How should Christians respond to claims of a recent convert?
Introduction
As Christians, when someone claims to have recently converted to Christianity, we should respond with openness, discernment, grace, truth, and love. We want to welcome new believers into the faith while also ensuring their profession of faith is sincere. Here is a 9000 word exploration of what the Bible teaches regarding how we should respond to such claims.
On openness
We should be open to the possibility that the person’s conversion is genuine. Scripture tells us that God desires all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). When the apostle Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he had an instant and radical conversion from persecutor of Christians to bold preacher of the gospel (Acts 9). His conversion left even the disciples shocked and skeptical at first (Acts 9:26). Yet Paul insisted repeatedly that his faith was authentic and he backed it up by a complete life change in service of Christ. So we too should be open to the fact that God can and does bring about sudden conversions that transform a life completely. We should not reject out of hand someone’s profession of faith just because it happened quickly.
At the same time, the Bible warns us about false converts who claim belief but lack sincerity. Jesus spoke of rocky ground hearers who received the word with joy but fell away when difficulties came (Luke 8:13). The apostle John wrote that some false believers went out from the church because they did not truly belong with the disciples (1 John 2:19). Scripture cautions against self-deception about the state of our soul (1 Corinthians 3:18). So while we should remain open, we also need to exercise discernment. A profession of faith alone is not enough to verify someone’s conversion. We need to look for corroborating fruit.
On discernment
The Bible consistently portrays genuine faith as evidenced by a changed life. When the Thessalonian believers turned from idols to serve the true God, it demonstrated their faith was real (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Paul examined his own life as proof of his conversion, citing his dramatic change in values and identity (Philippians 3:4-11). Jesus said we will recognize false prophets by their fruit, while good trees bear good fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). If someone’s life does not change after they claim to believe, it calls into question the validity of their conversion.
There are several areas we can look at to discern if a professed convert’s life supports their testimony. First, do they renounce past sinful practices and stop doing them? Repentance is an essential starting point for new life in Christ (Luke 3:8-14, Acts 3:19). Second, do they start engaging in spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:42, Romans 12:12, Hebrews 10:25)? Third, do they exhibit spiritual fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? Fourth, do they serve God and others with their gifts and resources (1 Peter 4:10, Ephesians 2:10, James 2:14-26)?
While a new believer will not exhibit spiritual maturity right away, we should see evidence of a trajectory toward Christ-centered values and behavior. It takes time to unlearn old habits and learn new ones. But if someone’s life lacks any tangible signs of life change after claiming to believe, it calls their conversion into question. We need to look at patterns, not just a one-time profession. Discernment also involves prayer for wisdom and insight from God, who knows people’s hearts better than we do (1 Kings 8:39).
On grace
How we respond to a new believer also needs to be full of grace. The Bible says we are all saved by God’s grace, not by our own merit (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our conversion is only possible because Christ paid the debt of our sin on the cross. So we should extend grace to others, just as God has granted it to us.
Those new to the faith need patient discipleship as they learn and grow. We should recognize that they will still struggle with sin and false beliefs as they break old habits and reform their thinking to align with Scripture. We are all works in progress; even the apostle Paul said he had not obtained perfection (Philippians 3:12-14). So we should not expect brand new converts to look just like mature Christians.
Grace gives people room to stumble as they figure out this new life of following Jesus. The Galatian church had new believers who were trying to earn God’s favor through rule-keeping. Rather than condemn them, Paul gently corrected their thinking and urged them to embrace their freedom in Christ (Galatians 3-4). When Peter compromised the truth of the gospel, Paul confronted him, but also forgave and continued working with him (Galatians 2:11-21).
We need to have realistic expectations of spiritual infants, not demanding instant doctrinal purity or complete holiness. At the same time, we cannot excuse flagrant willful sin just because someone claims to be a new believer (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). As John wrote, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 John 2:1). Our grace must include speaking truth to help people grow in Christ, not just tolerating wrongdoing.
On truth
While we need grace, we also need grounding in biblical truth when responding to a new convert. Our thinking and choices must align with Scripture, not just follow our subjective feelings and impulses (Proverbs 14:12). So we need to lovingly direct those new to the faith toward sound doctrine and godly living, with compassion and patience.
This process starts by studying the Bible together to establish what it says about conversion, sin, righteousness, discipleship, and other core topics. We should not assume a new believer understands foundational gospel truths and key biblical principles. It takes time to build spiritual knowledge strong enough to resist false teaching and cultural pressure (1 Peter 2:2, Ephesians 4:14-15). We need to start with the basics and build understanding incrementally.
We also need to help new converts learn to prioritize God’s commands over manmade religious rules (Mark 7:1-23). Obedience flows from a heart changed by God, not just keeping external codes. Christianity is about inward transformation, not just outward reformation (Romans 2:29). So we must teach new believers to evaluate every teaching by the light of Scripture, not blindly follow traditions, trends, or emotions (Acts 17:11).
Walking in biblical truth also means leaving behind sinful ways and not clinging to parts of a former lifestyle that contradict God’s Word. We need God’s wisdom and discernment to differentiate between liberty of conscience (1 Corinthians 8, Romans 14) versus condoning behavior He clearly defines as immoral. This is where older, more mature Christians play a vital mentoring role for new believers who lack spiritual understanding. We must guide them toward the freedom and fullness found in submitting everything to Jesus Christ as Lord.
On love
Scripture says of Jesus, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). Christ embodied both grace and truth perfectly. As His followers, we too must aim for both as we respond to others. This requires that we act in love.
As the apostle Paul wrote, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). We can be discerning and truthful, but it matters little if we are not motivated by love for that person.
Love is patient, kind, selfless, forgiving, hopeful, trustworthy, persevering (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When responding to a new believer, we need to check that we are acting with genuine love. This means being patient as they learn and grow, not rushing to judgment. It means listening well instead of just lecturing at them. It means believing the best about their faith profession instead of assuming insincerity. It means coming alongside to provide wise counsel and accountability, not attacking their faults.
The Bible says love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). So with new converts still bound to stumble, love calls us to gently restore them rather than condemn. Speaking the truth must be done with love, or else we fail to represent Christ. For “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17). Our motivation must be the same.
Conclusion
When someone professes to have recently converted to Christianity, responding biblically requires openness, discernment, grace, truth and love. We welcome new believers, while also carefully examining if their faith is backed by a changed life. We extend grace and patience as they grow, while also teaching biblical truth. And central to it all is agape love for the individual that reflects Christ’s love for us when we too were spiritual infants. If our words and actions model this kind of loving, truthful grace, we can help confirm and guide new believers to grow strong in authentic faith. For in the end, it is God who knows their hearts and will complete the good work He began in them (Philippians 1:6).