What I Believe About Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (And How You Can Receive It)
There is salvation, life and freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ! If you’ve ever wondered how to become a Christian—how to live the FULLNESS of life that God has for you, keep reading! Here’s my testimony of encountering God, with guided prayers and Bible verses to help you experience salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
My Testimony: How I Became a Christian
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4 NIV
I was raised in a Lutheran home and baptized “into the faith” as an infant—but it wasn’t until I was eighteen years old and a mess that I truly encountered God in a Spirit-filled church. It was there that I accepted His gift of salvation.
My life took a 180-degree turn. I had met the living, loving God and the trajectory of my life was completely altered. My desire was to love Him, live for Him and help others experience and know God in a similar life-changing way.
I’m thankful for the tenets of faith instilled in me in that Lutheran church. However, it was not until someone explained the way of salvation and helped me understand that I could experience God in a real and personal way—that I began living a life with real purpose and meaning in my new-found communion with God.
The Gospel Message Explained
That’s God’s desire for you as well. To bridge the longstanding gap between you and your Creator and draw you close. It’s free. It’s love.
It’s like nothing you’ve ever known before, but everything you always knew you needed. And all you have to do is acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior and open your arms to receive His gift of salvation.
Turn, believe, receive. It’s that simple.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” John 1:4 NIV
I was raised in a Lutheran home and baptized “into the faith” as an infant—but it wasn’t until I was eighteen years old and a mess that I truly encountered God in a Spirit-filled church. It was there that I accepted His gift of salvation.
My life took a 180-degree turn. I had met the living, loving God and the trajectory of my life was completely altered. My desire was to love Him, live for Him and help others experience and know God in a similar life-changing way.
I’m thankful for the tenets of faith instilled in me in that Lutheran church. However, it was not until someone explained the way of salvation and helped me understand that I could experience God in a real and personal way—that I began living a life with real purpose and meaning in my new-found communion with God.
The Gospel Message Explained
That’s God’s desire for you as well. To bridge the longstanding gap between you and your Creator and draw you close. It’s free. It’s love.
It’s like nothing you’ve ever known before, but everything you always knew you needed. And all you have to do is acknowledge you are a sinner in need of a Savior and open your arms to receive His gift of salvation.
Turn, believe, receive. It’s that simple.
It’s like nothing you’ve ever known before, but everything you always knew you needed." —Laura Woodworth
He’s holding His arms to you right now. Don’t wait to “clean up” your life. Don’t wait for a “better moment.” There is no better moment than now.
Too often we complicate the gospel, creating man-made barriers that God never intended.
The Bible makes it clear that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved. Saved from darkness, saved from sin. Eternally saved from hell and—in the here and now—saved from a purpose-less life separated from the communion and loving embrace of the Triune God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Too often we complicate the gospel, creating man-made barriers that God never intended.
The Bible makes it clear that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved. Saved from darkness, saved from sin. Eternally saved from hell and—in the here and now—saved from a purpose-less life separated from the communion and loving embrace of the Triune God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Too often we complicate the gospel, creating man-made barriers that God never intended." —Laura Woodworth
Salvation: Why We Need a Savior
We are all sinners in need of a Savior. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam bit into the apple and chose Satan over God. Darkness over light. The “created” over the Creator.
Adam fell... and his fallen nature infected all of mankind. God took a risk when he gave man the freedom to choose. But God, in his rich mercy had already provided a way to give man a chance to come back to him. To change their choice. To choose life.
Jesus came to bring life. His life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection was God’s plan to redeem you. To redeem me. To save us from this fallen state and recover His beloved creation.
Salvation is a gift from God who loves you so much that He gave His only Son so that you can be reconciled back to the One who formed you in the womb. Who calls you by name. Who really, truly cares for you.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior. It began in the Garden of Eden when Adam bit into the apple and chose Satan over God. Darkness over light. The “created” over the Creator.
Adam fell... and his fallen nature infected all of mankind. God took a risk when he gave man the freedom to choose. But God, in his rich mercy had already provided a way to give man a chance to come back to him. To change their choice. To choose life.
Jesus came to bring life. His life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection was God’s plan to redeem you. To redeem me. To save us from this fallen state and recover His beloved creation.
Salvation is a gift from God who loves you so much that He gave His only Son so that you can be reconciled back to the One who formed you in the womb. Who calls you by name. Who really, truly cares for you.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior." —Laura Woodworth
Water Baptism: A Public Acknowledgement of Your New Life in Christ
And that’s just the beginning of the fulness of life Jesus came to give you. In the Bible we see the next step in your Christian walk. The Bible explains how John the Baptist baptized with water for the repentance of sin: “John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3:16
Water baptism is a public acknowledgement of your new life in Christ. It’s symbolic of dying to sin and coming alive to God.
