"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." (Acts 2:38)
The above
verse of scripture is a favorite among many religious groups. One can
hear it several times on Sunday morning radio programs, as well as from
the pulpits of numerous groups, and it can be found in much religious
literature. The verse is a favorite because, on the surface, it seemingly
states that one must be baptized in order to be saved, and without baptism
one is not saved. So, those who believe that water baptism is essential
for salvation make it a regular habit of using Acts 2:38 as scriptural
support.
The problem
is that Acts 2:38 isn't the only verse in the Bible which deals with
salvation. While many claim to "speak where the scriptures speak and
remain silent where the scriptures are silent," they practically ignore
most of the New Testament teaching on salvation. The only verses that
such false teachers quote and reference are the ones they feel they
can use to promote their "water gospel." The fact is that most of what
the New Testament says about salvation doesn't include baptism at all!
(John 5:24, John 11:25-26, John 14:6, Romans 4:5, Romans 10:9-13, Eph.
2:8-9, etc.), and the few places that do mention water baptism do not
include it as part of one's salvation. Water baptism follows salvation
as one of the first steps of obedience for the new believer.
In spite
of this obvious truth, the cultists remain steadfast in their heresy,
insisting that Acts 2:38 sets forth water baptism as a requirement for
salvation. Thus, this verse of scripture has become Satan's favorite
Bible verse. In fact, many are trusting water baptism alone for the
salvation of their souls! Indeed, Satan has deceived multitudes by his
perversion of Acts 2:38.
Rather than
ignore Acts 2:38 by quoting "our favorite verses" instead, it is more
appropriate to facethis popular verse of scripture and see if the cultists
are right in what they claim it teaches.
The Truth about Acts
2:38
First, please notice that verse 38 isn't the only verse in Acts 2. In Peter's message, a great deal was said before verse 38 came out of his mouth. In fact, he even told his listeners how to be saved before verse 38! In Acts 2:21, Peter quotes from Joel 2 and says, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." His words preceding verse 38 were so convicting that his listeners were "pricked in their heart" in verse 37. So, to use verse 38 out of its context causes a misrepresentation of God's word. The verse does not stand alone, and, in fact, a totally different meaning is conveyed when one makes it stand alone.
Another error
that many make with Acts 2:38 is the error of assumption. It is assumed
that the word "for" must mean "in order to get." That is, being baptized
"for" the remission of sins supposedly means to be baptized "in order
to get" remission of sins. However, a closer look at the scriptures
will reveal that this isn't the case at all.
Notice Luke
5:12-14: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold
a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought
him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put
forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And
immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell
no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing,
according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Jesus made
this man clean in verse 13, yet in the next verse, verse 14, Jesus tells
him to go offer a sacrifice "for thy cleansing" as a "testimony." Here
the word "for" cannot mean "in order to get" because he had already
gotten his cleansing in verse 13! It obviously meant "because of" his
cleansing. If a man goes to jail "for stealing," then he goes there
"because of" the stealing that he's already done, not "in order to get"
a chance to steal again.
Some like
to argue that the Greek word "eis" means "in order to," but this isn't
always the case. Jesus said in Matthew 12:41, "The men of Nineveh shall
rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because
they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater
than Jonas is here." The Greek word for "at" is "eis." Does this mean
that the men of Nineveh repented "in order to get" the preaching of
Jonah? No, they repented "because of" the preaching of Jonah. So, even
"the Greek" doesn't demand the popular interpretation of Acts 2:38.
The word "for" can be used different ways, not just one, so it is wrong
to assume that it must mean "in order to get" in Acts 2:38.
Another factor
which is commonly ignored is the JEWISH factor. Every person in Acts
2 is a Mosaic law observing Old Testament Jew. In fact, they are all
gathered together to observe a JEWISH FEAST called Pentecost (verse
1). A fair reading of the whole chapter (especially verses 4, 14, and
36) will clearly reveal that no Gentiles (non Jews) are present. Since
this involves Jews, it involves a NATION (verse 36!!), not individuals.
