What should I do if I'm a new Christian?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

As a new Christian, welcome to the family of God! Now, you start your journey of growing in faith! You are not what causes growth—the Holy Spirit works in you to transform your heart and mind, but your role is to seek to grow. You can do that first by learning about Jesus, with the Gospel of John being a great place to begin. Growing in faith also involves seeking the Lord through prayer, reading the Bible, worshiping, and connecting with other believers who can help you grow and point you to Jesus. As you learn God’s Word, the Holy Spirit illuminates truth, convicts of sin, and leads you to repentance and righteousness. Having gone from death to life, believers now die to self and pursue sanctification. As we surrender and come to Him, God transforms our thoughts, words, and actions to reflect our new life in Christ. Doing this allows us to boldly live out our faith, letting Christ’s light shine through us as a testimony to the world.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• What to do if you’re a new Christian is not found in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• New believers should learn about Jesus. A great place to start is the gospels, specifically the book of John. In this gospel, Jesus is called by John the Baptist the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29), and He describes Himself as God’s “only begotten Son” (John 3:16 [KJV]), “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25–26), and “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The book of John highlights Jesus’s deity, too—which is foundational to the Christian faith.
• New believers should incorporate new faith in daily life. You can pray to God “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), study God’s word so as to be “equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17), and get connected with other Christians—serving them and others with your spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11).
• New believers should listen carefully to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In order to discern what is from the Holy Spirit and what is not, you need to be firmly rooted in God’s Word since it is “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). You should also regularly be in prayer to receive God’s wisdom (James 1:5) and to experience the Holy Spirit speaking on your behalf when needed (Romans 8:26–27).
• New believers should pursue sanctification. To be sanctified means to be gradually changed so that your attitudes, words, and actions reflect your new heart. In Galatians 2:20, it says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Clearly, God has already begun your sanctification process. Since your old self has been put to death, you should live freely in your new identity in Christ—not letting anything enslave you (Romans 6:6).
• New believers should live out their faith. You should show the world what you believe. Matthew 5:14–16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” With Jesus's help, you can love others in a way that will inspire them to learn more about Jesus.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

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 thing to know is that you now have a relationship with Jesus, who saved you from your sins, so you can spend eternity with Him. 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, earn or lose your salvation—God is too strong to let you go! You can show appreciation for Jesus's sacrifice and express this in the way you live out your new life. Simply put, becoming a new Christian is just the start of the eternal journey of growing in Christ.

UNDERSTAND

• New Christians have been given new life and are called to live in that by pursuing Christ.
• New Christians can grow through prayer, Scripture, worship, and fellowship.
• The Holy Spirit produces new life and growth in believers as we surrender to God.

REFLECT

• What is a believer’s role in growing in faith versus God’s role?
• How have you seen the Holy Spirit guiding or convicting you since becoming a Christian?
• What challenges do you face in living out your faith, and what helps you live in victory over them?

ENGAGE

• How can we encourage and support new believers in their journey of faith?
• What role does Christian community play in helping us grow spiritually, and how can we strengthen it?
• How can we discern the Holy Spirit’s leading in our daily lives and decisions?