If you are a new Christian, you have just started a new life. It can be confusing as you figure out what this means. But the most important part is knowing that you now have a relationship with Jesus Who saved you from your sins so you can spend eternity with Him.
But what is the next step? Fortunately, Jesus doesn't want to wait until we die to have a relationship with us. How do we start that now?
Learn Who Jesus is: You know Jesus is God and the Son of God. You know He died for your sins and rose again on the third day. But what is He really like? Why did He do all these things? To find out, read the Bible, especially the Gospels. Consider starting with the book of John. If you are brand new to the Bible, it's a good idea to start with the book of Genesis to give you a foundational understanding of humanity, God, and God's plan for redemption. Then move on to the gospel of John.
If you don't have a Bible yet, and you'd like to figure out which version to read, try out BibleGateway.org or net.bible.org. You can look over many different versions to see which one you're most comfortable with. Or read our article here.
Learn how to incorporate your new faith into your life: There's a metaphor Christians use to describe salvation: Some people just want the "fire insurance" so they can avoid hell; instead, we should get the "health insurance" so we can live our faith. Being a Christian isn't just about saying a prayer. It's about involving God in your life. Pray to Him, all the time, about everything (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He likes to hear our prayers. Get baptized as a way to show the world that you follow Jesus now. And listen carefully for the leading of the Holy Spirit. When you have a hard choice to make, feel where God is leading you.
Start the road to sanctification: As you grow in your faith, you'll experience a process called sanctification. When you accepted Jesus as your savior, He cleaned your heart. To be sanctified means to be gradually changed so that your attitudes, words, and actions reflect your new heart. The process takes a lifetime, and no one is perfect. It helps to get help. Find a good, Bible-teaching church and join a small group of believers who study the Bible and help each other.
Live your faith: Show the world what you believe and express your new heart. Show Jesus' love by serving others. Get involved with the lives of people in your church. And tell others about Jesus. The Greatest Commandments are to love God and love others. With Jesus' help, we can truly love others in a way that's for their best. And their best is for them to learn about Jesus, too.
When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you became God's child forever. Nothing you do or say or think can take that away. You cannot give away, sin away, or lose your salvation—God is too strong to let you go! All of the things listed above are ways we show appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice; ways we live out our new life. They do not save us, and if we mess up, they won't threaten our salvation. Becoming a new Christian is just the start of a life-long journey that ends in God's arms.
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