FOREWORD 2025
Written around fifty years ago, Pastor Kevin Hollins’ booklet sets out simply the need for the salvation spoken about in the Bible, the salvation experience of the early Church.
FOREWORD (circa 1980)
The Bible record of God’s plan may be divided into three parts.
First, in the Old Testament and Gospels, the need for and promise of salvation is recorded. As foretold, Jesus bought our salvation by giving His life on the Cross.
Second, in Acts is described what actually happens when people get saved. Nowhere else is such specific detail given.
Third, in the Epistles, the apostles of God give instruction, correction and encouragement to those who have received the experience detailed in Acts.
This booklet is about the second part where people receive the promise of the first without which the blessings and rewards of the third do not apply.
Pastor Kevin Hollins.
SCRIPTURAL! SIMPLE! and makes SENSE!!!
It is indeed a personal pleasure to endorse this clear exposition of Salvation for the whom-so-ever.
The writer, Pastor Kevin Hollins, is a foundation member of the Revival Centres Church with Ministry extending
back over thirty years (at the time of this note).
This booklet is a challenge to the meaningless proposals of modern theology.
Recommending this work is a privilege.
Pastor L. R. Longfield.
Revival Centres Church
WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED?
THE DISCIPLES RECEIVE SALVATION
The Christian Church began on the day of Pentecost. It started at that moment when the first disciples of Jesus received the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit. They became Christians, ‘anointed ones’. This is precisely the meaning of the word ‘Christian’. They were the first to receive the New Covenant. The benefits that Jesus paid for with His own life were delivered to His early followers on that day. It was the anniversary of the giving of the Old Covenant to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. It was fifty days after the celebration of the Passover when Jesus, the Lamb of God, had been crucified. There were many visitors still in Jerusalem for this Feast of Pentecost. The disciples of Jesus (120 disciples including women and Mary, Jesus’s mother) were waiting in Jerusalem, as commanded, for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost which Jesus had promised several days before.
And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. . . you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Acts 1:4-5,8
So instead of moving out to tell the world of the triumph of the resurrection of Jesus they waited in faith for the promised Holy Spirit. This experience is outlined in the next chapter.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, . . . they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4
This was the first time that anyone had received the ‘promise of the Father’, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Old Covenant of the Law had ended. With this direct and personal experience of God’s presence, a new age of a personal relationship with God had begun.
Onlookers gathered and were amazed that the followers of Jesus were able to speak in many different foreign languages which they had never learned. It was apparent that these people were just humble Galileans. It was obviously a miracle – the very sign that Jesus had promised would be associated with those who believed in Him, confirmation of God’s approval and blessing for all who truly believe.
(Jesus said) And these signs will follow those who believe: . . . they will speak with new tongues. Mark 16:17
Firstly, they wanted to know the meaning of this outstanding miracle.
So they (the onlookers) were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Acts 2:12 Peter answered by explaining that this supernatural experience had been prophesied in the Scriptures. Jesus of Nazareth approved of God by similar miracles and wonders and signs had been taken by wicked hands and crucified. God had raised Jesus from the dead. All these who were filled with the Holy Spirit were personal witnesses of that fact. Now, having ascended to heaven and being seated at the right hand of God, Jesus had sent forth the promise of the Holy Ghost. He had now blessed his followers with the wonderful ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’ experience which could be clearly seen and heard by all.
Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He (Jesus) poured out this which you now SEE and HEAR. Acts 2:33
The followers of Jesus being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, drew a crowd. Peter’s preaching put into context that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah, Who was now seated by His Heavenly Father and was pouring out the Holy Spirit.
WHAT MUST BE DONE TO RECEIVE SALVATION
After Peter’s explanation some of his audience asked the most important question that anyone can ask. They wanted to know what God required of them.
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37
Peter then gave them God’s answer. He gave them the most important answer that anyone could give and anyone could receive. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter revealed to them God’s will. He told them what they must do to be saved.
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. For the promise (of the baptism of the Holy Spirit) is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. . . . Save yourselves . . . ” Acts 2:38-40
These are the simple steps for salvation that Peter was given by God to proclaim to those who asked “what must we do?”:
- REPENT
- BE BAPTIZED
- RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
This is still God’s answer, His plan of salvation has never changed.
