Immersion Into Forgiveness

For ages, we in the English-speaking body of Christ have understood Peter’s comments in Acts 2:38 to command repentance and baptism by the authority of Jesus (in His name) FOR the remission of sins. In the 14th Century, producing the first modern English translation, John Wycliffe actually translated "eis" as it should be--into (though he was working from the Latin Vulgate which reads, in remissionem). The next English Bible, Tyndale’s New Testament in 1526, read, "...for the remission of synnes..." It would be speculation to determine why Tyndale translated "eis" as for when all of his sources, including Martin Luther’s Die Bibel indicate into (Luther employed the German word zur which means "to the"). But from the time of Tyndale, most every English translation has "for" instead of "into", and it remains for the author of this article to reach a conclusion as to why that is.

Peter preached a message of reliance in Jesus. "Faith" is a fancy term noting the action of trusting God, relying on Him for everything. Peter’s message is this very thing--we must turn from the mindset that crucified the Christ (Acts 2:23) to a life of submission to Him who is made both Lord and Christ, trusting in that sacrifice for our salvation (Acts 2:36). In Acts 2:38, he’s not giving a command by which we earn salvation—Peter makes it clear the forgiveness is already made ready by the blood of Jesus. If we remember Paul’s words in Romans 5, God already counts all men and women worthy to receive this forgiveness, or else He would not have sent His Son “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:6-11). And this is what Peter indicates in Acts 2:39 (cf. Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). No, this does not say a person is saved before baptism or before having faith.

The apostle Paul instructs us with the prophet Habakkuk in Romans 1:17—the man who lives by his faith is justified before God. Indeed, we are justified by our total reliance in God and not simply by our good deeds (Romans 3:28; 5:1; Galatians 2:16; 3:11,24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Matthew 7:22-23). At the same time, true faith produces works that demonstrate such faith. Just as breath is an indication of life, so too are works an indication of faith (James 2:14-25).

With these things in mind, let’s examine what Luke records in Acts 2:37-38:

1. “Now understanding, they were pierced in the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘What shall we do, men? Brothers?’” The people to whom Peter preached had a clear understanding of their present situation. And it pierced their heart. Thayer says the Greek word here indicates vehement agitation (impassioned and emotional). They knew, as Peter’s sermon was accompanied with the sign to unbelievers—the speaking in languages by the Holy Spirit—they stood condemned before God for their prideful mindsets and understood they could not get out of this predicament by their own power. They made an appeal to their Galilean brothers, fellow Jews, for a solution to this problem.

2. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Every one of you repent…’” This is not an “I’m sorry,” for specific sins and asking for forgiveness. Repentance has never been about that. Instead, repentance is a complete change from a mindset focused on self (the mindset that led to the crucifying of the Christ) to a mindset focused on complete and total reliance on God. That's what repentance has always been and always will be.

3. “‘…and be immersed on the name of Jesus Christ…’” The people understood Peter’s message, and it was up to them to accept it and submit to faith in Jesus Christ. The Greek word “epi” means on, not in. They need to rely on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ—and the moment they rely on Christ’s sacrifice, they should step into the water to die with Him—to crucify the old self about which Paul will later write to the Romans (Romans 6). Peter is not talking about the authority of Christ here but about trusting Christ.

4. “‘…into the forgiveness of sins…’” We are not immersed for the forgiveness of sin but into the forgiveness of sin. When we walk through a door, we are not walking for the room but into the room. Similarly, we aren’t walking for the forgiveness of sin but are walking into the forgiveness of sin. “With many other words…,” Peter and the others may have expounded on this as he pleaded with the people to “save themselves from this crooked generation” (Acts 2:40), but Paul declares quite clearly for all time that there is absolutely no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Having died to both sin and law, there is no need to justify ourselves but to simply trust that God takes care of our sin problem through Jesus Christ. When we shed our pride and our thinking that we are in control and submit to God through Jesus Christ, we enter into perpetual forgiveness where, as we continue to struggle with sin and learn how to be like Christ, we have the Christ as an Advocate with the Father on our behalf (1 John 2:1). Our past sins are erased, and our present and future sins are taken care of as we walk in total reliance on God.

