Born Again Next Steps

A crash course on following Christ. Visit WalkTheBible.com for more.  Never stop walking.

Start Here…💥

The attitude of gratitude all genuinely born again Christians have, yields a natural desire to follow and obey Jesus Christ.  See John chapter 3, to understand what Jesus means by His term born again.  See Matthew 7:21 to see why Christ says “I never knew you” to those who use His name but don’t truly follow Him.  The GotQuestions link here (https://www.gotquestions.org/going-to-heaven.html) shows scripture that demonstrates the assurance Jesus gives to every genuine born again Christian who continues to follow and walk with Him. Google the “Romans Road” verses, and notice ROMANS 10:13 says whoever calls on Jesus will be saved!

Christ paid the penalty for the sins of all who confess/repent/call on Him, and gives us the free gift of eternal life in Heaven with God.

Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

If a person’s faith is not genuine, then it will lack sustaining power, and it is dead.  A born again Christian is one with a living faith.  James 2:20-24 and other portions of scripture explain this point.  A born again Chrisitian fully embraces that attitude of gratitude, allows it to consume them, desires to be closer to Christ, and to grow to be more and more like Christ.  They follow Christ and run to Him just like sheep to their loving shepherd.  Just like the farmer in this video at the very bottom of this page.

These two videos will help see that you MUST be born again to go to heaven, and that you can  KNOW you are born again!

(continue reading below)

• • 1) Read & Pray Daily💥
  • 2) Testimony
  • 3) Local Church💥
  • 4) Firm Foundation
  • 5) Water Baptism💥
  • 6) Music & More
  • 7) Christian Content Online
  • 8) Questions Online
  • 9) Christian Fellowship
  • 10) Christian Discipleship

• 6) Music & More
• 7) Christian Content Online
• 8) Questions Online
• 9) Christian Fellowship
• 10) Christian Discipleship

1) Read & Pray Daily💥

A strong relationship requires communication.  A silent one wonders away and can die.  So establish a daily habit of both reading the Bible and praying to God.

1.1) Read What – Always pray on what to read from, and what to read first.

• For comprehension and other reasons we recommend the NKJV (New King James Version) but believe God can reach you through many similar translations of the Bible.  The translation differences are typically below 1% and often due to printing typos or changing definitions of the English words we use.  www.bible.com has a great free app and simple website that we recommend.  Some folks prefer https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=NKJV for desktop use. Some others prefer this Voice Actors & sound effects version https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxocskw_lbVpLoZld-Ep_XrYnvkkiHD7K&si=btR9NWiJaxz8Ahv9. Some find these summary videos helpful to also watch before reading each book: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0Szn1yYNecanpQqdixWAm3zHdhY2kPR&si=kNvU9FYHtFEvVyWh . 
• Read any 1 gospel full through, first.  Many people find the Gospel of John deep and eye opening.  Some find the Gospel of Mark fast paced.  However, if you have already accepted that Christ died for your sins, then read “1 John” before the gospels.
• Then, read all 4 Gospels in order (they all tell the core gospel and full doctrine, but each author only mentions portions of the secondary details).  Then the rest of the New Testament.  
• Often new Christians are encouraged to read the New Testament a few times (explains the active covenant for salvation through Christ), before they then start alternating old and new. Often it’s best to read one book of the Old Testament, and then back to the New Testament for a while.  It’s best to not spend much time away from the New Testament because the Old Testament includes the old covenant that are now obsolete (as the book of Hebrews calls them). But the Old does reveals many other truths about God, who never changes, and hundreds of prophecies that the New Testament perfectly fulfilled (never missing any). 
• Watch some of the explanations read & understand the bible https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible/

1.2) Read When – Many people adopt the approach of Bible before breakfast, or Bible before bed, or both!  To help establish a routine, try setting an audible alarm on your phone.  Try placing a post-it note someplace you can’t miss and you will see at the very moment you intend to read, such as right next to your toothbrush.  

