June 12

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

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
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Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
38. T P S U T R A B B E O O Y I T N O J C F T R O S A Y S R T G O T H G

Notes on verse:

“Repent”: This refers to a change of mind and purpose that turns an individual from sin to God (1 Thess. 1:9). Such change involves more than fearing the consequences of God’s judgment.

Genuine repentance knows that the evil of sin must be forsaken and the person and work of Christ totally and singularly embraced. Peter exhorted his hearers to repent, otherwise they would not experience true conversion (see note on Matt. 3:2; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 8:22; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Matt. 4:17).

“Be baptized”:  This Greek word literally means “be dipped or immersed” in water. Peter was obeying Christ’s command from Matt. 28:19 and urging the people who repented and turned to the Lord Christ for salvation to identify, through the waters of baptism, with His death, burial, and resurrection (Acts 19:5; Rom. 6:3-4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; see notes on Matt. 3:2).

This is the first time the apostles’ publicly enjoined people to obey that ceremony. Prior to this, many Jews had experience the baptism of John the Baptist, (see notes on Matt. 3:1-3) and were also familiar with the baptism of Gentile converts to Judaism (proselytes).

“In the name of Jesus Christ”: For the new believer, it was a crucial but costly identification to accept.

“For the remission of sins”: This might better be translated “because of the forgiveness of sins”. Baptism does not produce forgiveness and cleansing from sin. See notes on 1 Pet. 3:20-21. The reality of forgiveness precedes the rite of baptism (verse 41). Genuine repentance brings from God the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7), and because of that the new believer was to be baptized.

Baptism, however, was to be the ever-present act of obedience, so that it became synonymous with salvation. Thus to say one was baptized for forgiveness was the same as saying one was saved, see note on “one baptism” in Eph. 4:5. Every believer enjoys the complete forgiveness of sins (Matt. 26:28; Luke 24:47; Eph. 1:7; Col. 2:13; 1 John 2:12).

“The gift of the Holy Ghost”: See notes on 1:5, 8.

Here, as throughout Scripture, one aspect of conversion is commonly used to represent all aspects: believing and calling as well as repenting. The grammatical name for allowing part of something to represent the whole is called synecdoche.

Repentance is something every person must do (17:30). For several reasons “be baptized” should not be joined with “for the remission of sins” to teach baptismal regeneration. First, the context of this passage demonstrates that only the repentance is connected with the removal of sin at salvation: “Whosoever shall call … shall be saved” (verse 21).

Peter’s next recorded sermon states only “Repent … that you sins may be blotted out” (3:19). Second, throughout Acts men demonstrate their faith and salvation prior to baptism (10:43-47). Third, the soteriological passages throughout the New Testament do not include water baptism in the salvation experience – John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Romans 4:10; Eph. 2:1-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19.

Thus this verse more clearly reads, “Repent for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift which is the Holy Spirit; and let each of you be baptized in the name of Christ.” Though water baptism does not save or wash away our sins, it is a command that needs to be obeyed speedily after conversion. Jesus commanded it (Matt. 28:19-20), as does Peter here. This is the consistent pattern throughout Acts (16:31-34; 18:8).

These men Peter was speaking to here were the house of Israel. They had rejected Jesus as their Messiah. They must repent of this rejection of Jesus as the substitute for their sin. The one they had rejected is the very one they are to be baptized in the name of. These are all Jews here. They must repent of rejecting Jesus. They had the law; the Gentiles did not have the law to go by.

Notice the gift of the Holy Ghost would come after they had repented and been baptized. The part of those who want to be saved is to repent of their sin, and then believe on the name of Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham was justified (just as if he had never sinned) by faith they will be justified by faith in Jesus Christ. We read earlier how God will save all who call on His name.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

Old Testament
1 Kings 19-20  —  8.0 minutes
Psalms 119:89-96  —  1.5 minutes

New Testament
Luke 4:13-30  —  4.5 minutes
Ephesians 6:1-9  —  2.0 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 16.0 minutes