Acts 2:38 has been abandoned by Christianity

[mailmandan]

It is a phenomenon that cannot be explained.

Folks that claim to be Christians refuse the original new birth via Acts 2:38.

I am amazed at the power of the enemy over them, doing everything they can to dismiss this command by Peter.

It does not matter if one is trinity or unitarian, as they run from the first command by Peter to sinners on how to be saved....

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

....as Christians say..."sorry Peter, I'll pass....".

I see that you are still clinging to your 'pet verse' (Acts 2:38) and biased church doctrine (baptismal remission). You need to properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine. Your failure to do so has led to salvation by works.

In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.

*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).

In Acts 10:43 we read ..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 - when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.

*So the only logical conclusion when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*

 

[Truther]

Uh, No! Scriptural Explanations of the UNexplainable Are here:
God's Approval/TWO Gospels In Prophecy vs Mystery

and here:
"Distinctions" of Prophecy vs MYSTERY

Be Blessed!

Yikes...mass commentary strikes again!

 

[Truther]

Already dealt with.p in post #40.

Per Acts 3:19, it’s the repenting that gets our sins forgiven, backed up by Acts 10, where Peter says those hearing him preach had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and so could then be water baptized, in Acts 10:44-48.

The Holy Spirit is not given to the unsaved, thus they were saved by faith, before water baptism.

Water baptism is the outward washing of the body that can be seen, that is symbolic of the inward washing of regeneration from the Holy Spirit, that can’t be seen.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Thus water baptism is for the already saved, and is not done to get saved.

I see.

You think Peter got it backwards like this?...

Repent for the remission of sins and be baptized for no significant reason in the name of Jesus Christ.....

Too bad you weren't there to help him, huh?

 

[Truther]

Absolutely not, it’s the repentance that remits sins, not water baptism, which is the outward washing of the body that can be seen, that is symbolic of the inward washing and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, that can’t be seen.

You have to look at all scriptures on a subject, not just the ones you like.

Per Acts 3:19, it’s the repenting that gets our sins forgiven in Acts 2, backed up by Acts 10, where Peter says those hearing him preach had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and so could then be water baptized, in Acts 10:44-48.

The Holy Spirit is not given to the unsaved, thus they were saved by faith, before water baptism.

Water baptism is the outward washing of the body that can be seen, that is symbolic of the inward washing of regeneration from the Holy Spirit, that can’t be seen.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Thus water baptism is for the already saved, and is not done to get saved.

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


What's wrong with this picture?

 

[Truther]

Per Acts 3:19, it’s the repenting that gets our sins forgiven, backed up by Acts 10, where Peter says those hearing him preach had been filled with the Holy Spirit, and so could then be water baptized, in Acts 10:44-48.

The Holy Spirit is not given to the unsaved, thus they were saved by faith, before water baptism.

Water baptism is the outward washing of the body that can be seen, that is symbolic of the inward washing of regeneration from the Holy Spirit, that can’t be seen.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Thus water baptism is for the already saved, and is not done to get saved.

Acts 2:38 is before Acts 3.

You skipped Acts 2:38.

Very naughty.

 

[Truther]

You


They have traded truth for acknowledgment only.

They will not even acknowledge Acts 2:38.

They nearly hate it.

They fight it tooth and nail like Covid 19.

They are inoculated from it by the seminary.

 

[Truther]

You are the one making it into a ritual. By suggesting that one must be baptized in water, while hearing or pronouncing the magic words "in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit", you have made baptism into a pagan ritual. God will not save a person or grant that individual his favor unless that person performs the holy acts and says the holy words. Isn't that what you are saying?

From my perspective, each person whom God is saving has a different salvation story. Even if someone goes through a ritual, that person will need to deal with God in the privacy of his or her own thoughts. The problem with rituals is this. We don't actually know if the ritual worked. Even if a person were to stand in the baptismal pool and confess Jesus is Lord and hear the words "I baptize you in the name of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit" and even if that person is pushed under the water, he or she doesn't actually know the result. Will God favor that act or not? Maybe, if the person was sincere and his request was genuine. But there is always doubt.

The overall concept is this. God doesn't care whether or not someone is baptized per se. God judges the heart of a person. So for instance, if someone confesses faith in Jesus today, but tomorrow he suffers a fatal car accident on the way to his baptism, this will not thwart God from granting him salvation. If a woman in Africa, confessing that God exists and that he is the rewarder of those who seek him, not ever having heard about Jesus or the gospel, won't keep God from saving her. God can save anyone he wants anytime he wants. He is not constrained by "conditions" we must meet.

Acts 2:38 is not the end of the matter; it is only the beginning. In another post I described the process of salvation as an arrow in flight on a trajectory toward the target. We don't judge an arrow according to the instantaneous position at any one point along the way. We judge the arrow according to the entire path. Is the arrow headed in the right direction or not? That is the question. Remember the very person who said, "be baptized" is the same person who said, "if these things are present and increasing . . ." 2 Peter 1:8

Since we all have different salvation stories; the salient question is this. What is the direction of the arrow?

Obeying Peter in Acts 2:38 was a ritual for the 3000 at Pentecost?

 

[Truther]

I see that you are still clinging to your 'pet verse' (Acts 2:38) and biased church doctrine (baptismal remission). You need to properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine. Your failure to do so has led to salvation by works.

In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.

*Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).

In Acts 10:43 we read ..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45 - when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.

*So the only logical conclusion when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*

You skipped Acts 2:38 again, Dan.

You reject Peter's command.

You are not of the 3000 at Pentecost.

What church does that leave you in?

 

[Wrangler]

ONLY the Blood of Jesus washes away sins, not water baptism. That's near blasphemy!

I'm not sure who is arguing for that. The Lord did not receive the Holy Spirit until he was Baptized. The significance of water is ceremonial and symbolic. Going under the water symbolizes death of our own life. Emerging from the water symbolizes our new life with the Spirit of God in us.

 

[Wrangler]

Obeying Peter in Acts 2:38 was a ritual for the 3000 at Pentecost?

Acts 2:38 contains more than the ritual baptism.

 

[mailmandan]

You skipped Acts 2:38 again, Dan.

You reject Peter's command.

You are not of the 3000 at Pentecost.

What church does that leave you in?

I did not skip Acts 2:38 at all. It’s you who skipped (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17-18; 15:8-9; 16:31; 26:18).

 

[Truther]

I'm not sure who is arguing for that. The Lord did not receive the Holy Spirit until he was Baptized. The significance of water is ceremonial and symbolic. Going under the water symbolizes death of our own life. Emerging from the water symbolizes our new life with the Spirit of God in us.

The spoken name of Jesus Christ in the water remits sins per Acts 2:38.

God honors such symbolism.

Just like the priest in the tabernacle.

God honored it sooo much, that the priest would die if he skipped the brazen laver(representing water baptism).

 

[Truther]

Acts 2:38 contains more than the ritual baptism.

Amen.

It is the fulfillment of the tabernacle as we follow Jesus to Acts 2:38.

The priest kills the bull etc....Jesus dies....we die(repent).

The priest washed at the laver...Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness....we wash our sins away(baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins).

The priest enters the Holy of Holies....Jesus passed the vail..... we receive the Holy Ghost.

 

[Truther]

I did not skip Acts 2:38 at all. It’s you who skipped (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17-18; 15:8-9; 16:31; 26:18).

No Dan, the 3000 asked Peter, "what shall we do"?

Peter tells them to obey per Acts 2:38.

You say, "nothing, because Jesus did it all".

Shame on you, Dan.

You distort scripture to attempt to debunk Peter.

The litmus test to see if you are anti-Acts 2:38 in this question.....

If you were Peter at Pentecost and the 3000 asked you "what shall we do"?, would you have told them exactly what Peter told them in verse 38?

Or, if something different, what?

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Yes, baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to be precise.

Baptized means to be immersed into as in water. But water baptism is symbolic for being immersed into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Being in Christ is being baptized in His name. Water doesn't save anyone, it is just an outward physical expression, A public declaration of an inward spiritual union. Water is not spiritual and therefore does nothing. We are obedient and demonstrate our belief in this public ritual, but water does nothing to the spirit. The Word transforms, the Holy Spirit converts, then we are in Christ.
The thief in the cross next to Jesus was not water baptized, yet he was a believer and confessed, therefore was saved.

 

[Wrangler]

The spoken name of Jesus Christ in the water remits sins per Acts 2:38.

A very creative interpretation of Acts 2:38 indeed. Seems more like a pre-requesite to me. I do not believe in magic, magical water or magical words.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

It is a phenomenon that cannot be explained.

Folks that claim to be Christians refuse the original new birth via Acts 2:38.

I am amazed at the power of the enemy over them, doing everything they can to dismiss this command by Peter.

It does not matter if one is trinity or unitarian, as they run from the first command by Peter to sinners on how to be saved....


37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.


....as Christians say..."sorry Peter, I'll pass....".

1. No one ignores it
2. true believers interpret it correctly as written in Greek
3. True believers also do not try to replace the baptism of God with the baptism of man, which would be considered blasphemy of the spirit. Be warned.

 

[mailmandan]

No Dan, the 3000 asked Peter, "what shall we do"?

Peter tells them to obey per Acts 2:38.

You say, "nothing, because Jesus did it all".

Shame on you, Dan.

You distort scripture to attempt to debunk Peter.

The litmus test to see if you are anti-Acts 2:38 in this question.....

If you were Peter at Pentecost and the 3000 asked you "what shall we do"?, would you have told them exactly what Peter told them in verse 38?

Or, if something different, what?

I already explained Acts 2:38 to you and there is no shame in properly harmonizing scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine. In Acts 16:30, the question was asked, “what must I do to be saved?” and in verse 31, we see the answer - “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..” Not get water baptized and you will be saved.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

I already explained Acts 2:38 to you and there is no shame in properly harmonizing scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine. In Acts 16:30, the question was asked, “what must I do to be saved?” and in verse 31, we see the answer - “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..” Not get water baptized and you will be saved.

Its so sad we have perverted a word to the point we can not interpret scripture correctly

 

[Amazed@grace]

It’s the calling on the name of the Lord that does the saving - but you’d know that if you’d read every scripture on salvation, such as Romans 10:13 that says WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, shall BE SAVED.

Water baptism is for those saved by faith , not to get saved.

You missed the scriptures message entirely.
And while implying those who you judge as disagreeing with you are not saved.
Shame on you.