTION

Following Christ is following a Savior who is not dead. Matthew, Mark and Luke all use the phrase ‘He has risen’ when speaking of Jesus’ empty grave. John 20 records Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Lord. In 1 Peter 1:3, the apostle Peter said we have a “living hope” because our Savior is alive.

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