On the first day of the Christian Church the Lord directed Peter to state clearly, for all time and for all people, His simple requirements. So straightforward and uncomplicated, that anyone can follow them and there is no excuse for not doing them, exactly as given. True, the ramifications of God’s plan of salvation are immense, marvelous, beyond our full comprehension. However, the basic initial steps are precise and plainly specified, easily understood by the simplest soul.
REPENT
Repent means to ‘have another mind’. It means a change of direction. Instead of rebelling against the Lord, from this time forward our constant desire is to trust God and be obedient to Him and His ways.
BE BAPTIZED
To be baptized is to be fully immersed in water following your repentance. It is a decision you must make for yourself in answer to God’s commandment. All who are truly repentant will be baptized and will be buried in the waters of baptism ‘in the likeness of His death’.
. . . we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. Romans 6:4-6.
Jesus commanded water baptism AFTER believing and stated clearly its relationship to salvation.
He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16
Anybody who truly believes and is repentant will be baptized. It is a compromise and a distortion to say that believing does not include obedience. The word translated BELIEVE in the Greek means: to ‘adhere to, rely on, to trust in’. A believer in the Bible sense of that word will adhere to Jesus Christ’s commands.
(Jesus said) “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. John 14:15
RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Having established that, in the Bible, believing includes water baptism we must not stop there. To be consistent we must include the next step in God’s plan. A Bible believer should always go on to seek for and receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit without exception! Jesus said that believers would ‘speak in tongues’. Just as the first disciples received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost so all subsequent believers receive the same way with the same promised miraculous sign of ‘speaking in tongues’.
If anyone claims to be a believer and does not ‘speak in tongues’ they are effectively saying that God’s word is not true.
Rather, they should say, ‘let God be true and every man a liar’ (Romans 3:4).
Some say you can receive the Holy Spirit without the God-promised, God-given sign of speaking in tongues. Where are the Scriptures that say that? There are none! On the other hand, God gives several examples in the Bible of people receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Every time the Bible describes what happened as people received this New Covenant experience it states that they ‘spoke in tongues’. How many times should the repetitive details be given before we accept it as God’s pattern then trust that God will perform what He said?
The following are graphic accounts of people receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46, Acts 11:15, Acts 19:6. In each case they ‘spoke in tongues’. These accounts have the authority of God’s Word and are the only ones we have or need. They should be the only basis for defining when a person has received the Holy Spirit.
THE FIRST GENTILES TO RECEIVE SALVATION
The Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit was unexpected by Jews in the early Church, but when they spoke in tongues this overruled all objections.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those (Gentiles) who heard the word. (Peter and his Jewish companions knew then that Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit) … For they heard them speak with tongues … Acts 10:44-46
And as I (Peter) began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Acts 11:15
Following repentance, water baptism is commanded by the Lord. Peter then commanded the Gentiles to be baptized when he saw and heard that God had accepted them.
And he (Peter) commanded them (the Gentiles) to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Acts 10:48
THE APOSTLE PAUL RECEIVES SALVATION
In some cases, the Bible says that believers received the Holy Spirit but it does not describe what happened to the receivers. Saul whose name was later changed to Paul, was apprehended on the way to Damascus by Jesus Christ. Paul asked the Lord ‘what do you want me to do?’ This is how repentance starts. Doing what you are told is true repentance.
Jesus spoke to Paul saying that he would be told what to do by a man. This was the disciple Ananias who told Paul to get baptized and that he should receive the Holy Spirit. Note that this did not happen on the road, but it did happen later. Paul had begun to believe, but notice, he had not yet been baptized nor had he received the Holy Spirit. Even Paul had to follow the Bible pattern – in this matter there are no variations. God is no respecter of persons. Ananias made sure that Paul followed the Lord’s requirements for salvation established on the day of Pentecost, the first day that anyone received salvation. Paul was baptized in water and then received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Ananias . . said (to Paul) . . the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road . . has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately . . he received his sight . . and he arose and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18
The Bible does not say what happened when he received the Holy Spirit, but after being baptized he was told to wash away his sins. How?
And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, (by) calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16
Paul’s sins were washed away when he was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Did Paul ‘speak in tongues’ when he was filled with the Holy Spirit? He certainly had received that God-given ability because later, Paul writes about his experience.
For if I (Paul) pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. . . What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with the understanding . . . 1 Corinthians14:14,15
Paul also rejoiced in the fact that he spoke in tongues more than any of the Corinthians. That they could all speak in tongues is clear from Paul’s letter to them.
