Saturday, December 7, 2019

Acts 2:37-41 comments: repent and be baptized


2:37 ¶  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? 38  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. 39  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. 40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.


Notice the Jews here asked a similar question as the Philippian jailer.

Acts 16:30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

Notice how this baptism is connected with repentance for rejecting their Messiah, which the leaders of the Jews and the people that followed their instructions did. The statement here is made after Peter identifies who Jesus is and what the Jews had done to Him.

First, what does it mean to repent? The words repent and repentance don’t just carry with them an intellectual assent to something like just changing your mind. They involve a turning from something like sin or an action you were purposed to do.

Exodus 32:12  Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.

Jeremiah 4:28  For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

Jeremiah 18:8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremiah 26:3  If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Ezekiel 14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Jonah 3:9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Repenting is also an inward action, an act of the mind or spirit, with this baptism as the outward and immediate expression acknowledging the change. Repentance also implies belief as you repent from sin and turn to God. Sin is downplayed in today’s Christianity so repentance from it usually receives short shrift except in the most fundamental of churches. Consider these verses;

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, if sin before we are saved and after we are saved is not an issue then what do you think about these verses, if we are just to admit we sin like we admit we chew gum and move on? And why did Christ trouble Himself to die on the Cross?

1Corinthians 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

In the so-called Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, the spiritual counterpart to the very earthy Sermon on the Plain in Luke, Jesus made a very important point in saying that it was more important that you reconcile to a brother who had something against you first than to offer something to God. In Matthew 5 He made a spiritual application for mourning as in regard to contextually mourning for sin’s very existence and hungering for God’s righteousness.

I realize preachers have taken this too far. The most stunning example is Charles G. Finney’s insistence that if you weren’t trying to make up for all of your past sins to the people you had wronged then you probably aren’t saved, which is foolish. But modern preachers not preaching against sin is just as foolish, if not moreso.

You cannot simply dismiss sin and your sin nature as a bad rash and forget it. We need to deal with our sin, or, more importantly to have Christ deal with it.

1John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Have you mourned for your sin? Do you weep even now over what you feel so helpless to overcome? Haven’t some of you ruined your families? Haven’t some of you wasted your youth on alcohol and promiscuous sex, looking for love and acceptance, a replacement for your father or mother, pursued money and found bankruptcy, messed up your kids? Do you feel nothing? Has someone gotten you to believe that everything is just peachy? David was forgiven but he suffered terribly for his sin, in his family. Don’t you mourn?

I know that there are verses about salvation that don’t mention repentance like Romans 10:9, 10 or Acts 16:31 but we need to look at all of the verses on a topic before we formulate a doctrine in our head. Repentance from sin, from what you are, a sinner, repudiating your sin and turning it over to Christ, trusting His righteousness and not your own is basic to Bible salvation. You won’t come to the point of receiving Christ if you don’t realize you are spiritually bankrupt without God.

Matthew 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. [contrite is a feeling of remorse, based on guilt]

Psalm 34:18  The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The result of repentance and faith is the receiving of the Holy Ghost who indwells the believer, the Spirit of God and Christ, also called the Holy Spirit in its active state with the Holy Ghost being His person.

First, for a reference to John the Baptist’s call to repentance from sin for the Jews to prepare them to receive their Messiah.

Matthew 3:1 ¶  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4  And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

And now a call from Peter to repent of the official rejection of the Messiah and what they did to Him.

38  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.

Then, an important point is made that underscores the argument that while salvation is free to all men and that the Lord would have all men to be saved it is only going to happen to those He calls, who are the ones that He knows will receive Him, rejecting in advance those He knows will reject Him. This is different than traditional Calvinism that says that He made many souls who were created for the express purpose of damning them, that salvation was not an option for them.

Verse 39 mentions to all that are afar off. Here is an important cross-reference and a key to interpretation.

Ephesians 2:11 ¶  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

First, the principle that it is God’s will, His desire that all people be saved;

1Timothy 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

But, God knows who will receive Him by His foreknowledge of all events in space-time, including thoughts of the mind and intents of the heart. God calls people He already knows will believe Him.

