Ginny’s Path To Salvation and the Baptism With the Holy Spirit
A Fictional Narrative
Ginny was meeting her friend Sally for lunch and she was looking forward to it. She hadn’t seen Sally in ages and they had at one time been close friends. Sally sounded quite excited about some news she wanted to share with her. Ginny wondered what the news was that would cause Sally to contact her after all this time. As she waited for their meeting time to arrive, she realized that she missed Sally and the close friendship they had enjoyed. Life had taken them along different paths and it would be so good to see her again.
They met at a little outdoor cafe that they were both very familiar with. In fact, they had enjoyed sharing many lunchtimes at this same cafe in the past. They greeted each other with a hug and caught up with all that had happened in each of their lives since they had last met.
Ginny sensed that something was different about Sally. She seemed so at peace and had a glow about her. Ginny remembered attending church with Sally in their youth. The church they attended had a lot of church rules. As they grew older they both talked about how they didn’t really enjoy church or feel that they were getting anything out of it. They both stopped attending considering it was of no value in their lives and something to be avoided.
During their lunch, Sally shared the Gospel with Ginny. She told her that God’s Word made it clear that it was all by faith which was very much unlike what they had experienced in the church they attended in their youth. Sally told of the Savior Who died on the Cross to pay the sin debt mankind owed to God. The Cross was mentioned in their original church, but the fact that we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life all by faith was not. It was all about works in their old church. Ginny listened and heard the true Gospel for the first time. She was amazed at what she heard and felt a stirring in her heart. She realized that this was what was missing in her life. Ginny prayed the Sinner’s Prayer with Sally and they both read the following scripture:
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9)
Sally had more good news for her. She said that when we place our faith in Christ and Him Crucified we are born again and the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. She quoted the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John when he told His disciples just before His death “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” She explained that Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit Who comes to abide within and brings us victory in our lives over the world, the flesh, and the Devil as we daily make Christ and His sacrificial death on the Cross the object of our faith.
Sally also told her that the Bible says that the Spirit also gives us power for service in the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which is available by faith to all those who are born again. Sally told her that the Lord, just before He was taken up into Heaven, told His Disciples that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit coming as “Helper,” was the “Promise of the Father” that had awaited Christ’s finished work at Calvary. He was referring to the soon-coming Day of Pentecost which took place fifty days after His Resurrection and was the birthday of the church. He said, “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” She explained that the Holy Spirit plays dual roles in our lives. He comes as a “Helper” to bring us victory in our daily lives, and He comes to give us power for service.
Ginny was so grateful that the Lord had reached down in mercy and Grace and saved her. Her whole family for generations had been members of the church of her youth and had never heard the Gospel. After presenting the Gospel to them, some of them came to the Lord; some did not. Ginny, of course, knew that the Gospel was offered to whosoever will come and her family now had that opportunity. She felt so blessed to now know the Lord and to have the “Helper” within her to be her constant guide. She asked the Lord for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and received it with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Ginny knew just how blessed she was in knowing and receiving Salvation. She now knew it was all by Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus and His sacrificial work at Calvary. She had entered the rest of God and the peace of God was the result.
“For by Grace are you saved through faith (in Christ and Him Crucified); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
“….When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will lead you into all truth” (John 14:13).
Always Remember,
God Loves You!
The Sinner’s Prayer at the link below
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