You’ve Decided to Follow Jesus—Now What?

5 Essential Steps for Every New Believer (and Those Walking With Them)

Becoming a Christian changed everything for me. Maybe you're in that moment right now. That moment when it hits you—God is real. Not just real, but good. And not just good, but so deeply in love with you that He sent His Son to die in your place.

That realization stopped me in my tracks. I was flawed. I had sinned. And yet… Jesus chose the cross for me. And for you too.

And once you see that—really see it—your life will never be the same.

But here’s something I wish someone had told me early on: as incredible as this journey is, it won’t always be easy. In fact, there’s spiritual warfare involved. The moment you said yes to Jesus, you became a target to the enemy. But you also received the Spirit of the Living God, and with that, the power to grow, thrive, and fight back.

So if you're just starting this journey—or you’re helping someone who is—let me walk you through five key steps that every new believer needs to know. These aren’t just tips. They’re lifelines.

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1. Respond to the Gospel

This is the foundation. If you're a believer, then you've already responded to the most powerful truth in history:

“Christ died for our sins… He was buried… He was raised… and He was seen.” – 1 Corinthians 15:3–5

What does that mean for you? It means you don’t have to be perfect to be loved by God. Jesus took your place. All He asks is that you believe. That’s it.

I had to come face-to-face with the reality that I couldn’t save myself. Romans 3:23 and 6:23 made it painfully clear—we all sin, and sin separates us from God. But Romans 5:8 gave me hope:

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

You don’t have to clean yourself up before coming to God. You just have to believe in the One who cleaned you up on the cross.