No one asked, "What must I do to be saved?" The question asked concerned
the NATION of Israel: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (verse 37)
Not, "What shall I do," but rather, "What shall WE do?" Acts 2 presents
a NATION of people who come to realize that they have murdered their
blessed Messiah and they're asking what THEY must do. It's a question
concerning NATIONAL salvation. Isaiah 66:8 says, ". . . shall a nation
be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her
children." The "nation" is Israel! Romans 11:26 says, "And so all Israel
shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,
and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." Acts 2:38 is dealing with
NATIONAL salvation. The Messianic Kingdom is still available to the
Jews (until Acts 7:60 when they kill Stephen), so national salvation
remains an issue until then.
This is
clear from what follows Acts 7. In Acts 8, an individual from Africa
is saved (before baptism). In Acts 9, an individual from Asia is saved
(before baptism). In Acts 10, an individual from Europe is saved (before
baptism). Why didn't these individual conversions occur before Acts
7? Because the first seven chapter of Acts deal with Israel (1:6-8;
2:36; 3:12; 4:8-10; 5:31; 6:7-14; 7:1-60). The question of INDIVIDUAL
salvation is asked and answered in Acts 16:30-31: ". . . Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Those who fail to make this
distinction are guilty of violating II Timothy 2:15 where we are told
to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the word of truth.
The Bible
says the gospel is to go to the Jew FIRST (Rom. 1:16), so they are the
FIRST to receive the gospel in the book of Acts (chapter 2), but they
are not the last to receive it. Acts doesn't end with chapter 2, so
we should be cautious of anyone who develops their doctrine in Acts
2 while practically ignoring the next 26 chapters! If God didn't stop
in Acts 2, then why does anyone else? Could it be that the later chapters
in Acts contain information which the cultists want hidden from us?
Could it be that there are other scriptures in Acts which do not agree
with the wording of Acts 2:38? Could it be that Peter himself, the one
preaching in Acts 2:38, says something different when speaking to individual
Gentiles like you and me? One only has to read Acts chapter 10 to get
the answer. Peter is preaching again in Acts 10, except only to individual
Gentiles, and something very interesting occurs. In Acts 2:38, the Holy
Ghost was promised to be given to the converts AFTER they were baptized,
yet in Acts 10:44 the Holy Ghost falls upon the Gentiles BEFORE they
are baptized! Now, Paul tells us in Romans 8:9, " . . .if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Having God's Spirit is
synonymous with belonging to God or being saved (John 3:6-8), so the
Gentiles in Acts 10 were saved BEFORE they were baptized in water. Why
don't the Acts 2:38 cultists ever point this out? Answer: It destroys
their perverted doctrine that water baptism is essential for salvation.
The fact
is that Acts 2:38 is NOT the "model" plan of salvation, nor are any
of the other "water verses" which the cultists use. Only by taking such
verses out of their context can one teach such heresy. All of the Bible
is true, not just the favorite "proof texts" of the cults. Baptism saves
no one. It only serves as a testimonial picture of the death, the burial,
and the resurrection of Jesus Christ AFTER one has believed on Christ
(Acts 8:36-38). Paul said in I Corinthians 1:17 that ". . . Christ sent
me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words,
lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." This "gospel"
is defined by Paul in I Corinthians 15:1-4, and it does NOT include
water baptism. The dying thief was not baptized, yet Jesus saved him
(Luke 23:42-43), and John wrote that we are washed in the BLOOD of Christ
(Rev. 1:5), not in the water. In fact, the saints in Heaven claim to
have gotten there by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 5:9), not by water. By
faith in the blood of Jesus Christ one is saved (Rom. 3:25). Water baptism
only follows this faith as an outward step of obedience.
Friend, if
you have fallen for the water gospel, why not repent of your sin and
trust Jesus Christ alone? Acts 10:43 says, "To him give all the prophets
witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive
remission of sins." Why not believe on Christ 100% right now and quit
trusting something you DO for salvation? "Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom.
5:1) Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest
any man should boast." Romans 10:9-13 says,"That if thou shalt confess
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the
Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved." Why not right now?
|
Over The Years, I Have Collected 1,000s Of Spirit-Filled Devotionals and Inspirational Articles, Way Too Many To Leave Them Unread In Folders... I have a Great Need To Share them... SO, Check Back Daily For A New Devotional Or Poem To Read, A Joke To Start Your Daily Smile & To Share, Maybe A Hymn To Sing, Hum Or Whistle all day, and the occasional Recipe To Tempt Your Taste Buds... Just Added “In The News”, Christian News that Most Media Avoid or Slant... Happy Reading, Richard
Satan's Favorite Bible Verse
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment