How does a new believer in Jesus Christ learn about her new faith in God? You don’t want to flitter around trying to figure things out, so here are some important steps that will help you to develop the most important relationship you’ll ever have!
I’m thrilled that you are reading this because it means that you made a decision to follow Jesus Christ! And that is the most exciting news I’ve heard all day! Let’s go over some important steps for the new believer to follow. Are you ready?
Did you just come here from making your decision on which eternal destination you want to have? If you chose eternal life, you made the right decision!
First of all, let me say, Congratulations on accepting Christ as your Lord and Saviour! You are embarking on an exciting journey with God. This journey is a day-by-day walk with God as He will never leave you alone, Hebrews 13:5, and is with you always, Matthew 28:20.
You are probably asking yourself, what do I do next now that I have put my faith in Jesus Christ?
Table of Contents
6 Steps for the New Believer
Here are six vitally important steps for you to take next to ensure that you grow in your newfound faith in God:
1. The New Believer Should Make Time for God
First, you need to make time to be with God. He wants to spend time with you and you can do that through prayer and reading the Bible.
Prayer is simply having a conversation with God, much as you have with your family or friends. He already knows what you are thinking, Psalm 139:4, but He wants to hear you talk with Him because He is ready to talk with you. Not so much in an audible voice but in your spirit and through the words in your Bible.
It’s important to spend time with God on a daily basis. Decide to give Him the first part of your day, that way you have peace throughout the rest of your day and can tackle anything that comes your way.
2. The New Believer Needs to Get a Bible
To hear from God, you will need a Bible. To learn about God, you will need a Bible. Your Bible will become your most treasured possession as it contains all the truth you need as you journey through life with God.
There are many different versions of Bibles. My preference is the King James Version (KJV) but that may not suit you. My second preference is the New King James Version (NKJV). You may like the New American Standard Bible (NASB) or even the English Standard Version (ESV). Whichever Bible you decide on, ensure that it is a word-for-word translation and not a thought-for-thought translation. Word-for-word translations are more accurate to the Hebrew and Greek languages.
If you like to use your mobile device, you may consider installing a Bible app such as Bible Gateway or Blue Letter Bible. Even the Gideons Bible App is a good choice. As you go through the Bible app, you can find a version that suits you, then you may want to purchase a Bible from your local Christian Bookstore or online.
A great place to start reading would be in the Gospels. I would begin with the Book of John in the New Testament. It is the fourth Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
3. The New Believer Needs to Find a Bible-believing Church
With so many churches around, you may find it overwhelming to determine which is a good church to attend. You may have to ‘church shop’ for a few months before you find one that teaches the whole Bible. You may want to read this post by Melissa, at Cups to Crowns, who has a great post about finding a new church and things to consider when searching for a home church.
One thing to know about ‘church’ is that though we usually refer to it is a building, church is actually the people. Everyone who is born-again is a member of God’s family and we all are known as the Church.
A good way to do this is to pray first, asking God where to lead you. I remember when He continued to impress upon me to attend a particular church. The first time I walked through the doors, I knew that I knew this was the church for me to attend. These were my people even though I didn’t even know them yet. God will do that for you too.
4. The New Believer Should Be Baptized in Water
Water baptism doesn’t save a person, that we already know, but it is an outward act of an inward decision. It is a way of publicly proclaiming your faith to the world that you are following Jesus.
Water baptism simply means to be immersed in water. This is the baptism that John the Baptist preached. Jesus, Himself, was also baptized in water by John the Baptist, Matthew 3:16,17.
The act of water baptism is an identification of yourself with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, Romans 6:3-4. It is also a step of obedience and a public declaration of your faith in Christ.
5. The New Believer Should Join a Bible Study Group
The fifth step for the new believer is to begin a Bible study. One way you will grow quickly and accurately is through regular Bible Study. Some churches have Bible study groups held in homes called “life groups” or “connect groups.” Some study groups are held at the church, but either way, search for a group that fits you. You might be looking at age-related groups or a young moms group or even a women’s study group.
If you don’t live close to a church and you are looking for someone to study with, call a local church to ask the Pastor or spiritual leaders if there is anyone who lives out your way who could study with you.
If that isn’t feasible, then there are many online Bible study groups on Facebook. Or, if you would like a recommendation for a FB group, you can get in touch with me.
6. And Finally, Develop Connections with Other Believers
The last of the six steps for the new believer is to develop connections with other believers. Preferably this will be someone who is mature in faith and can disciple or mentor you. Definitely, she can encourage you, Hebrews 3:13; 10:24, and help you in your daily walk.
The Bible talks about the importance of finding godly friends, and in 1 Corinthians 15:33, it speaks of bad influences who are not good for Christians. So, be careful who you choose to hang out with so you are not misled in any way.
It’s important to be held accountable for your actions. If you can, ask a friend or two to ensure you are spending time with God in prayer and reading the Bible. Better yet, maybe you can join together in prayer and study. That would be awesome!
Some of your friends may not have come to faith in Christ, and may not understand your decision. It is important that you continue to be their friends, loving them and praying for them.
It’s okay to develop new friendships from a faith perspective as this relationship will be the one that feeds your faith. It’s possible that when you develop new Christian friends, you may find that you are not seeing your long-time friends as often. Talk to God about that as there may be reasons for the shift in friendships. He knows about that and He’ll guide you in what you should do.
That’s a Wrap
Well, there you have it. Six vital steps for the new believer. These steps will lead you in the right direction to a close relationship with God.
If you missed the first part of this message, you can click here to read Understanding Salvation for New Believers.
I would love to hear from you. Would you please leave me a comment telling me that you made your decision to follow Jesus and now you are working on these next steps as a new believer?
Once again, I’m so excited for you!
In Him We Live,
~ Cindy
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