Welcome to the Family!

Congratulations! If you have recently put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, you have been adopted into the family of God. This is the most life-changing event you will ever experience. You are no longer just who you were before—you are now a beloved child of God, part of his family and invited into a lifelong journey of experiencing his love.

The Privileges of Being in God’s Family

Being adopted into God’s family means you can now enjoy incredible privileges, including:

  • Adopted by God – You are no longer an outsider. God has welcomed you in as His child (Ephesians 1:5).
  • Deeply Loved – God’s love for you is not based on what you do but on who He is (Romans 8:38-39).
  • Completely Forgiven – Every sin—past, present, and future—has been paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice (Colossians 2:13-14).
  • Invited to Draw Near to God – You have direct access to God through Jesus (Hebrews 4:16).
  • Given the Holy Spirit – God Himself dwells in you, helping you grow and live for Him (John 14:16-17).
  • Part of a Global Family – You now belong to the worldwide body of believers in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

The Responsibilities of Being in God’s Family

As a child of God, you are called to grow in your faith and your relationship with Jesus and your fellow Christians. Here are a few key ways to do this:

Read the Bible – The Bible is God’s Word, guiding you in truth and wisdom. Start with the Gospel of John or one of Paul’s letters (Romans, Corinthians, etc.) to learn more about Jesus and the Christian life. There are several good translations of the Bible. RW360 has found the English Standard Version of the Bible to be one of the easiest to read and understand.

Pray Regularly – Prayer is simply talking to God. You can thank him for his goodness to you, confess your struggles, share your heart and ask for his guidance and provision.

Find a Church That is True to Christ – There are many excellent churches in the world, but there are also some that have drifted away from a true and accurate teaching of the Bible’s core truths and instead teach unbiblical principles that people like to hear. Therefore, it is important for you to find a church that is faithful to the traditional, core truths of the Bible (such as those included in RW360’s Statement of Faith) and offers genuine personal relationships that encourage believers to grow in faith and character. Here are some ways to find a dependable church.

    • Read and follow the excellent advice provided in this article: Alistair Begg on Finding a Church.
    • Look for a church that has a “statement of faith” that includes a firm commitment to the authority of the Bible and to the doctrine that people are saved through faith in Christ and not by their own works (see, for example, RW360’s Statement of Faith).
    • If you were led to this webpage because someone gave you a copy of “Hi, I’m Cooper,” ask that person where he or she goes to church.
    • The 9Marks Church Finder is a helpful tool to locate biblically solid churches. There are many other reliable churches that are not included on this list, but this can be a good place to begin searching for a church.

If you are at a time of life where you cannot easily go to church on your own (e.g., in a retirement home or hospital), you can sometimes find a church service in your facility on Sunday. You could also contact churches near you to see if they have someone who could pick you up on Sunday morning. If nothing else, try to find a service on the radio, YouTube or the internet or other Christians in your building who will get together with you on Sunday to read God’s Word, share words of praise and worship, and pray together.

Build Christian Friendships – Surround yourself with believers who will encourage and challenge you in your walk with Christ. A key wisdom principle to follow is, “If you want to grow in faith and character, look for mature and respected Christians and spend as much time as you can with them.” Their character will rub off on you.

Live Out Your Faith – Faith isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about transformation. Seek to obey God, love others, and grow in holiness. One way to start this process is to go through RW360’s free Transformed by the Gospel Bible Study.

Grow in Christlikeness – Grow in your ability to live out the two greatest commandments Christ gave: Love God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself (see Matt. 22:38-40 and Col. 3:12-14). One way to grow like this is to go through RW360’s online courses in Relational Wisdom and Relational Peacemaking.

You Are Not Alone

This journey is one of lifelong learning and growth, but the good news is that God walks with you every step of the way. Welcome to the family of God! Keep seeking Him, and He will faithfully guide you (Philippians 1:6).

~ Ken and Corlette Sande