“In Him you were... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: God’s Power for Your Life
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God’s empowerment that enables you to live in this world and not be swallowed up by it. To be a witness to others with signs and wonders that amaze and align hearts with the One with whom nothing is impossible.
Beyond the infilling of the Holy Spirit that you receive when you accept God’s salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is another dimension of a spirit-filled life that you can tap into.
Receive the Fullness of a New Life in God
Salvation is only the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus. To be alive to God and dead to sin. Sin is no longer your master and by God’s grace you can walk away from old lifestyles and patterns that destroy and walk into a life of true freedom and peace.
“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...” Romans 3:23
“‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...’” Acts 16:31
“...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
And that’s just the beginning of the fulness of life Jesus came to give you. In the Bible we see the next step in your Christian walk. The Bible explains how John the Baptist baptized with water for the repentance of sin: “John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Luke 3:16
Water baptism is a public acknowledgement of your new life in Christ. It’s symbolic of dying to sin and coming alive to God.
“In Him you were... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: God’s Power for Your Life
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God’s empowerment that enables you to live in this world and not be swallowed up by it. To be a witness to others with signs and wonders that amaze and align hearts with the One with whom nothing is impossible.
Beyond the infilling of the Holy Spirit that you receive when you accept God’s salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is another dimension of a spirit-filled life that you can tap into.
Receive the Fullness of a New Life in God
Salvation is only the beginning of a new life in Christ Jesus. To be alive to God and dead to sin. Sin is no longer your master and by God’s grace you can walk away from old lifestyles and patterns that destroy and walk into a life of true freedom and peace.
“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...” Romans 3:23
“‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...’” Acts 16:31
“...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is another dimension of a spirit-filled life that you can tap into." —Laura Woodworth
Prayers You Can Pray
If you want to be saved, here’s a prayer of salvation you can pray.
Heavenly Father, I come to you as a sinner in need of a Savior. I confess my sin to you and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for my sins and that you raised him to life. Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart, forgive me my sins and set me free! I trust you as my Lord and Savior. I will follow you all the days of my life and I will never change my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
If you want to be water baptized, seek a church community who can help.
If you want to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, here’s a simple prayer you can pray.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the empowering you need to live an overcoming life in Jesus Christ. When Jesus ascended into heaven after he rose from the dead, he commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)
He further explained, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In Acts 2, you can read the amazing moment when the Holy Spirit came. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
Pray this prayer and open your heart to receive: Heavenly Father, I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit just as you did on the day of Pentecost. Come with your Holy Spirit baptism. I believe and I receive now, with the evidence of speaking in tongues! In Jesus’ name, amen.
“‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!’” Luke 11:13
Heavenly Father, I come to you as a sinner in need of a Savior. I confess my sin to you and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died for my sins and that you raised him to life. Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart, forgive me my sins and set me free! I trust you as my Lord and Savior. I will follow you all the days of my life and I will never change my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
If you want to be water baptized, seek a church community who can help.
If you want to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, here’s a simple prayer you can pray.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the empowering you need to live an overcoming life in Jesus Christ. When Jesus ascended into heaven after he rose from the dead, he commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)
He further explained, “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In Acts 2, you can read the amazing moment when the Holy Spirit came. “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
Pray this prayer and open your heart to receive: Heavenly Father, I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit just as you did on the day of Pentecost. Come with your Holy Spirit baptism. I believe and I receive now, with the evidence of speaking in tongues! In Jesus’ name, amen.
“‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!’” Luke 11:13
Next Steps
Tell someone. Find a Spirit-filled church that cultivates the presence of God, believes in the power of the Holy Spirit, and will disciple you in this new life in Christ. Read the Word of God and let your mind be renewed to who you are in Christ Jesus and what God intends for your life. (The Word of God is living and active. Spend time in it and you will see that old ways of thinking and behaving will be transformed to God’s good and holy ways.)
Pray. Believe. Walk in faith and not in fear. The Holy Spirit is your Counselor and the Word your guide, a roadmap for a new life in him.
Free Bible Resources:
The YouVersion free Bible app can help you grow in God. It offers various Bible versions to read and listen to, and Bible devotional plans on numerous topics. (You’ll find several of my devotional plans on the platform here.)
Pray. Believe. Walk in faith and not in fear. The Holy Spirit is your Counselor and the Word your guide, a roadmap for a new life in him.
Free Bible Resources:
The YouVersion free Bible app can help you grow in God. It offers various Bible versions to read and listen to, and Bible devotional plans on numerous topics. (You’ll find several of my devotional plans on the platform here.)
Pray. Believe. Walk in faith and not in fear. The Holy Spirit is your Counselor and the Word your guide." —Laura Woodworth