If you’re reading this maybe you have been to easter services over this past weekend and maybe Jesus wrecked you and you were saved for the very first time. If that is you I am so happy you are reading this! Or maybe you thought you were saved for over a decade but you found out you really were not and you just got saved. If that is you I am glad you are reading this!
When a doctor finishes medical school they have to go through a pruning phase called a residency program. They are pushed, pulled and crafted into professional doctors. Even though they have the certificate, they still are not finished yet. They don’t just become doctors after finishing school. Just like the doctors, we have next steps to take after we get saved. We are not finished taking steps when we get saved – The process has only just gotten started! Whatever background we have that led us to accepting Jesus we can all agree that there are some steps that have to be taken after we get saved. We might disagree on these steps but through personal study, experience and learning from godly mentors in my life I know that these are the first essential steps that we’ve got to take after accepting Jesus.
What Does Being Saved Mean?
Before we address the steps after being saved we need to clarify what being saved is. To be saved or some might call it accepting Jesus (neither is wrong) you must allow Jesus to come into your heart and surrender your life over to him. This is the greatest thing that could ever happen to anyone!!!
If you declare with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
That verse right there clarifies what being saved is. It’s accepting Jesus and knowing that he is Lord! It’s also believing that by surrendering your life to him you’ll have a purpose that is only found in following Jesus.
2 Steps To Take After Being Saved
After you’re saved it is crucial that we take these two steps! I have experienced these steps in my own life so I’m smoking what I’m selling here! These two steps work and they’ll get you moving in the right direction (and the bible backs this up!)
1.Get Baptized
Salvation, accepting Jesus or being saved whatever you might call it is amazing and it is the best thing that has ever happened to you! It deserves to be celebrated but the bible also teaches us to celebrate it. You might be afraid of getting baptized but don’t let it scare you. I know it can be frightening but it’s all going to be OK. Baptism is expressing to everyone what Jesus has done inside of you and it’s pretty dang awesome!
“and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21)
The bible tells us that baptism is a display of the death to life picture of Jesus. Jesus doesn’t want us to be afraid of being baptized at all, he wants to step into it knowing that we are setting an example and displaying the power of the gospel that is Jesus all at the same time. Heck, if Jesus was baptized then so should we!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (Matthew 3:16)
The best way to experience your new life inside of Jesus is to start it off by celebrating with baptism! Even if you’ve been baptized six times already, it’s OK! This time you know for sure and you are sure of your salvation. Go make it happen!
2. Get A Mentor
After you’ve been baptized the next step is finding a great mentor to help walk you through life. This should be someone who is a chainsmoker alcoholic! Got some of you there! This should be someone who is older than you, wiser than you and someone who has walked with Jesus for many years. It doesn’t have to be the wisest person in the world or it doesn’t even have to be a pastor! Iv’e had mentors that were not pastors at a church and they guided me to take steps I never could have done alone.
It’s just finding the right person, someone you look up to and that has the influence to speak into your life and tell you when you’re wrong. The bible speaks a ton about having a mentor and it’s the best way to keep growing in your faith. The bible tells us to find a mentor and follow what they say:
“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)
The bible also speaks about becoming wiser when we follow wise mentors:
He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20)
Following the direction of a godly mentor will help us accelerate our growth to become more like Jesus and it will also mature us a ton in ways that we didn’t know were possible.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and I hope it helped you decide your next step. Whether or not you are going to get baptized or find a mentor know that Jesus is on your side and never forget that in Jesus the best is yet to come! If I can help you in any way feel free to reach out to me and I will be glad to help any way I can!
Bryant Westbrook 