Acts 2:38 and the purpose of baptism

[Jerry Shugart]

Yes, our righteousness is not based on the law, it is imputed to us through faith. However, faith requires that we be faithful. Murdering people is not being faithful. Adultery and fornication is not being faithful.

So we must be perfectly faithful before we can be saved?

What about Peter? He certainly was not perfectly faithful, was he?:

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal.2:11-14).​

Was Peter not saved because he was not faithful?

 

[Jerry Shugart]

His saints will persevere

What about Peter? He certainly did not persevere, did he?:

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal.2:11-14).​

Was Peter not saved because he did not persevere?

 

[jamie]

So we must be perfectly faithful before we can be saved?

We died to be free from sin not free to sin.

 

[jamie]

So we must be perfectly faithful before we can be saved?

What about Peter? He certainly was not perfectly faithful, was he?:

What scripture requires Jews to eat with Gentiles?

Peter did not sin by eating with Jews. It was a cultural thing.

 

[Jerry Shugart]

The conversion of Cornelius takes up a complete (long) chapter and is referenced in 2 other chapters. If you will notice when they received the Holy Spirit Peter says it was just like them (apostles) at the beginning which would be Pentecost.

On the day of Pentecost the believers received a gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit:

"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 Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Peter said that what happened to Cornelius was the same thing that happened on the day of Pentecost. Now let us look at the actual events when Cornelius received the "gift of the Holy Spirit":

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. 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 Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46).​

The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household and those who had accompanied Peter were astonished "because that on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit." How did they know that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Cornelius and his household?

They knew that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on them because "they heard them speak with tongues." Let us look at these verses again:

"...because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God..."​

Here the word "for" is translated from the Greek word gar, and the meaning of that word as used here is "it addresses the Cause or gives the Reason of a preceding statement or opinion" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon).

The reason that those with Peter knew that the Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and his household was because they heard them speak with tongues.

This "gift" of being able to speak in tongues is spoken of here by Paul where he names many of the gifts "given by the Spirit":

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit...For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor.12:4,8-10).​

 

[Jerry Shugart]

We died to be free from sin not free to sin.

Why did you not answer my question?Here it is again and perhaps this time you will actually step up to the plate and answer it:

So we must be perfectly faithful before we can be saved?​

 

[Jerry Shugart]

What scripture requires Jews to eat with Gentiles?

Peter did not sin by eating with Jews. It was a cultural thing.

Do you really think that Peter was perfectly faithful when he behaved in this way?:

"But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" (Gal.2:11-14).​

 

[turbosixx]

On the day of Pentecost the believers received a gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit:

"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 Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Peter said that what happened to Cornelius was the same thing that happened on the day of Pentecost. Now let us look at the actual events when Cornelius received the "gift of the Holy Spirit":

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. 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 Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God" (Acts 10:44-46).​

The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household and those who had accompanied Peter were astonished "because that on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit." How did they know that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on Cornelius and his household?

They knew that the Holy Spirit had been poured out on them because "they heard them speak with tongues." Let us look at these verses again:

"...because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God..."​

Here the word "for" is translated from the Greek word gar, and the meaning of that word as used here is "it addresses the Cause or gives the Reason of a preceding statement or opinion" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon).

The reason that those with Peter knew that the Holy Spirit was poured out on Cornelius and his household was because they heard them speak with tongues.

This "gift" of being able to speak in tongues is spoken of here by Paul where he names many of the gifts "given by the Spirit":

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit...For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues" (1 Cor.12:4,8-10).​

My point is the apostles and Cornelius are the only two times the BIBLE tells us people were baptized WITH the Holy Spirit. Each time it was directly from God and evident by speaking in tongues. These were two special situations. The start of the church and the first Gentile converts.

 

[jamie]

Why did you not answer my question?Here it is again and perhaps this time you will actually step up to the plate and answer it:

So we must be perfectly faithful before we can be saved?​

Actually, we must be perfectly forgiven of all sin to be saved. Forgiveness is by grace based on our repentance.

Peter asked how many times he must forgive his brother.

Psalms 130:3-4 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You that You may be feared.

God gives us a Helper because the flesh is weak.

 

[iamaberean]

http://onenesspentecostal.com/Acts238baptism.htm

This is a scholarly and exegetical look at Acts 2:38

When we speak of baptism, we are dwelling in the Spirit. So, let us look for the spiritual reasons.
1. Baptism washes away sins of our past.

Act 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Jesus)

1Ti 5:24 Some men's sins are opened beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
Past sins are those that are opened at baptism and forgiven, otherwise they will follow us to the last day.

2. There are gifts given to edify the church and there is a 'gift' (singular) of the Spirit, given at the time of baptism.

Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Here, Peter, confirms that the Gentiles had received the Holy Ghost, but not the gift.

Act 2:38 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.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is:
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.