Repent and be Baptized

There are a few other verses that those who believe that the act of water baptism saves a person use to try to convey their point. One is Acts 2:38-39, which states: "Peter replied, '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."

Many read this verse and take it out of context, saying that Peter is telling the people that they must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to be saved. But let's take a look at the context. Christ had risen (as recorded in Acts 1) and the disciples had been praying and had selected another man to replace Judas (the one who betrayed Jesus). Then the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they were able to speak in other languages (Acts 2). There were Jews from other nations staying in Jerusalem. They heard the disciples and were astonished that each could hear the words spoken in his own language. Peter explains what is going on and tells them about Jesus and what had been happening the past few months. He tells them in Acts 2:36: "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

The Jews responded. "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" Acts 2:37. Then Peter tells them, "Repent and be baptized..." They all had heard Peter's message and believed and wanted to do something about it. Peter told them to "Repent..." which meant to turn away from their sins and turn to God, as described in Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." This turning to God is what really cleans us and saves us, it is God alone that is able to forgive sin and purify the sinner for His glory. I may get into repentence later, but the topic for now is to show that baptism doesn't save you, only God does. As Peter said earlier when he was quoting the prophets: "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Acts 2:21).

Also there is the Holy Spirit. Some use Acts 2:38 to say that people do not get the Holy Spirit until after they have been baptized. Ephesians 1:13-14 helps to clear this up. It says: "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." In verse 13 we see that believing in the word or truth, believing that Christ came and died for our sins and was raised again on the third day, is what gives us the Holy Spirit. When we truly believe in our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes in and is a deposit "guaranteeing our inheritance." Romans 8:16-17 states: The Spirit himself testifies with out spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." So our inheritance is sharing in Christ's glory, that is, I believe referring to Heaven.

So getting back to Acts 2:38, if this belief was all that was needed to be saved, why did Peter tell the Jews to get baptized? Well for one thing it was what Jesus had told them to do in Matthew28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Another reason was that baptism is following Jesus's example found in Matthew 3:13-17. Yet another reason was that this marked the transition of the Old Testament beliefs to the New Testament. The Messiah had come as was promised and this baptism was the first act of obedience that a person who believed in Jesus did to show others that they truly believed. The Jews in the story were accepting God's grace.

Other verses to note:

Acts 10 (especially verses 44-48): Here God arranged for Peter to go to a Gentile's (a non-Jew) house to share the message of Jesus there. The Gentiles believe and the Holy Spirit comes on them before they are baptized.

Acts 19 (verses 1-7) Paul finds two of John the Baptist's disciples and they do not receive the Spirit until after baptism and after Paul laid his hands on them.

Romans 10:9-13 Belief in the heart and confession of that belief is important.

1 Peter 3:18-22 (especially verse 21) I will attempt to explain this verse next time, but it really explains itself.