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.
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