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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: Is this about water baptism at all? |
Bible Note: Tim: I would argue that baptism falls into a completely different category than the examples you mentioned. Nowhere does the Bible command all believers to do at any time any of the things on your list. Baptism is most definitely commanded, and the apostles seemed to understand it as an ordinance tied to the conversion of someone previously outside of God's household. Baptism is equated throughout the biblical history of the church as united to one's profession of faith, and it is the means by which someone visibly joins God's church. While I do not believe in baptismal regeneration any more than you do, I would definitely point to a prompt baptism as the thing for a new, unbaptized convert to receive. I think we as the church are swinging too far to the other extreme of making the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ out to be "nice extras" that one can ultimately take or leave rather than signs and seals of the grace of God. --Joe! |