1.3) Pray – Pray any time, everywhere, about everything. Many people specifically pray just before they start to read, and at the end, and at other times in the day such as before meals.  But don’t limit to that.  Pray anytime and even all the time.  God is always there listening.  Always.  Prayer should be a heart to heart conversation, and not reputation.  When you pray, aim to hit on the topics Christ demonstrated in The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9).  Praise His holy name, ask for His will, for your needs met, for forgiveness, protection, and give Him glory.

2) Testimony

Every love story is an interesting story.  Your relationship with God does too.  For some people they need to hit an extreme point of despair to open their eyes and realize their need for the savior who is calling them.  For some other people they are blessed to hear God’s voice early on and even before they get to a point of a dramatic story.  In all cases, our sin against the infinitely and Holy God required the dramatic payment made by Christ on the cross.
2.1) Read – Read the short but powerful testimony of Paul’s salvation by Jesus Christ in Acts 26
2.2) Write – Write out yours.  Some people write out a VERY detailed private account for themselves, so they never forget, and include dates too.  Those folks will sometimes then just share a portion of it at times.  Others, have a shorter and more concise testimony to begin with.  In all cases do not embellish.  God is Truth, and always has a plan.  He can not lie.  So neither should a testimony.
2.3) Impactful – Aim to make it short and the most impactful and memorable for your audience as possible.  Often shorter is better.  So consider following Pauls outline of BEFORE + CONVERSION + WITH + OFFER:

Acts 26:1 = Introduction (desktop Link►   https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2026&version=NKJV)
Acts 26:4 = Life BEFORE Christ
Acts 26:12 = CONVERSION to Christ
Acts 26:19 = Life WITH Christ
Acts 26:24 = Then OFFER them to find Christ (confession + repentance + trust in Christ for salvation)

3) Local Church💥

It is critical to the growth and sustainability of all Christians to be a consistent part of a church (gathering of born again Christians).  The apostles were the original, and Christ told them to spread in that way.  It is equally critical that the church be a Bible focused and Bible following one.  A “church” that has man made additions, traditions, changes, omissions, is a church that literally goes against what Christ said, and is effectively (and possibly literally) worshiping a false Christ.  Here’s a sample Bible focused church that follows Christ youtube.com/@crosstownalliance/streams (watch new & old services).  Find a local Bible focused church of your own.  Try search engines like https://www.9marks.org/church-search/ and https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/churches/. But in call cases confirm their “about us” and “statement of faith” and make sure they hold to the Biblical doctrines of the Trinity (Father/Son/HolySpirt 3 persons in 1 God being), the authority of the Bible alone (not adding or subtracting to the 66 books of the Bible), saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone (not saved by water baptism or the other good things Christians are instructed to do), and that they recognize God’s assigned roles of male and female in the church (pastors and elders must be male, but woman can serve the church in other roles per Titus 1:6, 1 Timothy 2, Ephesians 5)

4) Firm Foundation

Jesus Christ explained that it is critical to build our spiritual house on a firm foundation, with Him as the Cornerstone.  Otherwise that house may fall in times of trials or doubt.  This includes learning some of the evidence that supports the truth, and learning all the core doctrines of Christianity that are taught in the Bible.  The “Foundations of Faith” https://WalkTheBible.com/fof is a perfect way to do that. Sections #1, #2, & #3 present just a small portion of the evidence.  There is also a LOT of scientific evidence, such as the “fine tuning of gravity”.  We only need faith the size of a mustard seed, yet Christ gave us a mountain of facts!  Faith held without looking at evidence, would be a “blind faith”.  The Word of God doesn’t want that.

5) Water Baptism💥

Ask your local church when they will have their next one, and do it!  In the Bible, it was always done quickly, even on the same day after being saved!  Christ instructed us to do this as an act of obedience (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:4,1 Peter 3:21) which publicly demonstrates our commitment to Him.  To deny it once you have the opportunity to do it, is a form of denial of the remittance of sin that Christ offers (Acts 2:38).

6) Music & More

A born again Christian always seeks to walk closer to Christ.  Would He like the lyrics in your music, the things on your screen, the habits you’ve had, the things you’ve thought?  Repentance is choosing His way instead. 

