In Accordance to Acts 2:38, What does repent and be baptized means?

Question

In Acts 2:38 Peter says; 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.

Does the words "and be" refer to a present Spiritual baptism, at the time of repentance, or future Water baptism, after repentance?

Answer 1

I believe it is refering to the inward experience of receiving Jesus. Water Baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience, it can not save.

Answer 2

The text of Peter's sermon states plainly that baptism is “for the remission of sins.” The Greek word translated “for” is the preposition, “eis.” It is extremely common in the New Testament, appearing some 1774 times. “Eis” is a transitive preposition, meaning that progress is inherent in the meaning. It is most often translated “into” or “unto” in the KJV. The general sense is progression to a point reached. The inherent forward progress is always present when used with a transitive verb — a verb that implies motion or some kind of progression. The transitive force of “eis” is sometimes even apparent with state of being verbs — which do not themselves imply progress (cf. Rom. 1:16). The meaning of the preposition “eis” is illustrated by the diagram to the left. The arrow represents the progression, and the circle represents the destination. In the prepositional phrase, the circle is the object of the clause. The verb describes the kind of action; “eis” indicates the progress of the action to the object; the object indicates the point of destination or result.
The best way to understand the significance of this preposition is to examine the prepositional phrases in several other passages. “Eis” is used in many ways, but always implying progression to a point reached. It is frequently used of arrival at a specific destination. “Wise men from the East came to [eis] Jerusalem” (Matt. 2:2). “Eis” is also frequently found in passages that refer to the results of salvation. The typical sense is something named leads to [eis] salvation. The construction of the prepositional phrase is, eis » object (destination or result).just a few of many examples which illustrate clearly that the preposition “eis” indicates progression to a point. In Acts 2:38, “repent and be baptized ... for [eis] the remission of your sins” plainly means that repentance and baptism lead to, or result in, the “remission of sins.” Water baptism is a symbol of what has already taken place in a believer’s life - we note that it always occurred after initial conversion had taken place throughout the New Testament and never is it made mention that it was a rite that was to be performed that converted people into christianity in itself.
Many church organisations teach and promote a ‘sprinkling’ at birth but, when we consider the necessary requirements for a person to be able to take part in water baptism, we have to conclude that a baby cannot be in a state of repentance and faith - and, besides, as has already been seen, the word speaks of an ‘immersion’, not a ‘sprinkling’.
Baptism MUST take place AFTER conversion (Mtw 28:19, Mk 16:16, Acts 2:38, 2:41, 8:12, 10:47-48, 16:14-15, 16:32-34, 18:8, 19:4-5).

Answer 3

I haven't notice anyone explaining that repent is a military term that means to turn and go the other direction.
That is what repentance is, to do an about face, and turn from the things that you used to do that were of the flesh and not of God.

As to the baptism, everytime it says that they repented and were baptised it was a water baptism and not a spiritual baptism.
We can not make the decision to turn from our wicked ways and accept Christ except that the Holy Spirit places us under conviction, so the Holy Spirit is alread working in our lives when we decide to accept Christ.

Once the Holy Spirit has come into your life, you need to turn the reigns of your life over to him and not fight him for control.

Answer 4

Peter was most likely talking about being baptized in water. But please don't make the mistake many people make of seeking to develop their doctrines on salvation by reading a historical account in the Bible like the book of Acts. If you want to learn true Christian doctrine then read the epistles that were written in part in order to present correct theology. When people come to the book of Acts and try to use it to support some pet theological notion they come up with all sorts of skewed theological constructs. People claim that if someone doesn't demonstrate the "evidence" of speaking in tongues then they haven't received the Holy Spirit even though Corinthians 12 and 14 show that to be a false assumption. Corinthians 12 also tells us that we are all baptized by one Spirit into the body of Christ. Some people who look at the verse that you are citing claim that if a person doesn't obey the command to be baptized in water then they can't be saved when the Bible teaches in Ephesians 2 that we are saved by grace through faith and not by any external works of our own. You can look in the book of Acts and say that a person has to have hands laid on them by a church official in order to receive the Holy Spirit too even though Jesus said in John 3 that the Holy Spirit is like the wind and that we can't say where He comes from or where He is going.

Answer 5

Peter encouraged his listeners: “Let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled.” He then concluded by saying: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.” About 3,000 souls responded.

Can it be said that these were baptized in the name of (in recognition of) the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit? Yes. Though Peter did not tell them to get baptized in the name of the Father, they already recognized Jehovah as Sovereign Lord, since they were natural Jews, members of a nation dedicated to Him. Peter did say: ‘Be baptized in the name of the Son.’ So their baptism signified their recognition of Jesus as Lord and Christ. They were now his disciples and accepted that forgiveness of sins was henceforth through him. Finally, the baptism was in recognition of the holy spirit, and it was undergone in response to the promise that they would receive the spirit as a free gift.

The entire basis for having a relationship with God and for gaining forgiveness of sins had now changed. As individuals, the believing Jews needed to accept this new arrangement. How? By making a dedication to God and by going on public record as having done so by being immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ. Water baptism was a symbol of their dedication to God, bringing them into a new relationship with him through Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

Repent is to turn away. To turn from your sinful life.

Baptism is full submersion water baptism.

If you continue to read the accounts of conversion in Acts, the jailor, Cornelius, Lydia, you can see a general pattern to salvation. They heard the word preached, believed, repented, confessed and were baptized.

Answer 7

Well, to repent you have to realize that you are a filthy, dirty, sinful person that deserves to go to Hell. Then you confess your sins to the Lord. The "be baptized" part is a Spiritual baptism from God where you are forgiven of all your sins. A physical baptism is a just a symbolic act that sybolizes your sins being "washed away."

Hope I helped!!!

Answer 8

It refers to water baptism and the repentance of sin. The spirit has worked in you or you wouldn't seek baptism, the holy ghost enters you during the water baptism and you emerge reborn or the holy ghost.

Answer 9

Repent means to stop thinkiing your way and start thinking Gods way, Baptiized is by water emersion and in full view of the public letting people know that you have been changed from the inside ,

Answer 10

Both...peter is saying repent meaning to accept the gidt of salvation in christ. After accepting christ water baptism through submersion is commanded. They go hand in hand and thats what peter is teaching