5. “‘…and you will receive the Holy Spirit’s gift.’” The Holy Spirit had come with power, and now He wants to give all men a gift. This gift is peace with God (Romans 5:1-5)—a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21). It satisfies the impassioned and emotional "vehement agitation" of verse 37. In trusting God, we have nothing to worry about, nothing to fear. He loved us while we were sinners and loves us so much more as we walk by faith.

The promise is for everyone who heeds the call of God to turn from their pride to step into the forgiveness of sins. It’s not something we have to wait till Heaven appears to experience. We can walk in this forgiveness of sin in the here and now, in this present generation.

If you are not a Christian, the only true and living God has prepared a place for you in His kingdom. Won't you accept this gift and commit to a life of discipleship to Jesus Christ, relying on Him as you step into the water to meet Him. He's waiting with exceeding joy and with outstretched arms for you.

Galatians

Paul's Letter to the Galatians
translated by James Foster
(links to the study are at the bottom)

Paul, an apostle (neither from men nor through man but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead) and all the brothers and sisters with me, to the called-out of the Galatians:

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and from our Master Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He could, according to the will of our God and Father, deliver us out of this present evil age. The glory goes to Him forever and ever. Amen.

I am amazed that you all are so quickly deserting the One calling you in the grace of Christ into another “good message” that is not really another. But there are certain ones who are troubling you and willing to distort the good message of the Christ. But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach to you apart from what we have already preached, he must be cursed! Just as we said before, so now I say again: if anyone is preaching apart from what you received, he must be cursed!

So am I now in compliance with men or with God? Or do I seek to please man? Because if I still pleased man, I would not be Christ’s slave whatsoever! Brothers and sisters, I am letting you know that my preaching is not according to man because I neither accepted it from man nor was I taught it except through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Because you’ve heard of my previous behavior under Judaism: that I over-exceedingly persecuted the assembled of God and demoralized them, and I advanced in Judaism above my peers in my own country, readily zealous to a greater degree for the traditions of my fathers.

But when it pleased God (who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace) to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the nations, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood. I didn’t even go up to Jerusalem to the ones who were apostles before me. Instead, I went to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to relate my story to Peter, and I stayed with him fifteen days. But I did not see the other apostles except James, the Master’s brother.

Look, in the sight of God, I’m not lying in what I’m writing.

Afterwards, I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown by face to the assembled of Christ in Judea. They were only hearing, “The one who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once demoralized.” And they praised God in me.

Then, after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem together with Barnabas and Titus because of a revelation. I went up and placed before those of reputation the good message I am preaching among the nations—privately, because of false brothers who crept in undercover to investigate our freedom we have in Christ Jesus so that they could enslave us. Perchance I might be running or had run for nothing, but even Titus who was with me did not feel the need to be circumcised, being Greek. We didn’t for even an hour pretend subjection to them so that the truth of the good message would remain permanently with you.

But these certain ones who were formerly of whatever reputation (it makes no difference to me because God is not partial to position) added nothing to me. Instead, they saw I was entrusted with the good message of the uncircumcised just as Cephas of the circumcised because the one at work in Cephas’ commission to the circumcised is the same who works in me to the Gentiles. Knowing the grace given to me, James, Cephas and John, supposedly pillars, gave Barnabas and I the right hand of fellowship: we to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. The only thing: we should remember the poor, which I am diligent to do this very thing.

Yet when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he was found out, because before anyone came from James, he ate together with the Gentiles, but when they came, he separated himself, fearing those of the circumcised. The rest of the Jews played hypocrite with him as well so that Barnabas was also led astray into hypocrisy. When I saw they were not walking straightly in accordance with the truth of the good message, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, being a Jew, are living as a Gentile and not as a Jew, why are you finding the need to Judaize the Gentiles? We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles. Having seen that man is not justified by works of law but instead through faith in Jesus Christ, we also have faith so that we can be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of law.”

