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How to become a Christian — the answer Peter gave.
To become a Christian: believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; repent; be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:36-38). That's the answer the apostle Peter gave the very first time the question was asked. It can happen today, it costs nothing, and you don't need a building or a priest.
Where this answer comes from
About fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, Peter stood up in Jerusalem and told a massive crowd the whole story: Jesus of Nazareth, the man handed over to be crucified, had been raised, and God had made Him "both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).
The text says the crowd was "cut to the heart." They asked the only question that mattered: "Brothers, what shall we do?"
"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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."
— Acts 2:38-39
About three thousand people said yes and were baptized that same day (Acts 2:41). No membership class. No fundraising campaign. We didn't invent this answer and we don't get to edit it. Here it is in four parts.
Jesus never gave people a prayer to repeat so they could become Christians. He called people to follow Him. Peter told the first hearers to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). Prayer is part of the new life with God; it is not a replacement for the response God gave. Read the history and biblical case against the sinner's prayer.
Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
When Jesus asked His closest friends who they thought He was, Peter answered: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Jesus called him blessed for it. John says his whole Gospel was written "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31).
Not sure you believe yet? Fair. Read the story of Jesus for yourself — start with Matthew, then John — and decide. You can read, watch, or listen to Matthew free at GotLuv.org. That's what it's for.
Repent
The word means turn around. It isn't about hating yourself; it's about changing direction — away from the life that was running you, toward God. You can do it in a car, a kitchen, or a jail cell at midnight (Acts 16:25-34). It's a decision, and it's yours.
Be baptized
Full immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. Paul was told, "Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16). Romans 6:3-4 says in baptism you're buried with Jesus and raised to a new life, the way He was raised.
Any believer can baptize you, anywhere there's enough water. A lake, a river, a backyard pool, a bathtub in a pinch. In the whole book of Acts, nobody ever waits.
If you are wondering how baptism relates to salvation, read the passages people usually debate before settling for somebody’s slogan.
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
God doesn't hand you a rulebook and wish you luck. He gives you His Spirit — Comforter and Guide (John 14:26). The promise "is for you and your children and for all who are far off." If you're reading this, "far off" includes you.
Jesus described this new life as being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).
Then follow Jesus every day
Baptism is a beginning. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). That life is hard. It asks you to forgive, tell the truth, love people who cannot repay you, carry another person's burden, and keep getting up when you fail.
It is also full of light. Jesus rose from the dead, so the struggle has hope in it. Learn His words, then go live them: feed someone, welcome a stranger, share a table, make peace, help another person follow Jesus. The Bible is not a hiding place from the world. It teaches us how to love the world God already loved (John 3:16-17).
Want to do this and don't know a single Christian? That's what we're here for. Pick your city, or use the form below, or just text (909) 375-3787. A real person will help you get baptized — we've done it in lakes, pools, and one memorable horse trough. Nobody will ask you for a dime.
The questions everyone actually asks
Do I need to join a church to become a Christian?
No. In Acts 2, about three thousand people became Christians in one day — there was no church to join yet. They became the church. When you believe, repent, and are baptized, you're already part of the family (Acts 2:41). Finding other believers to walk with matters a lot, but it's family, not membership.
Is saying the sinner's prayer enough?
No. You won't find a sinner's prayer anywhere in the Bible, and Jesus never told people to pray a prayer to become His follower. What you find is Peter's answer in Acts 2:38: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and receive the Holy Spirit. Prayer belongs in the life of a follower, but it must never replace the response Scripture gives.
Why is baptism such a big deal?
Because Scripture keeps attaching things to it: forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), washing sins away (Acts 22:16), being united with Jesus in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). Peter flat-out says 'baptism now saves you' (1 Peter 3:21). It's not a graduation ceremony for mature Christians. It's the front door.
Who is allowed to baptize me?
Any believer. There's no clergy requirement anywhere in the New Testament — Philip was waiting tables in Acts 6 and baptizing an Ethiopian official in Acts 8. A friend who follows Jesus can baptize you in a pool this afternoon. If you don't know a single believer, contact us and we'll make sure it happens.
Does it cost anything?
Nothing. It never did. 'Freely you have received; freely give' (Matthew 10:8). Anyone charging money for salvation, baptism, or blessing is selling something Jesus already paid for. We never collect money — that's one of the reasons this site exists.
I was baptized as a baby. Does that count?
In the Bible, baptism always follows personal belief and repentance — things a baby can't do yet (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12). What was done for you as an infant was an act of love by your family. But the choice to follow Jesus is yours to make, and being baptized as a believer is how the Bible shows people making it.
How fast can this happen?
Same day. That's the biblical pattern, every time: the Pentecost crowd (Acts 2:41), the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:36-38), the Philippian jailer at midnight (Acts 16:33). Nobody in Scripture was put on a waiting list.
Connect with people
Whether you're curious about Jesus or you've followed Him for years, tell us where you're at and what you're interested in. A real person reads every one of these and helps you take a next step — learning, serving, or finding others near you. No spam, and nobody will ever ask you for money.