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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. |
Subject: Holy Spirit evidence of Salvation? |
Bible Note: Greetings Inmyheart! You closed your post with this comment: "In closing, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit as they did in Acts 10 PRIOR to their water baptism! After their baptism they received the GIFT of the Holy Spirit. What's the difference?" One of the reasons that Acts 10:45 is so important in relation to Acts 2:38 is that the same exact phrase is used in both verses. Acts 2:38 says, "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." Acts 10:45 says, "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." So, it is not correct to say that they 'received the Holy Spirit' prior to their water baptism, but received 'the gift of the Holy Spirit' after their water baptism. Acts 10:45 takes place before their water baptism and specifically says that they had received the 'gift of the Holy Spirit'. The reason this is important is because it demonstrates that Acts 2:38 does not list two requirements for 'the forgiveness of sins' and the reception 'of the gift of the Holy Spirit', but only one - Repentance. As has been noted several times on this forum, 'repent' is a plural command and is associated with the plural phrases 'forgiveness of sins' and 'you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'. However, 'be baptized' is a singluar command and serves as a parenthetical statement, and cannot be associated with the plural promises which follow. It is simple grammar. Acts 10:45 is conclusive proof that the Baptismal regeneration approach of understanding Acts 2:38 is wrong. Because, if it were true (which it can't be grammatically), then those in Acts 10:45 would have had to 'repent', 'be baptized', and then receive the 'gift of the Holy Spirit'. Yet, this is the order which occurs. They 'repent', receive the 'gift of the Holy Spirit', and then are 'baptized' as a result of their salvation. The meaning of all this is quite simple. We are not saved by anything which we do, but only through grace by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). The only reason that I can think of for this be so unsettling to people is that it takes all control out of our hands and requires us to trust only in God's grace, not our own efforts. This is the same debate which Paul had with the Judaizers. They wanted to make 'circumcision' a requirement for salvation. In fact, they were the ones who in Acts 10 did not want to baptize the Gentile believers, because they had not been circumcized. Acts 15:1 - "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”" Yet, Paul taught: Rom. 2:28 - "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God." Rom. 3:29 - "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith." Rom. 4:11 - "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them." Galatians 5:2 - "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all." Everything Paul said in these verses about circumcision can also be applied to the debate about baptismal regeneration. It is nothing more than an attempt to add 'works' to salvation, so that we can somehow 'earn' it. Yet, countless Scriptures deny that this is possible or required. We are saved through grace by faith alone! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |