Lesson 1907

(Lesson 1907)(01-12-17) ACTS 2:41-47

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

Today's lesson contains another point that is often wrongfully understood and grossly misapplied by many. Especially in most of the so called "Churches of Christ" et al, and in all of Roman Catholicism.

When Luke, referring to the events that ensued Peters sermon at Pentecost, recorded, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized:", he did NOT mean that those three thousand whom had just believed in Jesus Christ, and who's faith had just made them to become the children of God, were consequently immersed in, or sprinkled with, water. The word "baptized" as it is applied in that quote, simply means that those who, "gladly received his word", or those who had, by faith, actually accepted and believed in Peter's description and definition of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, had been eternally immersed (baptized) into Christ and into His church.

The context within which the transliterated word "baptize" is herein applied, demands that it refers, not to water immersion or sprinkling, but rather to being eternally saved and thereby immersed into the "body of Christ", His church. This fact is borne out by the very next statement in the quote, "and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

We should ask ourselves, to what were these three thousand souls added? The only logical answer is that those three thousand souls were added to, and made a part of or "baptized" into, the Church.~