Following Jesus starts with a new identity. Once you trust him, the Bible says you’re a new person. From there, you follow Jesus by getting baptized, learning what pleases God and relying on the three things he gives you to grow: his Spirit, his Word and his people. Over time, simple habits like prayer and Bible reading help your faith grow strong. It’s a journey, not a test you have to pass.
Start with Baptism
Trusting Jesus isn’t the end of your story; it’s the beginning of a brand-new life. In the Bible, the first step new believers took was baptism. It’s a public way of saying, “I belong to Jesus now.”
Baptism doesn’t save you. Jesus already did that. Instead, it’s an act of obedience, because Jesus told his followers to be baptized (Matthew 28:19). It’s also a powerful picture of what happened inside you:
Romans 6:3-4 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Going under the water shows that your old life is gone. Coming up shows that you’ve been raised to live for Jesus. If you’ve trusted Jesus but haven’t been baptized, that’s a great next step. Learn more in What Does the Bible Say about Baptism?
Rely on God’s Spirit
The goal of the Christian life isn’t perfection. It’s learning what pleases God and letting him change you from the inside out (Ephesians 5:10). You don’t have to do that alone. When you trust Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in you, just as God promised long ago:
Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
You’ll still face temptation, and some days it will feel like a battle. That’s normal. The Spirit gives you new desires and the strength to choose God’s way, and over time he grows love, joy, peace and self-control in you (Galatians 5:22-23).
Stay Grounded in God’s Word and God’s People
The Bible is how you get to know God and learn to live his way. It’s not just an old book; it’s God speaking to you.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Read a little each day, think about what it means and look for what it shows you about Jesus. Then find your people. You weren’t made to follow Jesus alone. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells believers not to give up meeting together but to encourage one another. Go to church, join a youth group or small group, or find a mentor. Other believers help you stay on track, and they need you too.
Build Habits That Help You Grow
Spiritual growth is a lot like getting in shape. It takes time and practice.
1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
Five habits will help your faith grow: talking to God in prayer every day, reading the Bible, staying connected to other believers, being generous with your time and money, and helping someone else follow Jesus. You don’t do these to earn God’s love. You do them because you already have it. To go deeper, check out What Are the Big “5” Spiritual Disciplines?
The Takeaway
How do you follow Jesus? Get baptized, rely on God’s Spirit, stay grounded in his Word, stay connected to his people and build simple habits that help you grow. God has already given you everything you need, one step at a time.
