Now that I am saved, what next?

Soul Food

Sep 5

Have you ever wondered what’s next after salvation?

What do you do after accepting Jesus into your life?

How do you navigate this new life you've been given?

The moment it happens, it feels like you're walking on sunshine. Almost as if everything is going to be alright in your world and you're going to live happily ever after.

But weeks later, you discover you don't feel that way anymore.

All the feelings of godliness and cautiousness that came on you at that moment seemed to have disappeared.

Now you might wonder, if Jesus is abiding in your heart, how is it possible to still think ungodly thoughts?

How can you be filled with God's love one minute and then grow upset when people hurt you?

As Christians, we are saved, but our hearts are being transformed daily.

While living as children of God on earth, we are going to face different seasons in our lives that might make us doubt our salvation.

So here's what you need to know to prepare for the journey ahead.

Understand that Jesus did it ALL

And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were RAISED with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross
Colossians 2:12-15

Jesus said it was finished on the Cross.

He bore God's wrath on your behalf.

He overcame to help you build a relationship with God!

His victory gave you a chance.

A chance at what?

A chance to know why you were born; Your Purpose. Why you exist on earth. He also gave you access to eternal life.

He plans to redirect your life and make beauty from ashes.

Your Newbirth experience is your chance to begin a new life under a new government.

The old is past, the new is here to stay.

To know more about the Newbirth Experience, and how to discern God's voice, you can read up on this post.

The Work of Christ-Your New Life

But what is my place in all of this?

When the Godhead finished the work on the cross, they did so with the intention of you playing your part.

They need you to come into this precious life they have prepared for you.

It’s like learning how to dance. It takes two to tango! You can’t dance with an unwilling partner.

You’ll end up being frustrated.

This is the same with God. He is calling us to dance. Into Eternity.

Perhaps you said Yes to Him initially, but you were unsure of what it entailed.

Now they have to show you what it’s all about.

This is where your choice comes in, because God won’t force you.

It’s like saying Yes to Medical school and realizing you’d have to pay a price for this career path.

No one tells you about the sleepless nights and the frustrating lecturers that you’ll encounter along the way.

Following God comes with sacrifices because we’ve been called to shine as a light in this dark world and to be salt in this decaying world.

Until we become professionals-professors of Christ.

Until we become Like Jesus.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation

The primary purpose of the Holy Spirit is to make us like Christ.

The process isn't possible without Him, so we must learn to follow his leading as he guides us through the map of God's word.

and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.
2Corinthians 1:22

So the Holy Spirit must keep sanctifying and purifying us until we become like Christ.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall SEE God
Matthew 5:8

Spend time in the word and with the word

One of the major ways God speaks to us is through His word.

When the Holy Spirit reaches out to us, it is within the boundaries of God's word.

So we must grow familiar with His word.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
Colossians 3:16

God's word is like a love letter for and to your soul.

The purpose is to nourish you while weeding out toxic habits that tend to harm you and cause self-sabotage.

Start with the epistles and the Psalms.

Grow familiar with the words on the page and let the words speak to you.

Even when you don't feel like it, you need to tell yourself to be present.

God needs you to be present.

Your soul needs you to be present

Your destiny demands your presence.

Don't forget that one block a day builds a city in years to come.

And it starts with hearing God.

Hearing God changes us and transforms us. Because it is important we heed his word.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25

This is how we grow spiritually.

This is how Christ is being formed in us.