What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible presents salvation as a three-part experience: repentance, water baptism in Jesus's name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. This is the pattern Jesus commanded and the Apostles delivered.
Key Scriptures
Acts 2:38 NKJV
"Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.""
This is the Apostolic plan of salvation: three commands, one promise. Repent. Be baptized in Jesus's name. Receive the Holy Spirit. All three belong together.
John 3:5 NKJV
"Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.""
Jesus himself requires both water (baptism) and the Spirit (Holy Spirit) for entering the kingdom. This is not the Apostles' invention, it is the Lord's requirement.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Salvation is by grace through faith, but faith without response is not biblical faith. Abraham believed God, and it was counted as righteousness, but Abraham also obeyed. Repentance, baptism, and receiving the Spirit are acts of faith, not works of merit.
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation."
Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in his resurrection are foundational. For the Apostles, that confession was expressed through obedience to Acts 2:38, not a repeated prayer but a life-changing encounter.
Gospel Focus
Most of modern Christianity reduces salvation to a prayer or a moment of belief. But Jesus told Nicodemus "you must be born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5), and Peter told the crowd "repent and be baptized" before promising the Holy Spirit. The Apostolic church does not add to salvation, it simply preaches the whole gospel as Peter preached it on the Day of Pentecost, the day the Church was born.
Memory Verse
"Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.""
John 3:5 NKJV
Go Deeper
This page gives you the Bible's core answer. For the full verse-by-verse study, historical context, and Apostolic application, go here:
Study: Birth of the Church →Want to know what the Bible teaches about salvation?