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How to become a Christian according to the Bible.
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 is the answer the apostle Peter gave when people first asked what they should do after hearing that Jesus had been crucified and raised. It costs nothing. No building, paid minister, membership class, or sinner's prayer can replace the response Scripture gives.
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 received the message and were baptized that day (Acts 2:41). Peter's answer was not a private formula. It was a public turn toward Jesus, followed by a shared life of teaching, meals, prayer, generosity, and daily fellowship (Acts 2:42-47). We do not get to shorten that answer or replace it.
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? Read the story of Jesus for yourself. Start with Matthew, then John. Notice what Jesus says, what He does, why He was killed, and what His followers saw after His death. You can read, watch, or listen to Matthew free at GotLuv.org.
Repent
Repentance is a real change of direction. It means turning from sin toward God, not merely feeling bad or promising to try harder. Jesus joined repentance with believing the good news (Mark 1:15). Peter called people to repent and turn to God so their sins might be wiped out (Acts 3:19). Read what repentance means in daily life.
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.
The New Testament does not give a clergy-only rule. Ask a trustworthy follower of Jesus to help you plan a safe full immersion in water you have permission to use. In Acts, people responded without turning baptism into a long graduation process.
If you are wondering how baptism relates to salvation, read the passages people usually debate before settling for somebody’s slogan. If you are ready and want the practical details, read what happens before, during, and after baptism.
Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
Peter promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who repented and were baptized (Acts 2:38-39). Jesus said the Spirit would teach His disciples and remind them of His words (John 14:26). Scripture does not present the Spirit as a vague feeling or a guarantee that every impulse comes from God. Read the passages about receiving the Holy Spirit.
Jesus described this new life as being born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).
What can I do today?
- Read Acts 2 from the beginning. Do not start with one isolated verse. Follow Peter's message about Jesus, the cross, the resurrection, and the people's response.
- Decide who Jesus is. Read Matthew and John. Christianity begins with Jesus, the Christ and Son of God, not with joining an institution.
- Turn toward God. Name what needs to change. Make restitution where you can. Ask forgiveness from people you have hurt.
- Ask a follower of Jesus to baptize you. Choose safe, permitted water and do not let money, a building, or a waiting list become a barrier.
- Begin following Jesus with other people. Read His words, eat together, pray, carry one another's burdens, and put His teaching into practice.
Then follow Jesus every day
Baptism is a beginning, not a finish line. 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, and 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 respond and do not know another follower of Jesus? Pick your city, use the form below, or text (909) 375-3787. Tell us your city and what you are looking for. We can begin with a group video conversation while we look for nearby followers of Jesus. Nobody will ask you for money.
The questions everyone actually asks
Do I need to join a church to become a Christian?
No. In Acts 2, about three thousand people received Peter's message and were baptized. They then shared life as the church (Acts 2:41-47). Following Jesus with other believers matters, but a membership process is not part of Peter's answer.
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 connects baptism with forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), washing sins away while calling on Jesus' name (Acts 22:16), and being united with Jesus in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). First Peter 3:21 also says that baptism now saves you, not by removing dirt, but as an appeal to God through Jesus' resurrection.
Who is allowed to baptize me?
The New Testament does not give a clergy-only rule for baptism. Jesus told His disciples to make disciples and baptize them (Matthew 28:19-20), and Philip baptized the Ethiopian in Acts 8:36-38. Ask a trustworthy follower of Jesus to help you use safe, permitted water. If you do not know anyone, contact us and we will help you look for other followers of Jesus.
Does it cost anything?
Nothing. Jesus said, 'Freely you have received; freely give' (Matthew 10:8). Salvation and baptism are not products. Jesus Saves Cities does not collect or route money.
I was baptized as a baby. Does that count?
In the Bible, baptism follows personal belief and repentance, things a baby cannot do yet (Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12). What was done for you as an infant was an act of love by your family. The choice to follow Jesus is yours to make, and baptism after belief is the pattern shown in Acts.
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.
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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.