Satan has very successfully promoted much confusion about what is meant by Peter's command to, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins". Many believe that Peter was instructing these Jews to be "baptized" in water, while in reality, nothing could be further from the truth.
Remember, the Greek term baptizO from which the English word baptize is transliterated, means simply to dip, or immerse. The term, itself, does not specify a medium into which the immersion, or dipping, is to take place. Remember also baptism in water, to the Jews, was required by their own law in preparation for the observing of any religious function. That prerequisite baptism or immersion in water, was never done AFTER the religious function had already been accomplished, as would be the case if one first believed then was immersed in water. Jesus, in any of His teaching, NEVER implied that there was to be a water immersion of someone after they had believed in Him.
In the usage applied here, "repent and be baptized", the medium into which Peter was instructing those Jews to be immersed, or "baptized", was the "name of Jesus Christ", NOT water.
Now there will, no doubt, be those who will say, how can one be immersed into a name? Here is your answer. "The name of" as used in this context is something that can be preached or taught as Peter had just done. Where did I get that? Acts 8:12, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women." And, by so doing, they became Christians literally immersed in "the name of" Jesus Christ.
Gal. 3:26-27 makes this point far better than I can, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." This passage says that we are literally immersed into, and are enveloped by and inclosed within Christ by believing in Him.
Peter's message to those Jews who asked "what shall we do", was simply a commandment to immerse oneself through belief, and faith, into the *gospel of Jesus Christ for the remission of all sin. Water has nothing to do with it.
*The gospel of Jesus Christ includes the concept of the Holy Triune, and the sacrifice (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ. "The operations of God".~
Remember, the Greek term baptizO from which the English word baptize is transliterated, means simply to dip, or immerse. The term, itself, does not specify a medium into which the immersion, or dipping, is to take place. Remember also baptism in water, to the Jews, was required by their own law in preparation for the observing of any religious function. That prerequisite baptism or immersion in water, was never done AFTER the religious function had already been accomplished, as would be the case if one first believed then was immersed in water. Jesus, in any of His teaching, NEVER implied that there was to be a water immersion of someone after they had believed in Him.
In the usage applied here, "repent and be baptized", the medium into which Peter was instructing those Jews to be immersed, or "baptized", was the "name of Jesus Christ", NOT water.
Now there will, no doubt, be those who will say, how can one be immersed into a name? Here is your answer. "The name of" as used in this context is something that can be preached or taught as Peter had just done. Where did I get that? Acts 8:12, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women." And, by so doing, they became Christians literally immersed in "the name of" Jesus Christ.
Gal. 3:26-27 makes this point far better than I can, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." This passage says that we are literally immersed into, and are enveloped by and inclosed within Christ by believing in Him.
Peter's message to those Jews who asked "what shall we do", was simply a commandment to immerse oneself through belief, and faith, into the *gospel of Jesus Christ for the remission of all sin. Water has nothing to do with it.
*The gospel of Jesus Christ includes the concept of the Holy Triune, and the sacrifice (death, burial and resurrection) of Jesus Christ. "The operations of God".~
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