What YOU need to do after YOU are saved ...

First of all, we want to congratulate you on your decision to accept Christ as your Savior. This is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. Your sins are now forgiven and you will go to Heaven. There is joy in Heaven because you are now saved.

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10

You Are Saved Forever

Saved means you are saved from Hell. When you die, you will go to Heaven because you are saved. Jesus died to save you from Hell. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, and made Him your Lord, you were given everlasting life.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9.

You Are Now In The Family of God

You are not saved because you stop being bad. You are not saved because you go to church. You are saved because you received (accepted) Christ.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12.

Before, you were in Adam's family. Now you are in God's family. Before, you were in the human family. Now you are in the heavenly family. Now, you are in the eternal family.

Once you become a son/daughter of God you will always be in His family. After you are saved you may doubt, but you are still saved. God does not put you out of His family because you do wrong. God, as your Father, will correct you, His child. Once you are born you cannot be unborn. Your earthly father will always be your earthly father. Your Heavenly Father will always be your Heavenly Father.

If You Sin

As a new born baby in God's family you do not know all things. When you are saved you do not know all the Bible. You do not understand all the things your Heavenly Father. As a baby must learn to walk and talk - you must now start to grow into the ways of your new family. If you sin, you do not need to be saved again - you need to be sorry for your sin and confess (tell) God. God will forgive you and you can again have fellowship with God.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9.

If you stay in your sin then God will chasten (punish) you.

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." Hebrews 12:6.
 

You will feel bad in your heart until you ask Him to forgive you. This bad feeling is called conviction or feeling guilty in your heart. When you do wrong and feel conviction, this shows you are saved and you just need to be forgiven. When you confess your sins this means you are willing to stop your sins. Learn to quickly change your ways and do right as the Lord leads you. Sin always will make you unhappy. It will destroy your testimony, your fellowship with Christians, your fellowship with God and it will also ruin and destroy your Christian life. Learn quickly to say "YES" to the things of God and "no" to the flesh (self), world, and the Devil. STOP your worldly habits and start your new life for God.

"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17.
 

You Need To Be Baptized

After you are saved the first thing you need to do is be baptized and join the right church. Baptism does NOT save you, but it shows others you are saved and now want to follow the ways of a Christian. If you were baptized BEFORE you were saved you need to be baptized again AFTER you are saved. Baptism shows others that you believe in the DEATH (lower into water), BURIAL (laid in the water), RESURRECTION you are raised out of the water) of Christ. Then, as you walk from the water you are showing others you now want to walk in the way of a new life.

You need to join a Bible teaching and Bible preaching church. We encourage the deaf to join a church with a deaf interpreter so they can understand and grow in the Lord. Do not join a church that teaches another gospel or idea. It is easy to be fooled - so PRAY, be careful, and ask the Lord to lead you to the right church.

Your Church

Decide to be a good, faithful Christian. Attend your church at all services, especially Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and the midweek service. You will learn much from the teaching and preaching. Remember, as a new born baby, you need to grow in the Lord. You need the church more than the church needs you. Love your pastor, teacher, and workers. Always have a good attitude and be a good church member.

Bible and Prayer

Start reading your Bible and praying every day. As you read your Bible, God talks to you. As you pray, you talk to God. The Bible will give you strength and cleanse you for God's work.

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15:3.

The book of St. John would be a good book to read first. It would also be good to study the Bible with other literature, lessons, or courses (the deaf can write the Ranch for Bible courses).

Prayer is a must for the Christian life. Pray when you are tempted to do wrong. Pray for your needs. Prayer is also thanksgiving and praise. Start a prayer list. Write down your prayer needs on paper or in your Bible. Then as the Lord answers prayer draw a line through your answered prayer. Remember

"... yet ye have not, because ye ask not" James 4:2.

Your Giving

The Lord's work needs your support and help. You need to give your time, work, and money to help in the Lord's work. As you give you will learn that the Lord gives to you.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38.

A good Christian should volunteer and look for ways to be used of God. At least the tithe (one tenth) of your income should be GIVEN freely to the Lord's work. It is a blessing to give as the Lord gives to us.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33.
 

Your Friends

After you are saved you need to live a NEW life. This means you should live a seperate (from the world) and clean life. It is important you NOW stay away from worldly places and worldly friends. You now need to stop smoking, drinking, dancing, and going to worldly places. You need to dress, look, and act right.

The Bible is very clear and tells the Christian to COME OUT and be seperate.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." II Corinthians 6:14-18.
   

Pray for your old friends, witness to them, but do not join them in their worldly ways.

Start your new life with new friends who are good Christians. This is very important, because many new Christians fall because of worldly friends. The Bible again is clear,

"Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2:15.
 

Used of God

Now that you are saved it is important to grow in the Lord, be clean, become a good Christian and be used of God.

Your old friends, your family, and others around you need to be saved. If you live a changed life before them, you can be a witness and used of God to win them. Tell others what the Lord has done for you.

You may also have abilities (talents-gifts) that can be used for the Lord. It may be that you could become a bus worker, teacher, missionary, or preacher. The Lord wants to use every person in his work.

"But unto every one of us is given grace according to measure of the gift of Christ." Ephesians 4:7.

Do you want to be used of God? Be clean, grow in the Lord, and God will use you.

Don't Stop

Many new Christians live for the Lord a few weeks, months, or years-then quit. This hurts the work of God. There will be times of discouragement and disappointment, but do not give up. Other Christians may stop, but you need to decide to keep going. The Lord has a plan for your life and his ways are always the best ways. A person who quits is NEVER happy. Decide now you will be used of God and do not stop, quit, or give up.