Churches of Christ teach that salvation requires: (1) faith in Jesus Christ, (2) repentance from sin, (3) confession of Christ as Lord, and (4) baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Baptism is not merely symbolic but is the moment at which God forgives sin and grants the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). This is sometimes described as 'baptismal regeneration,' though Churches of Christ typically prefer the language of the text: baptism 'for the remission of sins.'

This position distinguishes Churches of Christ from most evangelical Protestants who regard baptism as an act that follows salvation (rather than completing it). Churches of Christ point to Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:3–4, and 1 Peter 3:21 as requiring this understanding. Salvation by faith alone without baptism is generally regarded as incomplete or insufficient, which has sometimes led to questions about the validity of other Christians' conversions.