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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: As you so well stated that the jews were ceremonially baptizing their youth allready,the fact remains that whose name will they be baptised now, the answer is Jesus he is the messiah. baptism dose'nt save anyone ,Christ does.Acts 2:38 is pointing to this fact.The fact that denominal sects think that they must do something in order to play a part in salvation is as old as the world itself. Yes Jesus is God manifest in the flesh.However the father calls him God also. Hebrews 1:8 you see you miss the trinity by making Jesus the father son and holyspirit.Yes there is only one God,but he shall allways be identified in three distinct persons.He is the son of the father,he is the father to us and his holy spirit is our indwelling spirit.Paul said that he did'nt come to baptise but to preach the gospel ,for that is the power of God.Whos voice would you say was there at the baptisim of Christ, the fathers or the sons.Luke 23:42 the thief merly reconized Jesus as the son of God thats why he went into the kingdom with Christ.This is a heart issue,otherwise we could just throw water on people in Jesus name and thay would be saved,we do alot of ministry in hospitals,sometimes they can't have water baptisim.As to infant jewish baptism,we can dedicate our children to messiah however this does'nt mean that they are saved ,for it is a heart discision that counts,and water is just an act of obedience. love in CHRIST JESUS RCSCROLL |
Bible Answer: Yes, it is true that one must recognize Jesus, accept His sacrifice and repent. This is the heart issue, otherwise baptism is nothing more than taking a bath. However we are also dealing with a faith issue here. It is easy for people to go around saying "Yes, I believe," but it is another thing entirely to put that belief into action. Someone can give me a check and I can believe that I have been given some money, but unless I deposit or cash the check it does me no good. God is asking believers to give Him more than mere lip service. He is asking for us to show Him that we love Him by obeying His command to baptize and to be baptized. It is an act of commitment and when we are baptized we let the world and the devil see by our actions that we have chosen to be publicly identified with the death, burial, and resurection of Jesus Christ. As I said in a previous message, there are most certainly exceptions to the rule and Jesus is merciful, but that doesn't mean we should throw out the rule and live by the exceptions. That crosses the line into disobedience and rebellion. God instituted the sacrament, Jesus commanded it in His own words. Should mere man thumb his nose at almighty God, Who holds our salvation in His hand, by telling Him that we don't accept His way of doing things and He will have to accept us on our terms? God will be the judge in the end. |