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Giving your life to Jesus is the greatest decision you will ever make. But sometimes we don’t fully understand what happens in our lives spiritually once we accept God’s gift of salvation.

Whether you’re already a Christian or thinking about becoming a Christian, this study will help you. Here are five things that happen when you place your faith in Jesus.

 1. Your sins are forgiven.

We live in a world broken by sin, so every human being is born with a sinful nature that is prone to rebel against God and disobey Him. Because of that sinful nature we make sinful choices. And because God is holy, just, and righteous He holds people accountable for sin. This means we have to pay the penalty for our sins, which is eternity separated from God in Hell, bearing the punishment for our sin.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. (Acts 3:19)

Because God is also loving, merciful, and desires relationship with people, He made a way for us to be saved. For those who turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus, that penalty for your sin is wiped away.

Jesus–who is fully God and fully man–came to the earth and lived a sinless life, obeying God’s commands perfectly. Then, He gave His life on the cross and rose from the dead as the perfect offering to pay the penalty for your sin and mine. All those who believe in Him find forgiveness of sins through His name.

2. You get a fresh start, and your life is changed.

For those who believe in Jesus, you are spiritually reborn. (John 1:12-13) The Bible says that anyone who belongs to Christ becomes a new creation–the old has passed away and the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) When you put your faith in Jesus, He gives you a new beginning. Spiritually speaking, you get a clean slate, and Jesus starts transforming your life.

The moment you believe in Jesus, He comes to live inside of you forever through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit progressively transforms our desires, character, and actions according to what is true and holy. He does this so we can grow in spiritual maturity, holiness, and Christ-likeness, bringing glory to His name. (Ephesians 4:23-24; Philippians 1:11; Philippians 2:13; Galatians 5:16-25)

Sometimes there may still be natural consequences of past sinful choices you’ve made that you have to experience, but Jesus will walk with you through those things as you surrender your life to Him. You can have confidence in knowing that you are spiritually cleansed from your sins and freed from guilt and shame because of Jesus.

3. You become a friend of God.

Because of God’s holiness, our sin separates us from being able to have a personal relationship with God the way He intended when He first created humans. Jesus fixes that problem. Once you put your faith in Jesus, your broken relationship with God is repaired.

For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. (Romans 5:10-11)

If you are a follower of Jesus, you can know God intimately and personally. You can get to know His character through His Word (the Bible) and experience Him as He works in real situations in your life. You can speak to Him through prayer and hear His voice speaking to your heart. You can feel His presence. You can worship Him for who He is and what He does in your life. You can grow in love for Him.

4. You have eternal life.

This isn’t some ridiculous promise from a fantasy movie or something; it’s the truth. Part of the consequence and effect of human sin in the world is spiritual and physical death. (Romans 6:23)

Physical death is not the end for Christians. Though our bodies will die, our spirit will immediately go to Heaven to be in the presence of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)

One day, Jesus will return to this world to rule as King forever. When He does, He will bring back with Him the spirits of all believers who have died and raise their physical bodies from the dead. He will give them–along with any believers alive on the earth when He returns–new, eternal bodies. And we will live on the renewed earth with Jesus forever, worshipping Him and reigning alongside Him. (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

Jesus rescues us from the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15) We have peace in knowing that when we die, we will be with Him for eternity. 

5. You join the family of believers.

The Christian faith is not a solo faith. You’re not meant to follow Jesus alone, and the good news is you don’t have to! The Church is God’s family, the Body of Christ, a spiritual community of those who have been saved by Jesus.

Christians are called to live in community with others who are also following Jesus. The Bible gives us a lot of practical instructions how to relate to one another as a spiritual family and how to walk in unity. (1 Corinthians 12; Colossians 3:12-17; Ephesians 4:1-16) 

The Bible also tells us how important Christian community and church gatherings are for your walk with God. It’s so vital, in fact, that God commands us not to neglect it. (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25)

Here are just a few of the benefits of church community we see mentioned in Scripture:

• spiritual companionship to pursue Jesus with us
• spiritual leadership to help guide us
• gatherings for worship, prayer, and sound biblical teaching
• encouragement to endure in the faith
• support and care in times of need
• fellowship and enjoying one another’s company
• using our spiritual gifts

Respond To What Jesus Has Done For You

How do we respond to what Jesus has done for us?

For Christians, we continue to live a life of gratitude and worship, fully devoted to following Christ. (Romans 12:1) For those not yet Christians, turn from your sin, believe in Jesus, and follow Him. Then, you too can receive God’s free gift of salvation and relationship with Him.

*For more about what it means to be a Christian and how to start a relationship with Jesus, read this blog.

Let’s Talk: Did you learn anything new about the spiritual blessings you receive when you become a Christian? Discuss this post in the comments below.