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Baptism:. Unwatered-down. Lesson 4: A Study of Acts 2:38. Baptism: Unwatered-down What are we talking about?. By Definition—Immersion in Water An Important Bible Subject The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5) A Serious Study!
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Baptism: Unwatered-down Lesson 4: A Study of Acts 2:38
Baptism: Unwatered-downWhat are we talking about? • By Definition—Immersion in Water • An Important Bible Subject • The “One Baptism” (Eph. 4:5) • A Serious Study! • Water baptism of the Great Commission is tied in some way to salvation. That’s undeniable! • WHAT IS IT’S PURPOSE? • What does it have to do (if anything) with my salvation?
Notice the place of baptism in Mt. 28 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • It is used as a present participle. • It is essential in becoming a Christian. • It is humanly administered. • It is “into the name of F, S, HS.” Baptism is essential to becoming a Christian & being in a new relationship with God!
Notice the place of baptism in Mk. 16 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • Grammatically, it identifies who’s saved. • The coordinating conjunction makes it essential. • It is an aorist participle. • It is placed, in order, before salvation. • It is as simple as a verse can be. Baptism is essential to being saved from sin!
“Bapt-” words in N.T. = 114 times in 91 verses Mt. 3:1 Mt. 28:19 Lk. 3:12 Jn. 1:33 Ac. 8:38 Ro. 6:3 Mt. 3:6 Mk. 1:4 Lk. 3:16 Jn. 3:22 Ac. 9:18 Ro. 6:4 Mt. 3:7 Mk. 1:5 Lk. 3:21 Jn. 3:23 Ac. 10:37 1Co. 1:13 Mt. 3:11 Mk. 1:8 Lk. 7:20 Jn. 3:26 Ac. 10:47 1Co. 1:14 Mt. 3:13 Mk. 1:9 Lk. 7:28 Jn. 4:1 Ac. 10:48 1Co. 1:15 Mt. 3:14 Mk. 6:14 Lk. 7:29 Jn. 4:2 Ac. 11:16 1Co. 1:16 Mt. 3:16 Mk. 6:24 Lk. 7:30 Jn. 10:40 Ac. 13:24 1Co. 1:17 Mt. 11:11 Mk. 6:25 Lk. 7:33 Ac. 1:5 Ac. 16:15 1Co. 10:2 Mt. 11:12 Mk. 8:28 Lk. 9:19 Ac. 1:22 Ac. 16:33 1Co. 12:13 Mt. 14:2 Mk. 10:38 Lk. 12:50 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 18:8 1Co. 15:29 Mt. 14:8 Mk. 10:39 Lk. 20:4 Ac. 2:41 Ac. 18:25 Gal. 3:27 Mt. 16:14 Mk. 11:30 Jn. 1:25 Ac. 8:12 Ac. 19:3 Eph. 4:5 Mt. 17:13 Mk. 16:16 Jn. 1:26 Ac. 8:13 Ac. 19:4 Col. 2:12 Mt. 20:22 Lk. 3:3 Jn. 1:28 Ac. 8:16 Ac. 19:5 Heb. 6:2 Mt. 20:23 Lk. 3:7 Jn. 1:31 Ac. 8:36 Ac. 22:16 1Pet. 3:21 Mt. 21:25
Baptism: Unwatered-down Let’s Study What the Bible Says! Ro. 6:3 Ro. 6:4 Ac. 8:38 1Co. 1:13 Ac. 9:18 Ac. 10:47 1Co. 1:14 Ac. 10:48 1Co. 1:15 Ac. 11:16 1Co. 1:16 1Co. 1:17 Ac. 16:15 Ac. 16:33 1Co. 12:13 Ac. 2:38 Ac. 18:8 Ac. 2:41 Gal. 3:27 Mt. 28:19 Ac. 8:12 Eph. 4:5 Mk. 16:16 Ac. 8:13 Col. 2:12 Ac. 8:16 Ac. 19:5 Ac. 8:36 Ac. 22:16 1Pet. 3:21
Baptism: Unwatered-downActs 2 – The Context • Jews gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost • Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles (as promised—Mark 9:1; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8) • Gospel is preached in its entirety for the first time (this is “the beginning,” cf. Acts 11:15) • Fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies • Jesus approved by miracles—”you know” • “You” have crucified – “God raised up” • “You now see and hear” • “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (2:36).
