Following repentance, seek to be baptised as soon as possible. In the Bible, we read how Jesus instructed his disciples about baptism:

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved…”

(The Gospel of Mark chapter 16, verses 15 and 16)

If you don’t know another believer who can baptise you, then consider praying and asking God to provide a way for you to be baptised. Rest assured, God knows the sincerity of your heart and will lead you in this — he can do anything even when it may seem impossible!

Baptism involves being completely submersed in water (a lake, ocean, pool or even a bathtub), praying these words out loud:

“Lord Jesus, I offer my life to you. I turn from my life of sin, and return to you. I follow you now in obedience to die to myself and to be born again to you!”

Then just before you go under the water, state:

“I now die to myself, I die with Jesus Christ.”

And as you come up out of the water, declare:

“I now rise to my new life in Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray you will fill me with your Holy Spirit.”

Just wait silently for a while and allow the presence of God to come upon you. If nothing happens right away, don’t be concerned, continue to ask God for his Holy Spirit. Over the coming days, keep on asking until the Holy Spirit is given to you. If you did go through this on your own, consider asking God to lead you to find other believers who can pray with you and affirm your new life with God in his Holy Spirit.

Did you know that Jesus himself was baptised? Following his baptism, the Bible recounts that God’s Holy Spirit descended from heaven, “like a dove”. He came down onto Jesus and remained on him. It was the Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus in every aspect of his life on earth. Jesus performed many amazing miracles, including healing the sick and raising people from the dead, because of the power of the Holy Spirit within him.

For his followers who have truly repented, he freely gives the same Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit will guide you and help you in this life and empower you to overcome sin and even to do miracles too! Make the decision to let the Holy Spirit lead you, to show you what to do and what not to do.

Through repentance and baptism, you have died to your old life and have been born into a new life as a part of the family of God. Each person who gives their life to Jesus in this way becomes a valuable part of his family and his body of believers around the world.