To truly live as a Christian and enter the kingdom of God, one must embrace a complete transformation that involves four essential steps: repentance, faith in Jesus, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit. These steps are not merely religious rituals or boxes to tick, but a holistic journey that changes the direction of your life, aligns your heart and mind with Christ, and opens you to the power and presence of God. Each step is interconnected, and missing one leaves your spiritual life incomplete, like an engine not firing on all cylinders. God has already made the way through Jesus, but it is up to each person to respond fully, stepping into the new life He offers. [12:08]
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection: Which of the four steps—repentance, faith, baptism, or receiving the Holy Spirit—do you sense God inviting you to take or revisit today, and what would it look like to respond wholeheartedly?
Repentance is more than feeling sorry for past mistakes; it is a decisive turning away from sin and the old patterns that lead to death, and a conscious choice to walk in a new direction toward God. This change is not always easy, as the old way can feel familiar and comfortable, but the reward of new life in Christ is far greater. True repentance means leaving behind what once defined you and embracing the transformation that comes from following Jesus, trusting that by His strength, you can choose differently each day. [14:47]
Reflection: What is one specific habit, attitude, or area of your life that you need to turn away from today in order to walk more fully in the direction God is calling you?
Placing your faith in Jesus is the foundation of salvation; it is not enough to simply change direction or try new philosophies. Faith means trusting in Jesus alone for your salvation, not hedging your bets with other beliefs or practices. This trust is a daily commitment to rely on Him as Lord and Savior, believing that He alone has the power to save and transform. When you put your faith in Jesus, you are choosing to let Him lead your life, confident that He is the only way to true and eternal life. [16:38]
Reflection: Are there any ways you have been relying on something or someone other than Jesus for your sense of security or hope, and how can you intentionally place your trust in Him alone today?
Baptism is a public declaration of your faith and a powerful symbol of dying to your old self and being raised to new life in Christ. It is not just a ritual, but a spiritual act that connects you with Jesus’ death and resurrection, marking your commitment to leave the past behind and walk in newness of life. Whether by full immersion or another method, baptism is a step of obedience that demonstrates your willingness to be identified with Christ and His people, and to live out your faith openly. [20:08]
Romans 6:3-5 (ESV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Reflection: If you have been baptized, how does remembering your baptism inspire you to live differently today? If you have not, what is holding you back from taking this step?
Receiving the Holy Spirit is the breath of new life that empowers you to live as God intends, transforming your heart, mind, and actions from the inside out. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a person who desires a relationship with you, guiding, convicting, and equipping you for the journey ahead. This step is not the end, but the beginning of a lifelong partnership with God, where you are continually filled, renewed, and sent out to fulfill your purpose in His kingdom. [23:12]
John 3:5 (ESV)
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need the Holy Spirit’s presence and power today, and how can you open yourself more fully to His work?
Today’s focus is on the most important question anyone can ask: “What must I do to enter the kingdom of God?” The answer is not found in fame, good deeds, or religious heritage, but in a four-step journey that Jesus and the early church laid out clearly: repent, believe, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. These steps are not mere rituals or boxes to tick, but a holistic transformation that brings us into a new way of living—citizenship in God’s kingdom, both now and forever.
Repentance is the first step, a decisive turning away from our old life and the patterns of sin that lead to death. It’s not just feeling sorry, but a real change of direction, a willingness to leave behind what is familiar but destructive. Faith in Jesus is the next step, trusting not in ourselves or in any other system, but in the finished work of Christ—his death and resurrection—as the only way to be saved. Baptism follows as a public declaration of this faith, symbolizing both cleansing from sin and participation in Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s not just a tradition, but a powerful act that marks our new identity.
Receiving the Holy Spirit is the fourth step, the breath of new life that empowers us to live out this calling. Just as a newborn’s first breath signals the start of life, so the Spirit’s indwelling marks the beginning of our true spiritual journey. These four steps are not meant to be separated or selectively emphasized; together, they form the complete process of entering and living in the kingdom of God.
It’s possible to overemphasize one step at the expense of the others, but true transformation comes from embracing all four. God has already acted—he has opened the door, given the invitation, and made the way through Jesus. Our part is to respond fully, not half-heartedly, so that we can “fire on all four cylinders” and experience the fullness of life God intends. This is not the end, but the beginning of a lifelong partnership with God, empowered by the Spirit to fulfill our mission and witness to others.
The right view is that it's the reward we get by following Jesus. And that's because he was the very first person to defeat death forever. Now, other people miraculously were healed. They were brought back to life. But every single one of them had to die again. Jesus, when he came back to life, that was permanent. Permanent resurrection.
[00:04:55]
(24 seconds)
#PermanentResurrectionHope
Repentance is a requirement because everyone naturally wants to go in this direction. It's easier. You repent, you go this direction. It's more of a challenge. But the reward is so much greater.
[00:14:47]
(16 seconds)
#LeavingOldLifeBehind
If we don't repent, then what is it that we're being saved from? You cannot point to being saved from something if you're still in that position, can you? There's no old life that we've left behind. We have to have changed from this direction to this direction in order to say we have benefited from being in the kingdom of God, from claiming that Jesus is our saviour.
[00:15:05]
(34 seconds)
#TrustingJesusLord
Because Jesus is the only way that we can be saved. You can decide your life's going in the wrong direction. But unless you put your faith in Jesus, it's not going to go in the right direction. It's just going to go in a different direction.
[00:17:10]
(16 seconds)
#MeaningfulBaptism
And when we go through those four steps, we have a relationship with the whole trinity of God. We repent to God the Father, we believe in Jesus, God the Son, and we receive God the Holy Spirit.
[00:29:25]
(18 seconds)
#GraceAndActionPartnership
When a baby is born, that is not the end of that baby's life, is it? Just the start. They've been growing for nine months, it's true, but actually we don't say, ha, new baby, excellent, that's it. No, we're saying, what can this baby achieve? I wonder where this baby will be in 25 years' time, if you even think that far ahead when you've just had a new one. So when we receive the Holy Spirit, we too are just at the start. Who knows what we can achieve in partnership with God.
[00:34:00]
(42 seconds)
#AlignHabitsWithFaith
If your practice and your habits don't line up to being a Christian, choose to change. You can do that any time. Even if you fall back, you can do it. If you truly repent, you will be forgiven each time. The important thing is not to keep going back to exactly the same place.
[00:35:51]
(22 seconds)
#OpenToHolySpirit
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