Subject: Unforgivable sin |
Bible Note: To begin from the bottom up, the events in Acts 10, dealing with Cornelius and his household, are explained in Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. Context is of vital importance here to get the meaning of the events that take place. God's purpose was to show "those of the circumcision" that salvation was for all, Jew and Gentile alike, and if you read the entire chapter explaining Peter's visions and Cornelius', it should become evident. Yes, Cornelius and his household were baptized with the Holy Spirit prior to baptism, BUT, no where does it say they were saved at that point. Peter ordered them (10:38, NASB) to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which in Acts 2:38 we are told is for the remission of sin. The events involving Cornelius are only a small part of the whole when it comes to determining the importance of baptism. We must look at the whole. It may "simply make sense logically, grammatically, and scripturally" to you but, if all the evidence of the bible is included in your understanding, it doesn't in God's plan. The command to be baptized could have been addressed to the crowd. In some translations it actually is. The New Revised Standard version says, "Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." If the passage was worded, "Repent, and 'all of you' be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" it would have. Why it wasn't I don't know but I feel that obeying the commands of the Lord is an individual decision and by saying 'each one of you' may have made it more personal and emphasized the need for indeed, each one to obey. Regardless of translation, the message remains the same, repent AND be baptized FOR the remission of sin THEN you will receive the promise. The comments made by A. T. Robertson say nothing about baptism not being required for salvation. He says, "The first thing to do is make a radical and complete change of heart and life (which is repentance). Then let each one be baptized after this change has taken place (not before because it would be of no effect), and the act of baptism be performed "in the name of Jesus Christ"". It is strange that he omits the part about "for the remission of sin", which is the purpose of baptism, because without the performance of this act we do not come in contact with the death of Christ (Rom 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 2 Col 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead)and therefore our sin is not remitted. You say, "I do need to make one clarification in your comments. The pronoun 'you' associated with 'each' is actually plural." The word "each" denotes singularity so couldn't we say "each one (singular) of you (the crowd, plural)? The command to be baptized would still apply, regardless. I don't know you well enough to make the determination of your scholastic achievements. Yep, we may be about the same age. |