“I (Paul) thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all” 1 Corinthians 14:18
It is also consistent with other Scriptures to conclude that Paul spoke in tongues first when he received the Holy Spirit. He received the Holy Spirit as other believers did in Acts and as believers do today.
HOW TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TODAY
Receiving the Holy Spirit did not happen automatically in Paul’s case nor does it today. You must ask the Lord for His Holy Spirit to come and dwell within you.
(Jesus said) “. . . how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:5-13
In the Greek language with which the New Testament of the Bible is written, the word translated ask means to ‘ask and keep on asking’. How long should you call on the Lord asking for the Holy Spirit? Can you know for sure that you have received the Holy Spirit and no longer need to continue asking? God leaves us in no doubt at all. He will give you the promised sign just as Jesus had said. You will speak in tongues.
According to John’s gospel if you want the Lord to dwell in you, if you want Him in your heart then you must ask for and receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Father would send the Comforter, who would abide with us forever. He said that in this way, He and the Father would come and live within us.
“. . .for He (the Spirit of Truth) dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:17-18
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him (as the Holy Spirit) and make Our home with him.” John 14:23
Paul did not receive Christ on the Damascus Road. He turned to Jesus, who spoke to him and he called Him Lord. His obedience led him to that moment when he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Note particularly the essential work of the Holy Spirit, which also did not take place until Paul received the Spirit – to wash away sins. You can believe, be baptized, but still need your sins washed away according to God’s Word. We are cleansed and saved by the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus paid the price (His death) so that we all could receive the Spirit of God.
What an insult to spurn the blessing of His wonderful gift! We are not saved by our works of righteousness such as repentance, believing and water baptism, important as they are, but by the Holy Spirit.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
From this scripture we also see that no one is born again, no one’s sins are washed away, no one is a new creature in Christ and no one is saved until they have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In fact, God’s Word clearly states that the only way to become part of the Body of Christ (member of the Church) is through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body . . . and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13
THE SAMARITANS RECEIVE SALVATION
Philip preached to the Samaritans. They had turned to the Lord Jesus and though they had believed and had been baptized, the Scriptures show that they did not automatically receive the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8: 14-17
This was unsatisfactory. Peter and John were sent so that these believers might receive God’s Holy Spirit. They had not received their personal Pentecostal experience. Why did the Apostles not just assume that these people had received the Holy Spirit automatically upon believing, or upon baptism, like many people do today? They were believers. Surely they were saved? Why bother to go all that way just to help them receive a nice but non-essential experience?
Here is another important question; How could the Apostles be so sure that the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on them? There was ‘great joy in that city’. Their lives had taken a turn for the better. The Samaritans felt good now that their hearts were turned toward God and they were no longer rebellious. They were mentally and emotionally delighted with the news that Jesus had risen from the dead. The miracles that Philip did in Jesus’ name impressed them greatly. They were repentant to the point that they had been baptized in obedience to Christ’s command. However, the vital God-supplied ingredient was still missing.
The answer to these questions is obvious. There was as yet no evidence of them receiving the Holy Spirit. No one had spoken in tongues, so the Apostles knew positively that the Holy Spirit had fallen on none of them, God’s salvation plan had not been fulfilled in their lives. They were not yet saved. They had not yet received Christ.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9
This is not a different Spirit. The Bible is quite specific: ‘there is one Spirit’. The people of Samaria had not yet received that Spirit. They did not yet belong to Jesus. They were not yet anointed, not yet Christians.
Now we know why it was so important for Peter and John to go to Samaria. The Samaritans were not born of the Spirit.
“Most assuredly, I (Jesus) say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. John 3:5
Eventually the Scriptures record that they received the Holy Spirit. No more details are given except to say that a worldly man named Simon was so impressed with what he saw and heard when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit, that he offered money to the Apostles. He foolishly and wickedly thought that he could offer money for the power to pass on the ‘gift of God’ to anyone he laid hands on. Although Simon appeared to believe and had been baptized, his thinking was very wrong.
“. . . for your heart is not right in the sight of God . . . you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” Acts 8:21-23
This was hardly the description of a born-again Christian! To be saved and at the same time to be in the bond of iniquity is a contradiction. He was not yet saved. Though the detail is not given we can be sure that all the believers in Samaria spoke with tongues. Jesus said they would.
These events in Samaria establish another key point. Peter and John were sent because the believers found there were baptized, but had not yet received ‘the gift of God’ (as Peter described this experience).
