Can someone please explain Acts 2:38 to me?

Question

I asked a question about baptism earlier, and there seems to be no one who believes baptism is unnecessary that will touch on it. So, in your opinion/interpretation, what does it say?

Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38

I want you to think hard about the words repent and remission and what they mean in the context of that scripture.

WHAT? That's exactly what that says! Why do you think Jesus was baptized? He had free will, he did it because that was the way to return to his Father! I swear, you people don't read the book you like to beat over people's heads!

Here you go:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkCa0tDYio659TExrFgUolrsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071027132527AAtTKGi

Is there anything BUT a christian baptism? Jesus was Jewish. Yeah, go tell a Jew he has to get baptized. And not mikvah style.

Answer 1

Honey, you sound frustrated. Don't worry. Heavenly Father will sort it out when we get there, okay? Just know that you have done the right thing by being baptized. And really if anyone disputes that, they really are just stupid. It's kind of a mini Pascal's wager to me. What does it hurt to be baptized if you don't believe you need it to be saved? The evidence is clearly in the bible. Even, like you said, Jesus was baptized. He chose to follow God. And God was pleased with him, he even opened his mouth and said so. You won't be found accountable if you got baptized and it wasn't necessary, but you sure will have some answering to do if it was necessary and you didnt.

Answer 2

Many people, such as Xyleisha, have already provided an insight into your question regarding repent and remission. I couldn't possibly add to it.

Nevertheless, Princess Peabody made an interesting comment when she wrote: "Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change." But I would therefore say that baptism IS necessary.

Some have already touched on this. I just thought I'd give you the scripture where it says; "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

Have a good day
;-)

Answer 3

Scriptures cannot be understood or interpreted to be contrary to other verses. such an interpretation goes against the gospel itself, the message to the thief on the cross and this verse:

1 Pet 3: NKJV
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

The baptism into water does not remove the sin, but is a symbolic act of the regeneration the believer. Thus, it is an act of faith done toward God, but also as a confession before men.

Answer 4

This is amazing. After reading through a lot of the responses, some say baptizm is symbolic, others say salvific; then there's the ones that say its not required - all you have to do and accept and be saved. Funny, I remember Jesus telling the disciples to go forth and BAPTISE all nations. And baptism DOES forgive sins. It's amazing how many people offer up their own interpretations and want to make everything fit the symbolic mould, yet I wonder, by what authority do they offer those interpretations? Who are they to make the decision about what scripture means?

Answer 5

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

HE THAT BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED

If will are able to be baptized we MUST be baptized. Jesus told us to be.

We must be baptized. FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.

1 Peter 3:21
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US

To be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is fulfilling what Jesus told the disciples to do in Matthew 28:19. Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead. The name of Jesus Christ is the name of the Father, the name of the Son and the name of the Holy Ghost.

repent means to turn from sin.
remission means to release from the guilt or penalty of.

Turn away from sin and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to be released from the penalty of sin.

This is very powerful.

Answer 6

Ac 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.

Repent; the original Greek word was metanoia, meanign to turn away from, change of mind, a different direction if you will.

Remission; means in your behalf Jesus has remitted your sins before the Father.

Baptism is a reflection of the Jewish Micveh, ( spelling may be wrong ), the cleansing bath.

It is symbolic.

Answer 7

Don't know about some of your comments but this was obviously during the Pentecost when ever nation under heaven was there because God brought them there to spread his Gospel, Water batism does not save you in anyway shape or form. The Holy Spirit coming into your heart is what saves you, being born again, Peter wanted all of them to be baptized to show their public confession to Jesus Christ, because of the persecution of the Church, Jesus said if you deny me before men I will deny you before my Father. Its that simple. If baptism of the water saved you Jesus Christ died in vain. If water Baptism saved you Jesus would have to come down here and do it. There is nowhere in the Bible where it says Jesus baptized anybody, John died because he was the forerunner of a new covenant. If you have any questions please send me an email.

Answer 8

I feel regardless of arguments about words and their origin.
That baptism is a very important step in ones spiritual life .
Jesus sent his followers out to preach to the nations and baptise them..
To be baptised you are making a public commitment to god to accept his forgiveness and follow his ways.and is an important step towards being saved as some people call it.
Without baptism you are not accepting gods ways or forgiveness and greatly reducing your chances of entering gods kingdom.
Jesus said himself not all calling lord lord will enter the kingdom.

I don't agree with catholics on much but I fully agree with Danny H

Answer 9

Peace.
The message of Jesus' day was exclusively FOR Jews, preached BY Jews. John the Baptist was doing precisely that...preaching fervently to the Jewish sects to repent, and be baptized, and join the ranks of those who already had... for the day of the angels of judgment, sent by God against a corrupt Jerusalem government, was approaching. He was specifically warning any Jew who would listen to wise up, and escape the wrath to come! The Jews who were persecuted and murdered by crucifixion, for their steadfast refusal to accept the Roman and Hellenistic culture, were the first 'christians'... but that name would stick later to anyone who confessed to following Jesus or James's teachings, and kept fellowship with the same. At the time of the Acts, baptism was a strictly JEWISH ritual, and the mikvah were only one method of accomplishing it. We see Elisha giving a prescription for a baptism in 2Ki 5:10:

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him (Naaman the Syrian)
saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

(We can safely surmise that Naaman was not Jewish, but that is not my point.... Elisha WAS a Jew, and he knew the remedy for Naaman.)
This is the same Jordan which Jesus was baptized in, by John the Baptist, along with any other JEW who would heed the call to repentance. Peter's address in Acts 2:38 was to fellow Jews, and not to any others:

Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

It was Paul who was sent (by the Jerusalem Council) to convert and proselytize gentiles, not Peter, or James, or John Mark, or any of the other twelve.

Today, as far as the need for repentance and baptism go, it is for every human being capable of comprehending the need for social responsibility to turn away from anything detrimental, both to themselves and others, and be 'cleansed' from their irresponsible behavior. This is done with a genuine belief in the heart for the need to do so, and water baptism is an outward display of willingness and humility. Water baptism is done more for the onlookers' sake than for the one being baptized, to set an example and show the willingness to any others who may not have yet done it.

I don't know if any of this helps, but you asked...
Take care and may God bless us all!

Answer 10

The answer to the question has not changed... Now just as it was then, the answer to a person who wants to BECOME A CHRISTIAN has always been the same. It always includes baptism.