New believer concerns over sin & not doing enough

Q: I became Christian at the beginning of Easter this year. At the beginning of my journey I went all in, no cussing etc. tried to live as pure as possible. I attended church every Sunday for around a couple of months. Now I feel myself falling off, I do believe in God and I continue to read the bible. It does feel like sin is creeping in though. The believers journey isn't as easy, God is teaching me to be humble to the fact that to follow the path can have more suffer when it comes to seperating yourself from the world. I do not drink or smoke marijuana anymore, & that is something I won't go back to. However when around work collegues I cuss, and also haven't quit vaping yet. I need to.

I have got into volunteering and help feeding the homeless every weekend but...I get the feeling I am not doing enough, and I just feel like I still need to do more to chisel down my worldly life. 

I heard believers always suffered with the guilt of sin, it is true no one can be like Jesus but the Holy Spirit knows where I fall short and I feel it. Like two halves of me fighting. Do you ever felt this way? Either way I won't let go of God, even when what I do I know displeases them. Advice?

A: My born again birthday is also in the Easter/Resurrection Day season. 

Here are some helps...

Regarding sin: It would be great if we never sinned again after getting saved, while still on earth. But since we are here, and stuck in these sin stained bodies - God has made it so it works out for our good. It becomes a blessing while we are stuck here... since we grow over time through sanctification - it actually has benefits and blessings. 

Here are some: We get to know God better, deeper, and become more gracious, forgiving & loving to ourselves and others; even towards the unsaved. It allows us to thank, praise and glorify God, and we get closer to Him in prayer and our lives too. These are something of the ways sanctification is good for us.

Also He has given us a righteous nature when he made us a new creation at salvation. We were gifted the Holy Spirit (at that time) who sealed us to God, and he indwells us. He is our Teacher and Guide, who also gifted us with the Fruit of the Spirit, and spiritual gifts to use in the church among the brethren as we serve Him. 

And by the fruit and tools God gave us [such as Scripture & wearing the armor of God] it helps us to combat, kill, conquer & have victory over sin. 🎉

These take time, so just take everything one day at a time 😊. We live in the world and get tainted by it until we conquer those areas of sin and temptation so they no longer have any pull on us. They're dead to us and have 0 interest. 

Here are some thorough resources to help with these things. Helps to know for continued combating sin by understand God, God's holiness, sin, how to use the Armour of God, and conquer specific sins, can be found here, & how to grow in faith and a deeper love towards God.

Regarding "doing" enough: 

God tells is in Scripture that He not only has put the born again believers in the Lambs Book of Life before the world began, but also that for those in Christ, he has pre planned also the Good works he will do through us. So there is no need fir anxiety over not doing enough; but don't look for those opportunities daily. God has given us gifts to use to benefit the brethren at church, and those he transformed will radiate out the love of God towards unbelievers, showing them grace, forgiveness, mercy, patience, and in gentleness answering their questions, and giving truth to reach people for Christ. Our good works can sometimes include charity but charity is always to be in conjunction with sharing thr gospel. We are not to just feed the body and not the soul. Jesus turned people away who were only looking for free hand outs. We have the most important message everyone needs, and they need it urgently since tomorrow is never guaranteed. 

It is good, and probably best, if you are focused on reading & studying Scripture as a new believer, and not involved in those other ministries until you are an approved workman who can rightly divide the Word. You need to know it well enough (prior) so when people ask you questions or have negativity/ objections [which basically holds an underlying question] you don't need to be ashamed since you can answer it. Most new believers should not be involved in ministry for 3 years. This is to ensure 1. The fruit of their salvation appears evident to all, to show theyre a true convert. & 2. The believer is mature enough in the Word. 

Even Paul showed us 3 years is key. The church should not be allowing a new believer to serve in the church until then, as you could really mess up in your behavior or something you say and it pushes people off of Christisnity and God. 

Yes you should know how to articulate the Gospel to others and your testimony, since you recieved and obeyed it in order to become Christian. 

To help fast track you in your growth, in addition to your daily reading in the Scriptures you can go through the Foundations section linked in the above (somewhere 😅, as you go thru it) and the believers resources (a treasure trove). Plus helps on getting equipped in Evangelism (as you get further along in the believers resource). 

May God bless & guide you.