Lesson 1904

(Lesson 1904)(01-09-17) ACTS 2:37-40

"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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation."

Today's lesson is a continuance of yesterday's and is intended to more clearly define the ultimate intent of the word "baptized" as it is applied in the quote from which the lesson is taken.

As was said yesterday, to baptize is to simply immerse one thing into something else in order to cause a desired change in the original form or substance. For example, we put raw cucumbers into a brine solution to make a pickle. When a cucumber is left in the brine solution its makeup actually alters so that it still appears to be a cucumber, but in fact, it has become a pickle and can NEVER again be just a cucumber.

At this point we should remember what John the baptist said about water baptism, understanding that ALL Jews who were about to enter into ANY religious ritual were required by Hebrew law to be baptized or washed with water BEFORE they were allowed to pray, offer a sacrifice, enter the temple, or tabernacle, etc.

John said, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:8) The "he" John referred to in that statement, was Jesus Christ.

In essence, John said I indeed have baptized you with water, but Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

When Peter was asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?", he replied, "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." Peter told those brethren that they were to first repent their sins and then be baptized. (NOTE: John's WATER baptism was UNTO repentance. it was to be administered BEFORE repentance.) Therefore, the baptism Peter referred to herein, was a reference, NOT TO WATER BAPTISM, but rather to a baptism with the Holy Ghost.~

Again, to allow what has been said so far to soak in, there will be a continuance of this lesson tomorrow.