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Verses 29-30 in Romans 8 defines why those in verse 28 are called, because God knew. This foreknowledge extends backwards to before the universe was created. We were chosen in Him, to be holy and without blame, because we will trust in His righteousness and not our own to be saved.

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

So, the reference to God’s calling in Acts is further explained by Paul as God calling those He foreknew would receive Him, not saying that He created specific people to be condemned. Some will still say this is still unfair but in an eternal view of things we all will know that even the most awful of people had a choice. That they did not make the right choice and that God knew they wouldn’t does not put guilt on Him. It put guilt on mankind rebelling against their Creator. We all make a choice. Free will is a Bible doctrine.

Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Joshua 24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

God, not a leather-lunged, wily pulpiteer using clever words, guilt because you won’t see your mama again if you don’t get saved, or group pressure in a so-called revival meeting, added 3,000 actually saved people to their number at this time. These were not people who repeated a formula 1-2-3 repeat-after-me prayer, you know, the A-B-C Admit you are a sinner, Believe on Christ, and then Confess your belief to the preacher and the congregation but people whose hearts were changed by God, their Creator, as a consequence of their belief. One can only imagine those who heard and walked away.

Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Notice here how baptism is used as an entry point to fellowship as part of the church. Typically, Baptists use baptism like this, as a public statement of belief and as the public expression of entry into the body of Christ, something that occurred sometimes months earlier when a recognition of the truth turned a person’s heart to God through Christ. No one gets saved when they get baptized like no one realizes they love someone at the marriage altar. That commitment is made long before the ceremony, if it is true.

There will be variations in the order of baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost that takes place when one believes. The error of modernism is to read the Bible like a textbook or the owner’s manual to your car. It is more like a conversation between your Creator and yourself in your response to it. The following line means these things happen when you believe. They are not 1-2-3 like the instructions on the settings guide for your cellphone.

38  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.

These are not necessarily linear events like the Jews had to be baptized before they received the Holy Ghost. This, like in eternity, is everything as now, taking place when one is saved. As a similar statement see in Revelation;

Revelation 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

That was a general statement of events happening in the time frame covered by what was to come after this point. This does not by necessity represent an order of events.

The Jews present responded to Peter’s sermon were baptized and received the Holy Ghost but was this a presentation of a strict order of events making their salvation different from Gentile salvation?

See the order presented here in the text. First, with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch there is no mention of receiving the Holy Ghost but it is assumed.

Acts 8:26 ¶  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27  And he arose
and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.

Then, with the Roman centurion and company and Peter where it is implied that they believed what they heard and then they received the Holy Ghost and are then baptized.

Acts 10:44 ¶  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Now, do you honestly think that each of these situations were different in that in once instance you are baptized then you receive the Holy Ghost after that and yet in another you get baptized because you believe and it is implied that you received the Holy Ghost upon belief and in another instance you believe and receive the Holy Ghost and then are baptized? How many dispensations do you want to create? Christians often don’t have a problem with belief. They have a problem with reading comprehension. This is a lot like those people who believe Noah walked off the Ark with a white son, a black son, and an Asian son when it nowhere says that but they read back into the text what they want to believe.

Earlier in Acts 8 you will have people believing and being baptized but not receiving the Holy Ghost until Peter and John lay hands on them. In Acts 16 Lydia believes and is baptized but no mention is made of the Holy Ghost. In the same chapter the jailer believes and is baptized and no mention is made of the Holy Ghost. In Acts 9 it is implied that Paul believed and then he received the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. In Acts 22 he relates that he was baptized after that. Again, if you are going to read the Bible like a textbook how many dispensations do you want to create?

When you get saved it is because you believed, were given faith, and received the Holy Ghost. At some point, to fulfill all righteousness as Jesus said, you should get baptized as an outward manifestation of your inward change and faith.

In any event Jesus Himself puts the focus on your belief, not your baptism.

Mark 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Verse 40 says And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Untoward is defined by some 17th century dictionaries as unwilling, obstinate, stubborn, and perverse.  Peter preached salvation from that stiff-necked generation of Jews who stubbornly refused to accept their Messiah, even having killed Him.

God added three thousand to the early church at that time. It was God’s work accomplished by God using men and women.

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