Baptism: Unwatered-downActs 2:37-38 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, “…” “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Do for what? Do to be forgiven? Do to be free from the burden of sin & its guilt? Their question demanded an answer, and the answer would not be optional.
A Critical Question: When Were They Saved on Pentecost? • Not when Peter began preaching • They were unbelieving and impenitent men, charged with crucifying Christ • “you have taken…crucified…put to death” (v.23) • “whom you crucified” (v. 36) • Not upon the conclusion of His sermon • They knew they were lost—that’s why they asked the question, “What shall we do?” • Peter knew they were lost, for he answered the question and continued exhorting them, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (v. 40). • Not before acting on Peter’s instructions • They had not yet turned from sin • They had not yet submitted to the authority of Christ
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” be baptized • It is singled out/given a unique place. • Baptism is a natural response to the gospel. • Why would baptism be mentioned at “the beginning” in the context of men needing forgiveness if it has nothing to do with it? • If, as is commonly asserted, baptism is no different than any other Christian “work” or Christian “obedience,” why is it singled out? • Why not “repent & obey your parents” or “submit to the elders” or “study the Bible”?
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Then Peter said to them be baptized 2. It is in THE answer to their question. • Was the answer essential to the point of the inquiry? If not, the text is useless and the language is meaningless! • It is commanded in the answer and at the heart of how to be free from sin and its guilt. • Would Peter’s answer have been understood if he didn’t say “for the remission of sins”? If so, how? • It would have been surprising if Peter had not mentioned baptism when asked, “What shall we do?” (cf. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47).
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” and 3. It is as essential as repentance (AND). • “AND” is a copulative, coordinating conjunction, which joins two items of EQUAL grammatical or syntactic importance. • Being EQUALLY weighted and joined: • Baptism by itself is useless. • Repentance by itself is useless. • The two depend on each other to accomplish their joint purpose; they are inseparably connected. • The TWO stand or fall together!
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” in the name of 4. It is required by the authority of Christ. • “in the name of” = “by the authority of” (cf. Acts 4:7-10; Matthew 21:23; Colossians 3:17) • In the Great Commission, Jesus said: • “All authority has been given to me…” (Mt. 28:18) • “Go…make disciples…baptizing them” (Mt. 28:19) • “Go…preach the gospel…He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). • He said to them “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). Jesus Christ
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” 5. It is “FOR” the remission of sins. • English “for” from the Greek preposition “eis” • “Eis” is found 1,750 times in the Greek N.T. and is always prospective (looking forward): • “to obtain the forgiveness of sins” (Thayer 94) • “indicating motion into a thing” (BDAG 288) • to denote purpose,in order to, to; so that sins might be forgiven” (BDAG 290) • “For” means the same thing for “repent” as it does for “be baptized.” for
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 238 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Repent Repent Repent be baptized be baptized be baptized 6. It is placed, in order, before remission. • God placed repentance before baptism • God placed repentance before remission of sins • God placed baptism before remission of sins • Anyone who says otherwise, changes His order. remission of sins remission of sins remission of sins
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 241 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. baptized three 7. The response shows its essentiality. • Why doesn’t it say they repented? Why is baptism singled out as their response? • Immediately after they “gladly received his word” (heard the sermon & the answer to their question) they were baptized. Right then! • The large number baptized right then indicates its urgency. thousand added
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 241 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.47 …And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. baptized three 7. The response shows its essentiality. • The order of events in these verses shows that baptism is a prerequisite to salvation from sin and being added by the Lord to His church thousand added added saved v.41 baptized added v.47 Saved added to church v.38 repent baptized remission of sins
It is as simple as a verse can be! • Moses: “Repent, and let every one of you look upon the bronze serpent in the name of the Lord for the healing of your bite.” • Josiah: “Repent, and let every one of you read the book of law in the name of the Lord for the blessings found within.” • Jesus: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for a 158-foot yacht.” • Mother: “Go to your room, and let every one of you put away the dirty clothes in the name of your mother for an ice cream cone.” • Drill sergeant: “Drop, and let every one of you do 50 push-ups in the name of Admiral Sproule for a 3-day off-base pass.”
