You’ve made the most significant, life-changing decision possible. Receiving God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ means you are a child of God and will spend eternity with Him in Heaven! You may be wondering what’s next on your spiritual journey as a follower of Christ. This short guide was designed to point you in the right direction. There are things that you need to KNOW, DO and BE as a new believer in Jesus. Let’s get started! Things You Need to KNOW If you sincerely repented of your sins and called out to God for salvation, it is important to know that God has heard you and adopted you as His child (John 1:12; Galatians 4:5). Once a person is redeemed by trusting in Jesus’ death and resurrection, they are permanently changed. You never have to fear losing that loving relationship with God—it is not possible. Jesus said, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:28). God is one being with three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). All are equal and important. God is eternal (Psalm 90:2). He has always existed and always will. God is holy and completely set apart from sin (Luke 1:49). His holiness explains why each person must be made righteous to dwell with God. Now that you are His child, He has cleansed you, and you will never be apart from His presence. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. You may feel like you know so little, but do not worry about that. God will teach you along the way. God has not left you alone on your journey. When you trusted in Christ, He sent the Holy Spirit to seal your salvation, teach you, and guide you (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit dwells in us and empowers us to display God’s character (Galatians 5:22-23). He helps us understand and recall God’s word (John 16:13), and assists us in our prayers (Romans 8:26). Things You Can DO to Grow Your Faith The best way to know God better is through reading the Bible. God inspired human authors to write an account of His character, plan, actions, principles for living, and so much more. Scripture has great value for those who read and study it (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The more you know what the Bible says, the more you will know God. Where should you start reading? While the whole Bible points to Jesus, there are four short “books” within the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that are accounts of Jesus’ life. A good first step would be reading the gospel of John. As you read, look for two things: what did Jesus teach, and what did He do? These things will help you understand Jesus’ character. Believers have the privilege of talking with God in prayer. We should consistently set aside time to speak with God: confessing our sins, sharing our burdens with Him, and praising Him for all He has done (Colossians 4:2). There is never a bad time to reach out to God. We are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). God does not intend for us to walk the Christian life alone (Hebrews 10:25). As members together in a local church, we can learn God’s word, worship together, and use our spiritual gifts to serve others. Ask God to help you find a Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with Him. Soon after you become a Christ-follower, you should talk with someone (perhaps a pastor or the person who led you to Christ) about being baptized in water. Baptism is a public celebration of your new life and commitment to follow Christ. Continue to share your public testimony by telling as many people as you can about how God has saved you and is changing your life (Matthew 28:19). As you seek to do the things God wants you to do, remember that being a child of God is not about checklists and performing. We cannot do things to make God love us more than He already does. Our acceptance is based on the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:7-10). “The kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:4-5). Who God Wants You to BE God wants us to be ones who love Him and others (Mark 12:30-31). He desires that we be surrendered to Him so we can be used for His good purposes (Romans 12:1-2). As challenging as it sounds, we are to be imitators of God as we pursue lives characterized by holiness (Ephesians 5:1-20). He wants us to be aware that life is a spiritual battle. We need to be equipped with His armor of truth, righteousness, and faith so we can resist Satan’s efforts to hinder our relationship with God (Ephesians 6:10-20). God wants us to be examples of His grace, putting our faith into practice as we represent Him in the world (Philippians 2:12-15; 2 Corinthians 5:20). We should respect other people, have patience with them, and be prepared to point them to Jesus (James 1:19; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 Peter 3:15). As you read the Bible, you will find many more guidelines that show who Christians are called to be. When you feed your mind on God’s word and rely on His strength to live out what it says, taking the next steps in your Christian journey will be perfectly natural. God will lead you to put one foot in front of another, and the pattern of your life will change to become more like your Savior. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus The Christian journey is a lifelong process, complete with ups and downs. Along the way, you’ll learn that God is with you at every turn. Keep your focus on Jesus, and put one spiritual foot in front of the other. He will guide your steps and lead you safely home to Heaven. “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). “Unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever” (Jude 24-25). To learn more about your new life in Christ, visit Seeklife.net/next
