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NASB | Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each 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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. |
Bible Question: "Of course, my understanding of the verse is that Peter was not connecting repentance with water baptism for salvation". Then you would have to do the same with Mark 16:15-16. These are the words of Jesus himself! The reason I ask is I hear and read about this seperation alot, my question to those of faith is (can God save us the way HE WANTS TOO)? If He tells us to be baptized for the remission of sins, and he does, why can't we just trust His word? Many on this forum don't believe that God could save through water baptism, but those in the bible believed. My last question is, did baptism come from God or is it man made, and give scripture for the answer. |
Bible Answer: Greetings Grace and Truth: You stated, "Many on this forum don't believe that God could save through water baptism, but those in the bible believed." Please give a reference that supports "those in the Bible believed" As Jews, washing and cleansing were important aspects of their worship, but salvation was and always has been BY FAITH. God's law contains directions about washing (ie the priest washed themselves prior to ministering before the Lord) - I see this as a response to the recognition of their sinful condition and the need to be clean before they could begin to serve God. Based upon this I believe we could infer that the motive for the practice of baptism orginated from God's law. Perhaps Christ's baptism also is a signal that God approved of the people's RESPONSE to John the Baptist's call, to "repent!" He didn't call anyone to be "saved!" God credited the Old Testament saints with righteousness based upon their faith -(Romans 4:3, Gals 3:6; James 2:23) Salvation has always come BY FAITH ALONE - it is the gift of God. Baptism does not SAVE anyone, only God can save! And today, salvation is God's free gift based upon BELIEF in the finished work of Jesus Christ, His Son! Salvation is not the result of baptism or our BELIEF in baptism! Read Matthew 21:21-25. Jesus asked the same question about John's baptism, was it from heaven or from men. But notice what He was talking about just prior to this. FAITH! What do you suppose we should emphasize here? Mommapbs |