• Seek to consume things Christ would love, and to reject what He would reject.
  Seek out music in the style you like, but with the words God likes.  It’s easy to find music of ANY style, from bands who love God.  Here’s one of many lists https://girdermusic.com/blogs/music-news/mainstream-to-christian-comparison. The sound of the music might be similar to a secular band you know (world & sin focused band), but the words should not.
• Here’s a series of just a few songs from some Christian artists as a small example.   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnp6Pc_MgZmdOcaUa5gcyTGSaVbMLSDk8   Christian artist with song lyrics and lifestyles that glorify God instead of glorifying sin, exist in all sorts of music genres.  If you are unsure about any topic in your life, take it to God in prayer and ask Him to lead you to the truth.  The Holy Spirit will often lead you to notice the sin in your life.  As some say; sin will keep you from the Bible, and the Bible will keep you from sin.
• Firm up your faith!  Try picking any of these “tracts” and scrolling down to read them 100% for free online.  Use “Category” on the LEFT to find other topics. Start with any “Basic Gospel” first. https://chick.com/products/category?type=tracts#&&Language=English&Status=All&SortBy=A-Z&PageNumber=1&Category=Basic+Gospel&ShowCount=All
  Look at “A Love Story” & “Who Is He” at least.  Some like “Empty Tomb” are like a mini Bible!

7) Christian Content Online

Aim to consume content that follows God’s Word (the Bible) accurately and glorifies God.  Here’s some examples of content that focus on God. In all cases, compare to the Word of God to decide what to watch.

• LivingWaters (intriguing gospel) content like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqw5kRP4wxg
• NeedGod.net (intriguing gospel) content like https://www.youtube.com/@NeedGodnet/featured
• Who Am I (A) in Christ?💥 Read this and be this! ► https://ibb.co/6XxH4Wj And then continue to (B)
• Who Am I (B) in Christ? WATCH this video from timestamp 41m 20s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvRmeNuObvQ&t=2480s) focusing on 49m 08s and 1h05m 21s
• Voddie Baucham (guest speaker) like https://youtu.be/nMfKlqMNnw0?si=H68uHuk8r6a7c7xp&t=353 
• Paul Washer (guest speaker) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Paul+Washer+ 
• Frank Turek of CrossExamined https://www.youtube.com/@CrossExamined (and guest speaker at https://youtu.be/mBGUk8RaKYI?si=rOfJ28CJD4y0yf8_)
• ColdCaseChristianity like https://youtu.be/nvOsR1-YHTQ?si=F8oGxyUCBmAqDmYK&t=7 
• John Lennox (guest speaker)  https://youtu.be/UIknACeeS0g?si=9_qSQxRDwDdidJE_ 
• (Vintage) S. M. Lockridge content like https://youtu.be/Gr2uYhC0zd4?si=ZQ3_vwh7i2apzZ6x 
• (Vintage) R. C. Sproul content like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVi3jJMeeyQ 
• CS Lewis like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr475mH0hg0&t=68s 
• Apologia  www.youtube.com/@ApologiaStudios 
• AskCliff www.youtube.com/askcliffe 
• BibleProject https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH0Szn1yYNecanpQqdixWAm3zHdhY2kPR&si=kNvU9FYHtFEvVyWh 
• Hundreds more: https://www.apologeticshub.com/Apologists  & https://www.apologeticshub.com/Social-Media

8) Questions Online

• Use sites that focus on the Bible like www.GotQuestions.org for inf
• Nation Wide Live Chat #1 https://peacewithgod.net/chat/ Peace With God (Billy Graham) or Nation Wide Live Chat #2  https://needhim.org/ for live chat & help (or just ask the person who gave you this list!!!)

9) Christian Fellowship

Seek out Bible believing born again Christian friends (Sometimes Christ asks us to spend less time with non-Christian friends while we grow in spiritual maturity)

10) Christian Discipleship

Ask your local church if they have people who are strong in faith who can help you through the process of discipleship.  A Christian disciple is one who puts Jesus first, obeys the Lord, produces good fruit, loves others, and makes more disciples of Christ, all for the glory of God alone.  This page  https://www.GotQuestions.org/Christian-discipleship.html provides a detailed explanation.