Answering Objections Someone says: “But I have heard that the Greek preposition, eis, can mean ‘because of’ or ‘on account of,’ thus pointing back in a causal sense. Thus, baptism really is not in order to obtain remission; it is because I am already remitted of my sins.” • Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Answering Objections Someone says: “But I have heard that the Greek preposition, eis, can mean ‘because of’ or ‘on account of,’ thus pointing back in a causal sense. Thus, baptism really is not in order to obtain remission; it is because I am already remitted of my sins.” • Written by A.T. Robertson in his Word Pictures in the New Testament: • “One will decide the use here according as he believes that baptism is essential to the remission of sins or not. My view is decidedly against the idea that Peter, Paul or any one in the New Testament taught baptism as essential to the remission of sins or the means of securing such remission” (Vol. 3, pp. 35-36).
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • The English word “for” can look forward (in order to) in a purpose sense and can look backward (because of) in a causal sense. • There are several Greek prepositions that are translated “for” in English. Greek dia means “because of, on account of.” Greek eis means “in order to.” Both are translated “for.” • The Greek term eis, found 1,750 times in the Greek NT, always looks forward. • Eisnever looks backward, is never translated “because of” and never has that meaning in any New Testament text.
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Consider definitions from Greek scholars: • “to obtain the forgiveness of sins” (Thayer 94) • “to denote purpose in order to, to; so that sins might be forgiven” (BDAG 290) • “an indicator of direction toward a goal, not as an indicator of location without direction” (Balz & Schneider, Vol. 1, p. 398) • “of the element, purpose or result” (Abbott-Smith) • “the purpose and end in view” (Winer) • “a result of baptism…in order to be forgiven” (H.B. Hackett) • “the object of the baptism” (H.A.W. Meyer) • “that your sins may be forgiven” (C.B. Williams)
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Consider definitions from Greek scholars: • “Eis looks forward, and I know of no case in the New Testament where it looks back” (D.A. Penick) • “Baptism is accompanied with the remission of sins, as a result” (Olshausen) • “I do not know of any Greek lexicon which gives to eis the meaning of ‘because of’” (C.H. Morgan) • “eis is to be translated ‘unto,’ that is, ‘in order to secure’…the end to be aimed at in the actions expressed” (W.R. Harper) • “I accept the rendering of the Revised Version ‘unto the remission of your sins,’ the eis expressing the end aimed at and secured by repentance and baptism just previously enjoined” (J.H. Thayer)
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Consider definitions from Greek scholars: • “We conclude without hesitation in accordance with such authorities as Hackett, Winer, Meyer, that the proper rendering of eis in Acts 2:38, as in Matt. 26.28, is ‘unto,’ ‘for,’ that is, ‘in order to.’ [Translating it] ‘in order to declare’ or ‘symbolize’ would be a monstrous translation of eis. If it ever means ‘with reference to’ in the sense of a retrospective and commemorative reference to a past event, we have failed to find an example” (J.W. Wilmarth). • See quote from D.B. Wallace in next objection.
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Compare other passages with eis: • “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for (eis) the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). • “For with the heart one believes unto (eis) righteousness…” (Rom. 10:10) • “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to (eis) life” (Acts 11:18). • “…with the mouth confession is made unto (eis) salvation” (Rom. 10:10). • “Repent therefore and be converted, that (eis) your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). • “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Compare Matthew 26:28 and Acts 3:19 Matt. 26:28 Acts 2:38 Identical construction Acts 3:19 Acts 2:38
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in a causal sense? • Since “and” joins two items of equal importance: • Eliminate “be baptized” and read the verse. • “Repent in the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) the remission of sins.” • What does “for” mean in that reading? Because of? • When you put “be baptized” back in the verse, it means the exact same thing (i.e., in order to obtain). • No one would ever have conceived the idea that “for” in Acts 2:38 means “because of” or “on account of” if baptism had not been in the passage. • The only honest reading is that baptism is for the purpose or goal of receiving forgiveness. This is demanded by the text itself and the context.
