I have accepted Jesus as my Savior, now what?
Attend Church
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Find a good church that teaches the Bible. Don’t just think of the church as a building – think of the church as the people in that building. It is very important that believers in Jesus Christ fellowship with one another. That is one of the main purposes of the church. Now that you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, we strongly encourage you to find a Bible-believing church in your area and speak to the Pastor. Let him know about your new faith in Jesus Christ.
A second purpose of the church is to teach the Bible. You can learn how to apply God’s instructions to your life. Understanding the Bible is key to living a successful and powerful Christian life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”
A third purpose of the church is worship. Worship is thanking God for all He has done! God has saved us. God loves us. God provides for us. God guides and directs us. How could we not thank Him?
CLICK HERE to find ways to get connected at SonRise.
Baptism
- Baptism is a public profession of a believer’s acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is done following the believer’s acceptance of Jesus as their Savior, and at SonRise is done through full-immersion baptism. This is identification with Jesus by picturing His death, burial, and resurrection. For more information, click here.
Bible Study
After a new believer accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it is important that they begin studying God’s Word. While anyone can pick up the Bible and read it, it is important that a new believer understands what they are reading and what it means. A believer should study the Bible so they can understand God’s Word and what it means for their lives, as well as learning about the history of the Christian faith. The best way for them to do this is to get connected with mature believers who can assist and guide them in studying God’s Word. To connect with other believer’s in the church for Bible Study click Small Groups and get connected.
Fellowship
The bible tells us it is so important to surround ourselves with other people who love the Lord and are committed to Him.
Try to find a friend or two, perhaps from your church, who can help you and encourage you. Ask your friends to keep you accountable in regards to your quiet time, your activities, and your walk with God. Ask if you can do the same for them. This does not mean you have to give up all your friends who do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Continue to be their friend and love them. Simply let them know that Jesus has changed your life and you cannot do all the same things you used to do. Ask God to give you opportunities to share Jesus with your friends.
Daily Time With God
It is very important for us to spend time each day focusing on God. Some people call this a “quiet time.” Others call it “devotions,” because it is a time when we devote ourselves to God. Some prefer to set aside time in the mornings, while others prefer the evenings. It does not matter what you call this time or when you do it. What matters is that you regularly spend time with God. What events make up our time with God?
- Prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. Talk to God about your concerns and problems. Ask God to give you wisdom and guidance. Ask God to provide for your needs. Tell God how much you love Him and how much you appreciate all He does for you. That is what prayer is all about.
- Bible Reading. In addition to being taught the Bible in church and small groups, you need to be reading the Bible for yourself. The Bible contains everything you need to know in order to live a successful Christian life. It contains God’s guidance for how to make wise decisions, how to know God’s will, how to minister to others, and how to grow spiritually. The Bible is God’s Word to us. The Bible is essentially God’s instruction manual for how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him and satisfying to us.
Why We All Need Jesus
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes redemption, justification, sanctification and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
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Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
- Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior.
- Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
- Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.
- Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
- Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14, 29; 3:3-21, 36; 5:24; 10:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18, 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-23; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff; Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8; 14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
Church Membership
At SonRise there are two classes that are required for church membership, Peacemakers and a New Members Class.
The Peacemaker
by Ken Sande
Sooner or later, conflict will come. But how you handle it makes all the difference.
This study is designed for interactive small groups that meet weekly to study, discuss, pray and grow together. This eight week study has four main parts:
Part 1 – Glorify God
How can I please and honor God in the situation?
Part 2 – Get the Log Out of Your Eye
How can I show Jesus’ work in me by taking responsibility for my contribution to this conflict?
Part 3 – Gently Restore
How can I lovingly serve others by helping them take responsibility for their contribution to this conflict?
Part 4 – Go and Be Reconciled
How can I demonstrate the forgiveness of God and encourage a reasonable solution to this conflict?
New Members Class
The New Members Class is a two session class taught by Pastor Steve. Over the course of these sessions, a spiritual gifts inventory is taken and reviewed as well as the history and doctrine of the church, purpose of the church and vision of the church are all discussed.
For any other questions you have about what you need to do next, now that you have become a follower of Christ contact Pastor Steve. You can do so by using our Contact Form under the Contact Form Tab.