Lesson 2: What to Do After You’re Saved
After you are saved, the Christian life has just begun.
Salvation is not the end of your walk with God. It is the beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV
That is a wonderful truth.
When a person is saved, he does not merely receive a new religious label. He becomes a new creature in Christ. God begins a real work in his life.
But many people ask an important question:
What do I do now?
After you repent and believe on Jesus Christ, what should come next?
Should you try to change everything in one day?
Should you wait until you understand the whole Bible?
Should you hide your faith until you feel stronger?
Should you keep living exactly as before?
Should you simply attend church sometimes and hope that is enough?
No.
A new believer should begin walking with Jesus Christ one faithful step at a time.
Colossians 2:6 says:
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in him:”
— Colossians 2:6, KJV
You received Christ by faith.
Now walk in Him by faith.
This lesson will give simple first steps for someone who has been saved and wants to begin following Jesus Christ.
Understand That You Belong to a New Life
The first thing to understand is that salvation brings you into a new life.
You are not supposed to continue as though nothing has changed.
Ephesians 5:8 says:
“For ye were sometimes darkness,
but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”
— Ephesians 5:8, KJV
Notice the words:
were and now.
There is a before and after.
Before Christ, you were in darkness.
Now, if you are saved, you are light in the Lord.
That means your life should begin moving in a new direction.
You may not know everything yet. You may still have habits that need to change. You may still have questions. You may still feel weak. You may still need teaching, correction, and growth.
But you must understand this:
You are not called to stay the same.
God saved you from sin, not so you could remain comfortable in it, but so you could walk in newness of life.
Do not measure your new life only by emotions. Some people feel great joy immediately. Others feel peace. Others feel relief. Others may feel sober, serious, or even aware of how much they need to learn.
Feelings may vary.
But the truth of God’s Word stands.
If you are in Christ, you are a new creature.
Now begin walking as one.
Thank God for Saving You
One of the first things a saved person should do is thank God.
Do not move too quickly past the mercy of salvation.
You were lost.
You needed mercy.
You could not save yourself.
Jesus Christ died for sins, rose again, and is able to save.
If God has saved you, that is not a small thing.
Psalm 107:2 says:
“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”
— Psalm 107:2, KJV
A saved person should have gratitude.
Thank God that Jesus Christ came.
Thank God for the blood of Christ.
Thank God for mercy.
Thank God for the truth of the gospel.
Thank God for conviction.
Thank God for opening your eyes.
Thank God that He did not leave you in darkness.
Gratitude helps protect your heart from treating salvation casually.
A new believer should pray something like this:
“Lord, thank You for saving me. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ. Thank You for mercy. Help me never take salvation lightly. Teach me now how to follow You.”
Begin with thanksgiving.
Ask the Lord What He Wants You to Do
A saved person should have a new question in his heart:
Lord, what do You want me to do?
When Saul of Tarsus met the Lord on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:6 says:
“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
— Acts 9:6, KJV
That is the right question.
Before salvation, a person often lives by asking:
“What do I want?”
“What will make me happy?”
“What will people think?”
“What can I get away with?”
“What is easiest?”
“What does the world approve?”
But after salvation, the question changes.
Now the heart begins to ask:
“Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
That does not mean you will understand everything at once. It does not mean you will instantly know every step of your future. But it does mean your heart should be turned toward obedience.
A new believer should not begin the Christian life with rebellion.
Begin by yielding.
Say to God:
“Lord, teach me.”
“Lord, lead me.”
“Lord, correct me.”
“Lord, show me what pleases You.”
“Lord, help me obey what I already know.”
This is a safe beginning.
Desire the Word of God
A new believer needs the Bible.
1 Peter 2:2 says:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word,
that ye may grow thereby:”
— 1 Peter 2:2, KJV
A newborn baby needs milk.
A new believer needs the Word of God.
You do not need to understand the whole Bible immediately. You do not need to know every doctrine on your first day. You do not need to answer every hard question right away.
But you do need to begin receiving God’s Word.
The Bible will teach you who God is.
It will show you who Jesus Christ is.
It will teach you what God loves.
It will warn you about sin.
It will correct your thinking.
It will strengthen your faith.
It will guide your steps.
It will help you grow.
Start simply.
Read a little each day.
Read with prayer.
Read with humility.
Read expecting God to teach you.
A good place for many new believers to begin is the Gospel of John, because it shows clearly who Jesus Christ is and why He came. Then continue reading the New Testament while also learning the Old Testament over time.
Do not wait until you feel like an expert.
