Let the redeemed of the LORD say so!
(Psalm 107:2)

Consider the parents that go through the pains of childbirth, have a great celebration over the birth of the child, and then leave the baby in the Maternity Ward saying: "It's a great experience having a baby!" Instead of a real baby living and growing up at home, there is only a memory of that day. Sound inconsistent? Sound unnatural? It is, but some think of faith in the same manner. Somehow they think that praying to receive Jesus or getting saved is all there is to it, and then go about their lives as though nothing happened.

Such an attitude makes one wonder if there was any substance to the professed belief? It's quite possible that for some the motive or maybe the source for believing is not in God, but in self. Some want the feats of Divine revelation that produce magical effects, rather than the faith of Divine revelation that produces godly living. The Christian life is not a one-shot-deal, an event, or an experience. It is a life to be lived. The baby needs to come home. If it is a real baby, it must come home. An imaginary baby can stay forever in an imaginary hospital. Real faith comes home to grow up, mature, and become productive in life - free from the bondage of sin. An imaginary faith adds an imaginary Jesus to the Pantheon, or god-shelf of the heart, so the soul can feel justified while continuing in sin and carnal living.

"Wanton professor" was a term used by John Bunyan in his book called "The Pilgrims Progress" to describe a professed, but imaginary faith. One of his charactors in the book was called "Talkative" who professed faith with his mouth, but lived a life of hypocrisy. His profession was an empty one, void of content, and mere words. Assuming that you, the reader, have more than an empty profession of faith, where do you go from here? After you are born again, what next? Following the analogy of the infant you need to start by going home with your parents. In most cases, people that come to Christ, come because someone has led them. So, if someone led you to Christ, then follow that believer's example and go to church with him or her.

Church is where the new believer matures in faith. The purpose of a true church is to preach and teach Christ, who was crucified, buried, and risen again. A true church teaches the members accurate doctrine from the Word of God, provides opportunities for joint prayer with other believers, and trains believers in missionary outreach.

The church is not a building. It is the assembly of God's people for spiritual growing and outreach. In addition to going to the church for prayer meetings, Bible studies, worship, Communion services, and missions conferences, there are personal-life duties as well. Here are some things a believer must do, many of these are daily activities:

1. Read the Bible [study, memorize, meditate = think about it, and obey it] ( Joshua 1:8)
   
2. Pray with faith in the Name of Christ ( Matthew 21:22)( John 14:13)
   
3. Praise and give thanks to God ( Psalm 50:23)
   
4. Be Baptized ( Acts 10:47)
   
5. Share your faith with others ( Acts 1:8)
   
6. Deny yourself and take up the cross of Christ ( Mark 8:34)
   
7. Expect the soon return of Christ ( Titus 2:13,14)