No flesh will be justified by works of law. But if we ourselves are found to be sinners while seeking to be justified in Christ, is Christ the servant of sin? Absolutely not! Because if I start building again what I destroyed, I myself stand as a lawbreaker, because I, through law, died to law so that I could live to God. I have been crucified together with Christ, but I’m still living—well, I’m no longer living but Christ is in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself for me. I am not disregarding the grace of God, because if justification comes through law, then Christ died needlessly.

O foolish Galatians! Who charmed you? Before whose eyes among you has Jesus Christ been depicted as crucified? I want to learn from you this one thing: did you receive the Spirit by works of law or by instruction of faith? You are so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, you are now perfected in the flesh! Have you suffered greatly in vain (if it was really in vain)? Does He who furnishes you with the Spirit and works miracles among you do so by works of law or by instruction of faith, since “Abraham trusted God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”? Understand, then, that those of faith are children of Abraham, and the Scripture, foreseeing that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, itself announced beforehand to Abraham that “all the nations will be blessed in you.” So, those of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham, because whoever are by works of law are under a curse, because it is written, “Everyone who does not abide by everything written to do in the Book of the Law is cursed.” But it is evident that no man is justified by God in law because “the justified will himself live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, but “the one doing them will live in them.” Christ, making himself a curse for us, has recovered us from the curse of the law, because it is written, “Everyone hanging on a tree is cursed,” so that the blessing of Abraham would come on the Gentiles in Jesus Christ so that we would receive the Spirit’s promise through faith.

Brothers and sisters, I say this: according to man, when a man’s covenant is confirmed, no one sets it aside or adds to it, but the promises were spoken to Abraham and his seed. He did not say, “…and to seeds,” as if from many but as if from One—“…and to your seed,” which is Christ. But I say this: God’s covenant in Christ, confirmed before the Law that came four hundred thirty years later, is not set aside to invalidate the promise because if inheritance is by law, then it’s no longer by the promise. But God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise. Why the Law, then? It was added to create transgression until the Seed to whom the promise was made could come. It was appointed through messengers in a mediator’s hand. But a mediator is not for one, but God is one.

So is the Law against the promises of God? Absolutely not! Because if law, able to impart life, was given, then indeed justification was by law, but the Scripture encloses all together under sin so that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ could be given to the faithful. But before faith came, we were guarded under law, enclosed into the faith that would later be revealed. So then the Law was our guardian unto Christ so that we could be justified by faith. But we are no longer under the guardian now that faith has come because you are all God’s children through faith in Jesus Christ because whoever has been immersed into Christ has put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, because you all are one in Christ Jesus. So then if you are of Christ, then you are of Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

But I say as long as the heir is a child, though master of everything, he is no different from a slave and is under guardians and stewards until the father’s appointed time. So in this manner are we also: when we were children, we were enslaved by the principles of the world, but when time’s fullness came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law in order to redeem those under law so that we could receive adoption, and so that you are sons, God sent His Son’s Spirit crying “Abba Father!” into your hearts. So then, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, you are also God’s heir through Christ.

But then, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to those things that are by nature not gods, but now, having known God, or rather, being known by God, how are you turning again to the weak and powerless things to which you wish to be enslaved all over again? You carefully observe days, months, measures of time and years! I am afraid for you. Perhaps I labored among you in vain.

Become like me because I am like you, brothers and sisters, I’m begging you. You’ve not hurt me, and you know that I first brought the good message to you because of the weakness of the flesh. You neither despised nor loathed my weakness in my flesh but received me as a messenger of God—as Christ Jesus even. So where was this happiness of yours? Because I’m a witness that if possible, you would have dug out your eyes and given them to me. So I’m your enemy for telling you the truth? They, not well, are envious of you and want to shut you out so that you would be envious of them. But it’s always good to be envied in good, not just when I am present with you. My children, for whom I am painfully toiling again until Christ is formed in you, I want to be present at this very moment with you and to change my tone because I’m not sure what to do with you.

