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To become a genuine Christian a person needs to repent of their sins and ask Jesus into their life, and submit to the authority of Jesus in and over their life. In other words submit to Jesus Lordship over their life.
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NLT)
“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’.” (Acts 2:38 AMP)
On becoming a Christian a person needs to be water baptised immediately, or at least as soon as possible.
That is it – pure and simple.
There is no other way or route to becoming a Christian.
Living as a Christian though requires a person to obey the teachings of the Bible as written in the New Testament.
Jesus said: “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.” (John 14:15 AMP)
So to strengthen us to do so a Christian really needs ‘Baptism in the Holy Spirit’.
John the Baptist said: “As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment).” (Matthew 3:11 AMP)
The following explanation comes from Harvest.org:
“The Holy Spirit fills the believer’s mind with a genuine understanding of truth, takes possession of the believer’s abilities, and imparts gifts that qualify the believer for service in the body of Christ.
When a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Saviour and Lord, the Holy Spirit dwells inside him or her (see John 14:15–17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 12:13).
But believers also need the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:5–8).
The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower believers for service, to witness, for spiritual warfare, and for boldness in their testimonies (see Acts 1:8; 4:19–20, 29–31; 6:8–10; 1 Corinthians 2:4).
Jesus commanded the disciples not to begin the work to which He called them until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit (see Luke 24:48–49; Acts 1:4, 8).
When the apostles met other believers in Christ, they at once asked whether the believers had received the Holy Spirit. If not, they made sure they received Him (see Acts 8:14–16; 19:1–5).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity in every Christian’s life to equip us for the service to which God has called us.
How to Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:
Jesus said, “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).
God fulfils His promises in a variety of ways, and no two human beings are alike in how they receive spiritual things. The New Testament tells us that some believers received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the moment of their conversion, such as Cornelius and his family (see Acts 10).
Others, such as the believers in Ephesus, received it at a later time (see Acts 19:1–5).
We should never limit God by our own expectations. He is sovereign and will work in whatever way He chooses.”
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