Guide for New Christians

Steps to Become a Christian

1. Recognize your Need for God. Understand that everyone has sinned (done things that go against God’s perfect standard) and that sin separates us from God.

  • Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
  • Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No amount of good deeds can erase sin or earn your way to God.

2. Believe in Jesus Christ. Accept that Jesus is the Son of God, that He lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and rose again on the third day.

  • John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
  • 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 – “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” His death and resurrection make forgiveness and new life possible.

3. Repent of Your Sins. Repentance means turning away from your old way of living without God and choosing to follow Him instead. It’s a change of heart and direction.

  • Acts 3:19 – “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
  • Luke 13:3 – “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

4. Receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Invite Jesus into your life personally. Trust Him alone to forgive your sins and give you eternal life. You can do this through a simple, sincere prayer.

  • John 1:12 – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
  • Revelation 3:20 – “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

  • Sample prayer

  • “Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen.”

5. Begin your New Life with God. If you prayed that prayer with a sincere heart, congratulations! God has forgiven you, given you eternal life, and made you part of His family.

  • John 5:24 – “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Next Steps After Becoming a Christian

1. Get baptized! Baptism is an outward symbol of the inward change that has happened

• Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• Acts 2:41 –  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

2. Connect with a Local Church.

  • Hebrews 10:24–25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Find a Bible-believing church in Idaho.

3. Connect with Other Christians.

  • Hebrews 10:24–25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Find a Bible-believing church in Idaho.

For new Christians, Idaho Christian Guide recommends the ESV(English Standard Version) because it is a easier read and easier to understand. It helps people understand it because it uses modern day English. Also it is the exact translation of the bible.