Chapter 7 of 13
What Do I Do After I Say Yes to Jesus?
By The Living Bread · Last reviewed · 8 minute read
The short answer
After you say yes to Jesus, do a few simple things: tell someone, begin reading the Gospel of John, talk to God daily in plain words, find a church and Christian friends, and ask about baptism. You are forgiven and belong to Him already. These steps help you grow, they do not keep you saved.
First, exhale
If you have just said yes to Jesus, whether a moment ago or last month, the first thing to know is that the hard part is done. Not the whole walk, but the part you could not do for yourself. You are forgiven. You are loved. You belong to Him, and nothing you do in the next weeks will make you more or less His. The first days of the Christian life are not an exam. They are a beginning, and Jesus is a patient teacher of beginners.
A lot of well meaning advice to new believers arrives as a pile of things to do. We would rather give you a short path, in order, and let you take it at the pace of a person who has just come home. Here is what most people find helps, starting today.
The first day
Tell someone. The New Testament puts real weight on speaking about what has happened.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
You do not need to make an announcement. Tell one person you trust: a Christian friend, a relative, a pastor, anyone who will be glad. Saying it aloud makes it more real and makes it harder to quietly let it fade. If you do not know any Christians, do not worry. That is exactly what the later part of this chapter is for.
Thank Him. A simple prayer of thanks is a fine first act of faith. You do not need to be fancy. "Thank You for forgiving me" is a full sentence.
Rest. If you feel peace, receive it. If you feel nothing in particular, receive that. Do not manufacture a feeling.
The first week
Open the Gospel of John, or Mark. You have met Jesus in a decision; now begin to meet Him in a book. Read a short section each day. The chapter on what to read first in the Bible gives you a plan and answers the question of translation.
Pray a little every day. Not long, not eloquent. Five minutes of talking to God as to a friend: thanks, what is on your mind, what you need. If you do not know how, how to pray when you do not know how was written for exactly this.
Find a church, or at least a Christian. A new believer without other believers is a coal removed from the fire.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
The picture of the earliest church is of people who gathered to learn, to share meals and life, and to pray. You were not made to do this alone. See baptism, communion and finding a church for what to look for.
Ask about baptism. Baptism is how the New Testament marks the public beginning of following Jesus. You do not have to rush, but you should ask a pastor about it within the first weeks or months.
The first month
By now you have probably had a bad day. A wave of doubt, or temptation, or the plain old feeling that nothing has changed. It is normal, and the Bible expects it. The Christian life is called a walk, and walking involves falling and getting up. Two things help.
First, remember that your standing with God does not rest on your performance. When you fall, you do not need to start over.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confess it, in a sentence, and go on. Faith is not the claim that you will never fail; it is the habit of coming back.
Second, let others walk with you. Ask one person who has followed Jesus longer than you to meet regularly, even every two weeks. Ask them how they began, how they pray, and what to do when it is hard. Most mature Christians are glad to be asked.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The invitation to bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, and to receive a peace that surpasses understanding, is not for the advanced. It is for you, on day twelve, with a worry you cannot shake.
The first year
Over the first year, a pattern of life begins to form. Most Christians would describe it with a handful of habits, none of them complicated.
- The Word. A regular rhythm of reading Scripture, whether a chapter a day or a slow walk through one book. You are letting Jesus speak.
- Prayer. Talking with God through the day, and setting aside some time to be quiet with Him.
- Fellowship. Belonging to a local church and to a few friends who know you well.
- Worship. Singing, thanking, and giving. Gathering with others on the first day of the week is the pattern from the beginning.
- Service. Using what you have to help someone. The Bible says we are saved to love our neighbor, and often a new believer's joy deepens in serving.
- Witness. Letting people know, without pressure, what Jesus has done for you. Your story is a gift to someone.
Notice that none of these is a way of staying saved. They are the ordinary life of someone who is. A garden is not planted to make the sun rise; it is planted because it rains.
What to expect
People are sometimes told that following Jesus will make life easier, and sometimes told that it will make it harder. Both are partly right. You will likely find peace you did not have, and also that some of your habits and friendships feel different. Some people in your life may be glad. Some may be puzzled or critical. Jesus told His followers that the world would be unsure of them and that He would be with them.
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
That last line of Matthew's Gospel is one to hold onto. It is a promise of presence, made to people who were about to be outnumbered, and it covers you too.
You may also notice that sin you thought you had a handle on feels more visible now, not less. This is the Spirit at work, and it is a good sign. The aim is not to be crushed by it but to bring it to Jesus as it comes into view.
Common stumbling blocks
- "I do not feel different." Feelings follow trust, not the other way round. Keep going.
- "I am worried I did it wrong." You did not. See the note at the end of how to say yes to Jesus.
- "The Bible is hard." Start with the Gospels and a plain translation, and read with someone. It is meant to be read in company.
- "I do not know any Christians." Visit a church, or use a trusted directory to find a few. If you would like a family waiting on the other side, Living Bread can connect you; more on that in the chapter on how Living Bread walks with you.
- "I messed up already." Welcome to the human race. Confess, receive forgiveness, get up.
- "My family is not on board." Be patient and kind. Live it before you explain it.
One last word
You do not have to do any of this perfectly. If all you do this week is read a few lines of John and say thank you, that is a good week. The Christian life is not built in a day. It is built the way a friendship is built, by showing up. Jesus has already shown up for you. The rest is learning, step by step, to answer.
Walk this with someone
You do not have to walk this alone, and you do not have to hurry. Living Bread is a free home, with no ads, where a person can read the Word, pray with real people, and be known by a family in Christ. If you would like company for the next step, it is there. If not, that is fine too, and the rest of this page stands on its own.
Questions people ask
What should I do first after becoming a Christian?
Tell a trusted person, thank God, begin reading the Gospel of John or Mark, pray a little each day, and look for a church and Christian friends. These are simple habits, and none of them is required to keep you saved.
Do I have to be baptized right away?
Not necessarily the same day, but baptism is the normal public step of following Jesus in the New Testament. Ask a pastor about it in your first weeks or months.
What if I fall back into sin after I say yes?
You are not lost. The Bible promises that when we confess our sins, God forgives and cleanses us. Confess it, receive forgiveness, and keep walking with Him and with other believers.
How do I find a church as a new Christian?
Visit a few in your area, look for one that teaches the Bible, welcomes questions, and has a community you can join. Our church directory and the chapter on finding a church can help.
Do I need to tell my family and friends right away?
Not at once, and there is no pressure. Tell someone safe first. With family who may disagree, be patient and kind, and let your life speak alongside your words.
Where to go next
More on the site: New believer next stepsHow to follow JesusHow to read the Bible for the first timeWhat to do after you give your life to JesusFind a church near youVisiting a church for the first time