"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
In verse thirty eight of today's quote Peter makes a statement that Roman Catholicism along with the so-called Churches of Christ and many other isms use as part of an erroneous claim that water baptism is an essential step in the process of eternal salvation.
That contention is so totally wrong, and if it is accepted as truth by the lost, it causes them to place their faith, not solely in the saving power of Christ, but rather in a physical act of man, water baptism.
Belief in Jesus Christ the man, and Faith in His soul saving sacrifice, is the ONLY precondition to eternal salvation. "whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:15 in part)
Most every Judeo-Christian religious group acknowledges that we are all born sinners because of the disobedience of Adam. Those who have studied the bible at all know that sin is what condemns our souls to hell. We also know that in order to receive salvation we must be completely free of sin in the spirit, having had our sins absolutely forgiven, or remitted, by God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then remanded to the safe keeping of the Holy Spirit.
John the Baptist was divinely sent to teach the coming of Jesus by whom sin would be remitted, speaking of the purpose of John's coming, Luke said; "To give knowledge of salvation unto his people BY THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS, Through the tender mercy of our God". (Luke 1:77-78 in part). Thereby we see that God demanded that in order for us to reunite with Him, our sins must be remitted and that Jesus is the only remitter.
What then is able to remit sin, is it water? No, it is the blood of Jesus Christ; "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28)
Jesus' blood was shed explicitly for the remission of sins.
Jesus gave us an example of how FAITH is what it takes to have our sins forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ; "And when he saw their FAITH, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." (Luke 5:20) Jesus made it very clear to that man that it was FAITH that caused his sins to be forgiven. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26)
Another example demonstrating that Jesus is the source of remission of sin; "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever BELIEVETH in him SHALL receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)
When Peter said "Repent, and be baptized", he was NOT implying that those men should be baptized in water to receive remission of sin, he meant that they were should, through faith, be baptized in the blood of Jesus Christ to receive remission. And then, after their sins were remitted by the blood of Christ, they would assuredly receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter was in fact referring to a baptism into the blood of Jesus Christ.
There were actually two distinctly different applications of the term "baptize" that were implied in that sermon at Pentecost. One being the baptism into the blood of Jesus Christ through the faith of those who believed, and the the baptism of the Holy Ghost which followed their salvation.
Today's lesson is one of the most important to be found in the New Testament and should be studied thoroughly by every serious bible student.
It is our commanded purpose to make sure that God's word is taught within its true context and with it's true intent.
I hope I have made this lesson clear enough to be understood. If I haven't, please feel free to comment or ask questions.
Tomorrow's lesson should further verify today's.~
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