Peter said to him (Simon), “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!” Acts 8:20
The ‘Gift of God’ we are told in the epistle to the Romans, is eternal life. Simon wanted to pay money to be able to give others an obvious and impressive demonstration of God’s power. He said nothing about eternal life. Peter, however, knew that what the Samaritans had received was in fact everlasting life. Until Peter and John prayed with them, they had not received the ‘Living water that springs up into everlasting life’ spoken of by Jesus to the Samaritan lady at Jacob’s well (John 4:10-13).
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God (the Baptism of the Holy Spirit) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
The ‘gift of God’ and the ‘gift of eternal life’ are synonymous terms. Certainly, this is why Jesus ‘bore our sins in his own body on the tree’ – that we might have life. The prime objective of God’s plan of salvation is that we have our sins washed away and that we pass from death to life everlasting. That did not happen to the Samaritans until God’s Holy Spirit had fallen on them.
To emphasize this important point, let us remember the two key things that John the Baptist said about the Lord Jesus. He proclaimed that He was the Lamb of God and He would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! . . . this is He (Jesus) who baptizes with the Holy Spirit, . . . ” John 1:29,33
The first scripture signifies the purchase price for our salvation. The second one tells us how Jesus would deliver it to us. Always remember that a man can baptize another in water, but only Jesus who knows the heart, can baptize with the Holy Spirit. Now we understand why the Apostles in Jerusalem were to be concerned about the Samaritans.
THE EPHESIANS RECEIVE SALVATION
Paul was similarly concerned when he came to Ephesus. The first thing he asked them was had they received the Holy Spirit since they believed. It is a question that all should ask themselves. They said they had not heard of the Holy Spirit but they had been baptized into John’s Baptism. Paul was able to correct them saying they should believe on Jesus Christ.
. . . When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues . . . Acts 19:5-6
Our experience must also match the Bible plan exactly or we have not received what God has offered. That is true Bible-defined faith. To accept anything less is to have faith in something other than what God’s Word says. Such faith may please men but it does not impress God.
THE ONE AND ONLY COMMON SALVATION
What must we do to be saved? In Jude we are told that we must get back to the way the Church began. We must strive to retain what those first disciples believed and received.
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3
In this discussion we have done just that. We have gone back in the Scriptures to that point in time when Jesus delivered to His first disciples His saving power, on the day of Pentecost. In the second chapter of Acts we read how the Christian Church began. On that day the Lord used Peter to present His plan of salvation. He proclaimed the clear and simple instructions on how to get saved. If we believe God’s words and have faith in them, then we will save ourselves from this evil world. The Bible pattern- Repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Spirit!
Later, Jude goes on to say that men had already crept in who were endeavouring to change this pattern.
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness (indecency) and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ . . . These are sensual (worldly) persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. Jude 4 and 19
No one can change God’s plan, but many have been persuaded that it can be and as a result, it has been changed. Change is not permitted. People may invent another gospel that cuts down on His requirements but, in God’s Word, Paul’s message of warning to the Galations says:
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel. Which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10
OUR EARNEST CONTENTION
Revival Centres Church earnestly contend that the way in which the Church began is the way it must continue. We earnestly contend that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential for salvation. The Holy Spirit was prophesied in the Old Testament, promised by Jesus and bought for us by His sacrifice. The experience of receiving the Holy Spirit is described repeatedly in The Acts, with the God-given sign of ’speaking in tongues’. This Gift is what is specified as the common salvation which was received by all and is assumed in all subsequent letters to the Church. The promises, the exhortations, the blessings, the glory of the New Testament apply only to those who have received God’s specified confirmation, His seal of the Holy Spirit.
These epistles were written to true believers who have repented, been baptized and who have asked for and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the Bible-specified accompanying sign of speaking with other tongues.
Assuming anything different to this is a delusion usually in the guise of ‘faith’. To zealously and tenaciously claim salvation when God’s stipulated requirements have not been met and His specified confirmation has not been received is at best foolish, and at worst dishonest. It is rebellion masquerading as faithfulness. It neither honours God nor His Word. This is too serious a matter to treat so foolishly and so carelessly. It is certainly a matter of life and death.
Have you turned to the Lord in repentance? Have you obeyed Jesus’ command and been baptized SINCE you believed? Have you received the Holy Spirit SINCE you believed? Obey the Lord and be saved from death to everlasting life!
Repent, be baptized in water and call upon Him until your born-again experience of receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit matches God’s Bible pattern.
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