Begin eating the sincere milk of the Word.
Growth starts there.
Begin Talking to God in Prayer
A saved person should begin praying.
Prayer is not only for pastors, preachers, or people who know fancy religious words. Prayer is talking to God sincerely from the heart.
You can begin simply.
“Lord, thank You.”
“Lord, help me.”
“Lord, teach me Your Word.”
“Lord, forgive me where I fall short.”
“Lord, help me obey You.”
“Lord, keep me from sin.”
“Lord, guide me today.”
“Lord, make me more like Jesus.”
Do not think you must impress God with long speeches.
God wants truth in the heart.
Psalm 62:8 says:
“Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
— Psalm 62:8, KJV
Pour out your heart before Him.
Tell God your need.
Tell Him your weakness.
Tell Him your questions.
Ask for wisdom.
Ask for strength.
Ask for understanding.
Ask for help to walk in the new life He has given you.
Prayer is not a performance.
It is dependence.
A new believer should begin learning to depend on God daily.
Do Not Try to Grow Without God’s Help
Some people are saved and then immediately try to change themselves by their own strength.
They say:
“I will never struggle again.”
“I will fix everything myself.”
“I will prove I am serious.”
“I will become strong by willpower.”
But the Christian life cannot be lived by fleshly strength.
Jesus said in John 15:5:
“…for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:5, KJV
A new believer must learn early:
You need Jesus every day.
You need grace.
You need the Word.
You need prayer.
You need correction.
You need strength from God.
You need help from the Holy Ghost.
You should want to obey. You should take sin seriously. You should make changes where God shows you. But do not think you can walk with God by your own power.
Depend on the Lord.
When you are weak, pray.
When you are tempted, pray.
When you are confused, pray.
When you fall, come back to God quickly.
When you do not know what to do, ask Him for wisdom.
A new believer does not need to pretend to be strong.
He needs to stay close to the One who is strong.
Be Baptized as a Public Identification With Christ
After salvation, a believer should be baptized.
Baptism does not save you. The blood of Jesus Christ saves. Baptism is not a substitute for repentance and faith. But baptism is an important step of obedience and public identification with the Lord.
In Acts 2:41, after people received the Word, the Bible says:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…”
— Acts 2:41, KJV
Baptism is a public testimony that you belong to Jesus Christ.
It points to death, burial, and resurrection.
Romans 6:4 says:
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4, KJV
Baptism does not mean you are already mature.
It means you are identifying with Christ.
It says publicly:
“I belong to Jesus Christ.”
“I am not ashamed of Him.”
“My old life is not my master.”
“I want to walk in newness of life.”
If you have been saved and have not been baptized as a believer, ask a faithful biblical church or pastor about baptism.
Do not treat baptism lightly.
It is one of the early steps of obedience.
Find Faithful Christian Fellowship
A new believer should not try to walk alone.
After the early believers were saved and baptized, Acts 2:42 says:
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
— Acts 2:42, KJV
Notice that they continued together.
They needed doctrine.
They needed fellowship.
They needed prayer.
They needed life with other believers.
A new believer should seek a faithful church where the Bible is taught, Jesus Christ is exalted, sin is taken seriously, the gospel is clear, and believers are encouraged to obey God.
Do not choose a church only because it is entertaining.
Do not choose only because it is popular.
Do not choose only because it is close to your house.
Do not choose only because people are friendly, though kindness matters.
Ask:
Is the Bible taught faithfully?
Is Jesus Christ honored as Lord and Saviour?
Is the gospel clear?
Is sin confronted biblically?
Is holiness encouraged?
Is prayer important?
Are believers being taught to follow Christ?
A later lesson will explain the local church more fully. For now, understand this: new believers need faithful fellowship.
Isolation is dangerous.
God did not design His people to grow alone.
Tell Someone What the Lord Has Done
A saved person should not be ashamed of Jesus Christ.
You may not be ready to answer every question. You may not know how to explain every doctrine. You may still be learning.
But you can tell someone what the Lord has done for you.
In Mark 5:19, Jesus told a man whom He had delivered:
“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee,
and hath had compassion on thee.”
— Mark 5:19, KJV
That is simple.
Tell what the Lord has done.
You do not have to exalt yourself.
You do not have to pretend you were better than you were.
You do not have to make your story dramatic.
Just be honest.
“I needed Jesus Christ.”
“I was lost.”
“God had mercy on me.”
“I have trusted Christ.”
“I want to follow Him now.”
Some people may rejoice.
Some may not understand.
Some may mock.
