Becoming a Christian is about opening up to a new dimension which is ‘the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ’ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Receiving the Holy Spirit is recognising the light of God shining through the circumstances of your life. Jesus Christ rose from the dead, appeared to his first disciples and then the appearances ceased. Though his physical body was taken from sight a second extraordinary event occurred which has made Jesus present across the world down through the ages. On the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, fifty days after his resurrection, light and fire from above descended upon the disciples and ‘all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:4). From that day to now people who repent of their sins and put faith in Jesus can ask for and receive God’s Spirit which opens up the new dimension of life possessed by a Christian helping us see God in all things. In the account of his baptism we read an example of how that dimension opens up as the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus making him the Christ, literally ‘the Anointed One’.
What is baptism? Through his death and resurrection Jesus has been authorised to share God’s Spirit with us so that a Christian is one who shares in the anointing of the Anointed One. At his baptism Jesus heard his Father say ‘You are my beloved Son’ (Luke 3:22). Through his dying and rising Jesus has opened up the same privilege to Christians: to become God’s adopted sons and daughters. This privilege links to his command that believers get washed with water in baptism so as to receive the promised Holy Spirit. Baptism, by pouring or immersion, is a symbolic drowning of our sins and rising to new life in the Holy Spirit. It is also the means of entering God’s never-ending family, the Church, where life in the Holy Spirit is maintained by a second action commanded for the baptised by Jesus: sharing bread and wine as his body and blood to recall his sacrifice. Speaking of this means of receiving the Holy Spirit Jesus made strong emphasis: ‘I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you’ (John 6:53)
How to receive the Holy Spirit
- ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 2:38)
- Look back through this booklet reflecting upon God’s love for you and his call to repent and believe, ask for and receive that love
- Identify your sins by thinking through your failure to love God, neighbour and self
- Confess your sins to God on your own or with a helper
- Take opportunity to read through the Apostles’ Creed and sort any difficulties you have about it with a trusted helper
- Ask God for the Holy Spirit
- Ask God to guide you, maybe through a trusted helper, to the best Church for you in your locality
- Sign up for Christian Initiation
What is Christian Initiation? It is becoming a Christian, the subject of this booklet, and can be achieved in three minutes on the next page. As the prayer there indicates Christian initiation is inseparable from church membership or desire for it. Once you welcome God’s love in prayer you are a Christian even if you remain unbaptised. Early Christian martyrs are honoured though they died whilst still preparing for baptism. Such preparation is ‘Christian Initiation’ in the plain sense, a season of prayer with the opportunity to receive teaching about the creed, sacraments, commandments and prayer before baptism, confirmation and admission to share the bread and wine at the eucharist. The seven weeks before Easter we call Lent originate from a common practice of baptising at Easter after those weeks of prayer and instruction (catechising) accompanied by church members. Those of us who are baptised experience Christian initiation as an ongoing reality. Teachers train to become teachers by teaching. Christians are baptised to keep dying daily to sin and daily receiving the Holy Spirit. To fully receive the Holy Spirit and be formally initiated as a Christian you should enrol in a local church. If you were baptised as an infant this is the opportunity to make the most of this.
Lord Jesus, I welcome your invitation: Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and you will find rest for your souls. Amen.
