In 1971, when I was a younger man, I had the opportunity to travel overseas from my home in Sydney, Australia. The original purpose was to visit Teen Challenge in New York City. However, I met an Anglican minister who was passing through Sydney on his way to England. He told me about the first Charismatic conference in Europe led by Michael Harper and suggested I go there on the way to New York. I did just that and ended up flying right around the world.
The conference was held in Guilford, England, and one of the speakers doing a workshop was a man by the name of David Pawson. I listened to him speak at four sessions over the next few days as he taught a brilliant exposition of Paul’s book Galatians.
Years later, Barry Chant brought David to Australia to be the main speaker at a conference in Adelaide. I was also invited to speak at the conference, and it was a real joy to meet David personally and hear him speak again.
THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN BIRTH
One of the messages that David taught was ‘The Normal Christian Birth (davidpawson.org). Concerned about “how to give new believers a proper start in life, he sought to integrate sacramental or Pentecostal insights with the traditional Evangelical outlook on Christian initiation,” ending up with his own distinctive blend. Watchman Nee, the famed Chinese Christian leader, also wrote about ‘The Normal Christian Life,’ which he believed involved four steps: knowledge of the cross, reckoning, presenting to God, and walking after the Spirit (wikipedia.org).
In this letter, I am going to draw from Pawson’s outline and look at the subject of ‘The Normal Christian Birth.’
Incidentally, David Pawson died in May 2020 at the age of 90.
THE NEW BIRTH
Let us start with the Biblical teaching about the ‘new birth,’ bearing in mind that the circumstances of a ‘new birth’ may vary. For example, a person brought up in a Christian home will have a different one from someone who has had no contact whatsoever with Christians.
One night, Nicodemus, a pharisee, came to see Jesus. In the course of their conversation, Jesus declared, “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” There it is – the need to be ‘born again.’ This involves four significant steps.
STEP 1: REPENT OF YOUR SINS TOWARD GOD
The first step to becoming a Christian is through repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.” As such, it is very specific. Repentance is a personal recognition that we are sinners subject to judgment; as the Bible declares, “the wages of sin is death.” Repentance involves a change of mind, resulting in a change of direction for our lives. It is like doing an about-turn. Repentance is where it all begins.
STEP 2: BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
The second step is where faith comes into play. It involves putting our trust in Jesus and declaring Him to be the Son of God, who died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Jesus is, therefore, by faith, to become our Savior and Lord. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved . .” (Acts 16:31)
Now, it must be noted that repentance and faith are the two factors that make salvation real. It is on the basis of repentance and faith that we become Christians. However, repentance and faith are not all that is involved in a ‘normal Christian birth.’
STEP 3: BAPTISM IN WATER
Baptism in water is one of the two sacraments in the church. As David Pawson noted, “Baptism brings what you are already in (repentance & faith) to a climax” (davidpawson.org). David also brought a challenging thought when he stated, “No such thing as an unbaptized believer in the early church” (davidpawson.org). He went on to remind us that Jesus commanded His disciples, “Go…. and make disciples…, baptizing them …. “(Matt 28:19).
That kind of baptism involves complete immersion for the believer in water, not just a dab of water on the forehead.
I understand many Christians and denominations hold to a theological concept of infant baptism, but it is hard to find scriptural justification for such a practice.
STEP 4: RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Step 4 brings us back to the story of Nicodemus, where Jesus spoke about “in water and in Spirit” (John 3:5). As David Pawson pointed out, “Water baptism deals with the past – leaves you clean and empty. Therefore you need filling with the Holy Spirit for the future. Easter is repeated in the believer’s life when they are buried and raised in baptism. Pentecost is repeated in the believer’s life when they are filled with the Holy Spirit” (davidpawson.org).
Pentecostals see this as a second experience of God’s grace, whereas many evangelicals see this as happening when a person becomes a Christian. Incidentally, in the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came upon people in one of two ways: (a) Sovereignly, such as on the day of Pentecost, or (b) Through the laying on of hands. Pentecostals believe that this usually involves the gift of speaking in tongues.
MY OWN EXPERIENCE
Looking back on my life, I realize I did not have a ‘Normal Christian Birth.’ I suspect others didn’t have one, either.
Repentance and Faith – Fortunately, I did get the first two steps right, which led to my being ‘born again.’ As a young man, while studying at university, I was invited by a fellow student to a meeting where a Scottish evangelist preached the hottest hell-fire sermon I had ever heard. That night, I realized I was a sinner subject to judgment, and I repented and, by faith, received Jesus into my life as my Savior. That night changed my life forever.
Water Baptism – However, even though I got the first two steps right and became a Christian, I didn’t get all that I should have experienced. I entered college to become a minister. In my theological training, I read a book by an eminent theologian Karl Barth, in which he argued for water baptism. I had to agree with him, but strangely enough, I did nothing about it. It was my wife Dorothy who got me started, beginning when she requested that I, not just as her husband but as her pastor, baptize her. I eventually agreed to do so. I took her down to a beach nearby and baptized her in the Pacific Ocean. It was sometime later that I was baptized in water when David Wilkerson’s brother Don Wilkerson baptized me while I was visiting Teen Challenge in New York in the company of four converted drug addicts from Greenwich Village.
Holy Spirit Baptism – When I first heard about Holy Spirit baptism, I rejected it completely. However, I eventually came to the end of myself, and through the invitation of a friend, I went to a Catholic Charismatic meeting at the University of Sydney, when the leader, a professor in Mathematics, ended up praying for me to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He used Bill Bright’s outline entitled ‘Have You Discovered the Secret of the Spirit Filled Life?’ In the course of which, I received the gift of speaking in tongues. If being born again through repentance and faith changed my life, then Holy Spirit baptism changed my ministry. At last, I had received the fourth step to a ‘normal Christian birth.’
One other comment needs to be made. The first two steps are absolutely basic, but the last two steps may come in various ways or in a different order. Sometimes, some of these steps come simultaneously. I know a friend who got saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit at the same time.
CONCLUSION
There you are – 4 Steps to the ‘Normal Christian Birth.’
- Repent of your sins towards God.
- Faith – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Baptism in Water.
- Receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
I didn’t have a ‘Normal Christian Birth,’ but I thank God I eventually did. It has been said, “You only receive what you were first taught.” Many people have not been taught the four steps to a ‘Normal Christian Birth’ and hence have missed out as I did. However, it is not too late to experience what God originally wanted for you. May God show you how it is meant to be!
RESOURCES
https://www.davidpawson.org/resources/series/the-normal-christian-birth
Kairos Ministries 
Very well put. Sending much love to you and Dorothy, as always. Shalom precious ones of our Most High God.