Some may ask questions you cannot yet answer.
That is okay.
You can say, “I am still learning, but I know the Lord has had mercy on me.”
A new believer should begin to be identified with Jesus Christ.
Turn From Known Sinful Influences
A saved person should begin turning away from anything he already knows is pulling him back toward sin.
You may not understand every issue yet. You may need time to learn and grow. But when God clearly shows you something is sinful, harmful, or spiritually dangerous, do not cling to it.
2 Timothy 2:19 says:
“…Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
— 2 Timothy 2:19, KJV
This may involve entertainment.
It may involve habits.
It may involve conversations.
It may involve relationships.
It may involve places.
It may involve things hidden on a phone or computer.
It may involve music, videos, images, substances, anger, lying, fornication, bitterness, dishonesty, or other sins.
Do not try to carry your old life into your new walk with Christ.
If something is clearly leading you away from God, begin separating from it.
This does not mean you will instantly know how to handle every situation. It does not mean you should become proud or harsh toward others. It means you must take sin seriously and obey what God shows you.
A saved person should not make peace with the sins Jesus came to save him from.
Do Not Be Surprised by Spiritual Battle
After you are saved, you may expect everything to become easy.
But the Christian life includes spiritual battle.
You may face temptation.
You may face old desires.
You may face questions.
You may face discouragement.
You may face pressure from people who do not understand.
You may face accusations in your mind.
You may face the pull of old habits.
Do not think this means salvation is not real.
New life does not mean there will be no battle.
Galatians 5:17 says:
“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:
and these are contrary the one to the other…”
— Galatians 5:17, KJV
There is conflict.
The flesh will not gladly surrender.
The world will not encourage holiness.
The devil does not want you to grow.
But God is able to help you.
Do not be shocked when battle comes.
Do not quit when you feel resistance.
Do not return to sin because the path is harder than you expected.
Keep walking with Christ.
Do Not Wait Until You Feel Mature to Obey
Some new believers delay obedience because they feel unqualified.
They say:
“I do not know enough yet.”
“I am too new.”
“I need to understand more first.”
“I will obey later when I am stronger.”
It is true that you need to grow. But you can obey what God has already made clear.
You may not understand the whole Bible, but you can begin reading.
You may not know how to pray deeply, but you can begin praying honestly.
You may not know how to witness fully, but you can tell someone the Lord had mercy on you.
You may not know all doctrine, but you can obey the truth you do know.
You may not know everything about holiness, but you can turn from known sin.
Luke 16:10 says:
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…”
— Luke 16:10, KJV
Be faithful with the light you have.
God will teach you more.
A new believer should not be careless, but neither should he be paralyzed.
Take the next faithful step.
Be Patient With Growth, But Serious About Obedience
Growth takes time.
A baby does not become mature overnight.
A new believer will need teaching, correction, practice, patience, and strengthening. You may read the Bible and not understand everything. You may pray awkwardly. You may stumble while learning to walk. You may need help from mature believers.
Do not despair.
2 Peter 3:18 says:
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”
— 2 Peter 3:18, KJV
Growth is expected.
But patience with growth is not the same as carelessness with sin.
Do not say, “I am still growing,” as an excuse to ignore clear disobedience.
And do not say, “I am not mature yet,” as a reason to give up.
Be patient, but be serious.
Be humble, but be obedient.
Keep learning.
Keep confessing.
Keep following.
Keep growing.
Learn the Difference Between Conviction and Condemnation
A new believer may feel deeply aware of sin and weakness.
That can be painful, but it can also be a mercy.
God may convict you when something is wrong. Conviction draws you toward confession, correction, and obedience.
Condemnation, however, tries to drive you into hopelessness.
Conviction says, “Come to God and make this right.”
Condemnation says, “There is no hope for you.”
Conviction points you to Christ.
Condemnation tries to make you hide from Him.
Romans 8:1 says:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
— Romans 8:1, KJV
A saved person should take sin seriously, but he should not run from God in despair.
When God convicts you, come to Him.
Confess.
Receive mercy.
Obey.
Keep walking.
Do not let shame become your hiding place.
Let Christ be your refuge.
Do Not Build Your New Life on Excitement Alone
When someone first comes to Christ, there may be strong emotion.
Joy.
Relief.
Gratitude.
Peace.
Zeal.
Excitement.
Those can be good gifts.
But your Christian life must not be built on excitement alone.
Feelings rise and fall.
Some days you may feel strong. Other days you may feel weak.
Some days the Bible may feel sweet. Other days you may struggle to focus.
