Liz said:
Please explain baptism (what it does) I am baptized but someone keeps saying that unless you are baptized for the remission of sins Acts 2:38, my baptism isn't valid. I repented to God to forgive my sins. When I got baptized I did it because God said to do it. (obedience)thanks in advance
Jim's Reply:
"Jesus Christ is our source of Salvation which is the forgiveness for our sins
through our repentance to Him, and then we demonstrate our obedience (the Bibles
instruction) by our baptism."
Jesus Christ set the example for all in that He Himself was Baptized:
Matt 3:13-17
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest
thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. (KJV)
Baptism is an act of obedience, it is a symbolic act representing the death of
our 'old' man and the resurrection of the 'new' (no gender implied).
There are many places in the New Testament where we are instructed to be
Baptized. However, if you read the Scriptures carefully, you will not find it
written that one cannot be "saved" without Baptism. In fact, there was a person
written of in Scripture who was promised salvation by Christ Himself though he
died without being Baptized. That was the man on the cross next to Jesus at the
crucifixion:
Luke 23:42-43
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me
in paradise. (KJV)
The mention of that fact is not to discourage people from being Baptized, but
rather to offer comfort to those who may have lost a loved one before they were
Baptized. For the malefactor on the cross next to Jesus did not have an
opportunity to be Baptized after he was saved. And he was saved by his faith
alone in Jesus Christ and nothing else, for we see that this man truly did
believe that Jesus Christ was lord:
Luke 23:42
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
(KJV)
Thus the malefactor fulfilled the requirements of John 3:16 for salvation:
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
There are three separate things happening in the following verse: 1.)
Repentance. 2.) Baptism. 3.) Receiving the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).
Acts 2:38
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. (KJV)
Some folks get a hard-time about Acts 2:38 for the
wording where the KJV says:
"... be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins"
The wording here leads one to believe that "baptism" is for "for the remission
of sins".
Not so!
Look at this quote from J. P. Green's "The Interlinear Bible" concerning this
wording arrangement:
Acts 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, each of
you on the name of Jesus Christ to forgiveness of sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Just wanted to add this as possible help in understanding where the "remission
of sins" happens (which is our repentance).
j_b@holyscriptures.com