You who want to be under law, tell me: do you not understand the Law? Because it is written that Abraham had two sons—one by a female slave and one by a free woman, but the one born of the female slave was born according to the flesh but the one of the free woman through the promise. This is speaking allegorically because they are the two covenants: one covenant from Mount Sinai giving birth to slavery—this is Hagar because this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and resembles Jerusalem which is now enslaved with her children. But the Jerusalem on high is free—this is the mother of us all because it is written, “Rejoice, barren one who does not give birth. You who do not feel the pains of childbirth, break forth and shout since the children of the deprived are many compared to the one having the husband.” Brothers and sisters, we, like Isaac, are the children of the promise. But just as the one born according to the flesh mistreated the one born according to the Spirit, so also is it now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the female slave and her son because the son of the female slave should not inherit with the son of the free woman. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the female slave but of the free woman. So stand firm in the liberty in which Christ has freed us and don’t be ensnared again with the yoke of slavery.

Look — I, Paul, am telling you that if you would be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit in anything because I am a witness again to every one being circumcised that he is one obliged to do the whole Law. Any of you being justified by law separate yourself from Christ. You are outside grace’s effect. Because we wait patiently through the Spirit for the hope of justification by faith because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision have any power. Just faith working through love [has power].

You ran well. Who held you back to not obey the truth? The persuasion doesn’t come from the One who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I am confident in you in the Lord that you will have no other mindset, but the one distressing you (whoever he is) will bear his sentence.

Brothers and sisters, if I still proclaim circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? So then the stumbling block of the cross is abolished? I want those who are troubling you to cut "themselves" off! Because, brothers and sisters, you have not been called into freedom as a resource for the flesh but in freedom submit to each other through love because the whole Law is fulfilled in one word: "You will love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour each other, watch out! You should not destroy each other. I say walk in the Spirit and you will not make the desires of the flesh whole because the flesh desires what the Spirit does not, and the Spirit desires what the flesh does not. These oppose each other so you cannot do the things you desire to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The works of the flesh are evident: they are whoredom, licentiousness, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contention, rivalry, inflamed anger, partisanship, dissension, sectarianism, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelry and other things like these. Just as I predicted before, I am foretelling to you that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, submissiveness, self control. There's no law against these things. Those who have crucified the flesh with the suffering and the desires are Christ's. If we live for the Spirit, let's also walk for the Spirit. We should not be eager for empty glory, challenging to debate each other or being envious of each other.

Brothers and sisters, if a man should be caught in a sin, you being spirtual restore this one in the spirit of gentleness, being careful that you are not also tempted. Carry each other’s burdens and in this way fulfill the law of Christ. Because whoever supposes to be someone being no one deceives himself. Each man must prove his work himself, and then he will have glory only in himself and not in another because everyone will bear his own burden. The one being taught the word must fellowship with the one that teaches in all good things.

Don’t be led astray. God is not mocked, because whatever a man sows is what he will also reap. Because the one who sows in the flesh will reap corruption by the flesh, but the one who sows in the Spirit will reap everlasting life by the Spirit. We can not be exhausted in doing good because, if we don’t tire out, we will reap in due time. So while we have opportunity, we should do good works to all, especially to those belonging to the household of the faith.

Look, I write these great writings to you with my own hand. Whoever compels you to be circumcised wishes to please in the flesh. I wish they could be persecuted for the cross of Christ! Because those who are circumcised do not keep the Law either but they wish for you to be circumcised so they can boast in your flesh. But I hope that I’m not boasting in myself except in the cross of our Master Jesus Christ through whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision have any power but instead a new creation [has power]. Peace and mercy to all who walk by this standard and upon the Israel of God. From now on, no man must trouble me because I bear the marks of the Master Jesus in my body. Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Master Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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Study Galatians

Introduction
Galatians 1:1-5    The Good Message of Christ
Galatians 1:6-10    Deserting the Good Message
Galatians 1:11-24    Revealing Christ in Me
Galatians 2:1-10    The Right Hand of Fellowship
Galatians 2:11-16a    The True vs. the False
Galatians 2:16b-21    Crucified with Christ
Galatians 3:1-14    Faith, Not Works of Law
Galatians 3:15-29    Why the Law?