Some days prayer may feel easy. Other days it may feel dry.
Do not let changing feelings decide whether you will follow Jesus.
Faithfulness matters.
1 Corinthians 4:2 says:
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV
A new believer should learn early:
Follow Jesus when you feel excited.
Follow Jesus when you feel ordinary.
Follow Jesus when people encourage you.
Follow Jesus when people do not understand.
Follow Jesus when it is easy.
Follow Jesus when it costs.
The Christian life is not a short emotional moment.
It is a faithful walk with God.
Keep the Gospel Clear in Your Mind
After salvation, never move away from the gospel.
You will grow.
You will learn doctrine.
You will learn obedience.
You will learn holiness.
You will learn prayer.
You will learn service.
But never forget the foundation of your hope.
Jesus Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
He rose again.
He is Lord.
He saves sinners.
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 says:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received,
how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
— 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, KJV
The gospel is not something you leave behind after you are saved.
You stand in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.
Do not build your confidence on your performance.
Do not build your confidence on how emotional you felt.
Do not build your confidence on how quickly you grow.
Build your confidence on Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.
A saved person follows Christ from the foundation of grace.
A Simple First-Week Pattern for a New Believer
Here is a simple pattern for someone who has just been saved:
1. Thank God daily for saving you.
Begin with gratitude.
2. Read a portion of Scripture each day.
Start with the Gospel of John or another clear portion of the New Testament.
3. Pray honestly.
Talk to God from the heart.
4. Turn from known sin.
Do not keep feeding what Christ saved you from.
5. Tell someone you have trusted Jesus Christ.
Begin identifying with the Lord.
6. Seek faithful Christian fellowship.
Look for a church where the Bible is taught and Christ is honored.
7. Ask about believer’s baptism.
Obey the Lord publicly.
8. Take one step at a time.
Do not try to become mature overnight.
9. Keep the gospel clear.
Remember that your hope is in Jesus Christ.
10. Continue.
Do not stop after a few days.
Simple steps taken faithfully matter.
What Not to Do After You Are Saved
A new believer should also be warned about dangers.
Do not go back to your old life as though nothing happened.
Do not hide your faith because of fear.
Do not try to grow without the Bible.
Do not avoid prayer because you do not know fancy words.
Do not isolate yourself from believers.
Do not stay close to influences that pull you toward sin.
Do not think baptism saves you, but do not despise baptism.
Do not expect instant maturity.
Do not use weakness as an excuse to quit.
Do not let shame keep you from God when you stumble.
Do not forget that Jesus Christ is your hope.
These warnings can protect your beginning.
Discipleship Questions
- After salvation, why is it important to understand that the Christian life has just begun?
- Which first step do you need to take immediately: prayer, Bible reading, baptism, fellowship, turning from sin, or telling someone?
- What old influence may pull you backward if you do not separate from it?
- Why should a new believer be patient with growth but serious about obedience?
- How can you keep the gospel clear in your mind as you begin growing?
Closing Exhortation
After you are saved, begin walking with Jesus Christ.
Do not stand still.
Do not return to the old life.
Do not wait until you feel mature.
Do not try to grow without God’s help.
Thank God.
Pray.
Read His Word.
Obey what He shows you.
Be baptized.
Seek faithful fellowship.
Tell what the Lord has done.
Turn from known sin.
Keep the gospel clear.
Grow one faithful step at a time.
You do not need to know everything today.
But you do need to begin.
The Lord who saved you is able to teach you, strengthen you, correct you, and grow you.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk ye in him:”
— Colossians 2:6, KJV
A Prayer for the New Believer
Lord, thank You for saving me.
Thank You for Jesus Christ, who died for sins and rose again. Thank You for mercy, forgiveness, and new life.
Teach me what to do now. Help me not to return to my old life. Give me hunger for Your Word. Teach me to pray. Help me obey what You show me.
Lead me to faithful Christian fellowship. Give me courage to identify with Jesus Christ and not be ashamed of Him.
Help me turn from sin, grow in grace, and walk with You one step at a time.
I cannot do this in my own strength. I need Your help every day.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Next Step
Today, take one clear first step.
Read a chapter of the Bible.
Pray honestly for five minutes.
Tell someone you have trusted Jesus Christ.
Ask about baptism.
Remove one sinful influence.
Reach out to a faithful believer.
Do not wait until everything is perfect.
Begin walking with Jesus Christ today.
Previous Lesson: Lesson 1: What Is a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
Next Lesson: Lesson 3: What Is Repentance?