Answering Objections Someone says: “The Greek word ‘eis’ is used in Matthew 12:41 to describe the reaction of the people of Nineveh to Jonah’s preaching. ‘Eis’ in this passage must mean ‘because of’ since ‘in order to’ doesn’t make sense.” • “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”
Answering Objections Someone says: “The Greek word ‘eis’ is used in Matthew 12:41 to describe the reaction of the people of Nineveh to Jonah’s preaching. ‘Eis’ in this passage must mean ‘because of’ since ‘in order to’ doesn’t make sense.” • In its 1,750 uses, eis always points forward. It would be dishonest to take an isolated text and “twist” it to conform to a particular belief. • Daniel Wallace (Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics) makes the following observations about eis being used in a causal sense at all in any passage: • Studies have “ably demonstrated that the linguistic evidence for a causal eis fell short of proof…” An “ingenious solution of a causal eis lacks conviction…adjusting the grammar to…backward-looking…has no…basis” (370-371)
Answering Objections Does eis mean “because of” in Matthew 12:41? • Is it possible for eis to mean in this passage what eis is defined to mean by lexicographers (indicating motion into a thing) rather than the man-assigned meaning? • “It is true, as a matter of fact, that the Ninevites repented in consequence of the preaching of Jonah; but had it been the purpose of the writer to express this thought, he would have used the preposition dia instead of eis. The thought of the passage is quite distinct from this. They repented into the preaching of Jonah. This is not idiomatic English, but it conveys the exact thought a Greek would derive from the original. The term ‘preaching’ is put for the course of life required by the preaching, and it is asserted that they repented into this. Their repentance, in other words, brought them into the course of life required by the preaching, and it is asserted that they repented into this” (McGarvey 113).
Answering Objections Someone says: “The prepositional phrase, “for the remission of sins,” cannot modify both repent (2nd person plural) and be baptized (3rd person singular).” • This is a poor attempt by those who recognize “for” must mean “in order to obtain” to still disconnect baptism from remission of sins. • But, since these are Greek prepositions and Greek verbs, then the Greek rule of grammar must be consulted for the answer. • Review the following quotes from Greek scholars, those who know the language but cannot allow even this kind of argumentation to stand.
Answering Objections Someone says: “The prepositional phrase, “for the remission of sins,” cannot modify both repent (2nd person plural) and be baptized (3rd person singular).” • “I see no grammatical reason why one couldn’t take the phrase, ‘for the forgiveness of sin,’ with both verbs” (J. Reumann). • “…the eis expressing the end aimed at and secured by repentance and baptism just previously enjoined” (J.H. Thayer) • “We connect naturally with both the preceding verbs” (H.B. Hackett). • “The natural construction connects the latter with both the preceding verbs. It enforces the entire exhortation, not one part of it to the exclusion of the other, as Hackett says” (J.W. Wilmarth).
Answering Objections Someone says: “The prepositional phrase, “for the remission of sins,” cannot modify both repent (2nd person plural) and be baptized (3rd person singular).” • In talking about separating the two verbs, J.W. Wilmarth says, “This interpretation compels us either to do violence to the construction or to throw the whole argument or course of thought in the context into complete confusion.” • “It is as clear as the sun that both repentance and baptism are connected and are modified by this phrase” (J.M. Pendleton). • “With two or more subjects connected by and the verb is in the plural. If the subjects are different persons, the verb is in the first person rather than the second or third, and in the second person rather than the third” (Hadley & Allen Gk Grammar).
Notice the place of baptism in Acts 2 • It is singled out/given a unique place. • It is in THE answer to their question. • It is as essential as repentance (AND). • It is required by the authority of Christ. • It is “FOR” the remission of sins. • It is placed, in order, before remission. • The response shows its essentiality. • It is as simple as a verse can be. Baptism is essential to obtain the remission of sins!
Mt. 28:18-20 Be baptized Christian New rela. w/ God Sinner Mk. 16:15-16 Believe Be Baptized Saved from sins Acts 2:38 Repent Be Baptized Remission of sins