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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: Baptism, Trinity, and Teachers? |
Bible Note: Dear Ray, Thanks for the welcome. The Bible never discussed infant baptism. It did stress dedication of infants to the Lord. The problem with infant baptism is one of the understanding and commitment of the person being baptized. While the Bible describes all as having a sin nature, because of Adam's fall, an infant has no personal sin yet. More importantly though is that the child is unable to make a conscious decision to repent and turn his life over to Christ. This is the major flaw with infant baptism. Paul told the Greeks of Athens, I believe that while God once winked at man's ignorance, that He now called upon all to repent. The Catholics added a second step or sacrament called Confirmation during which the child, now grown beyond the age of reason, is asked to decide for himself to follow Christ. During this ceremony, the local bishop would anoint the child's head with oil and lay hands on the child so as to "impart the Holy Spirit" to him. I was Catholic for 38 years, been there, done that, but never felt or experienced anything during that ceremony like I did upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost after joining a Pentecostal Church. Since making that move, I have seen God's signs and wonders, I have witnessed spiritual gifts in operation including the Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom, Discerning of Spirits, Miracles of Healing, the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues and people moving in the Gift of Prophesy. (And, yes the prophesies came true.) The Apostle Paul related his experience after being confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He testified in Acts 22 what Annanias told him: Acts 22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Acts 22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. Acts 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Cordially, Bro. Glen |