Repentance and Baptism

Review:

• Baptism of the Holy Spirit

  • Miraculous outpouring, fulfillment of Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5, Joel 2:28-32

• Coming of the Kingdom (Mark 9:1)

• Sermon preached by Peter on Pentecost

  • Jesus was attested to them by God by many signs, wonders, and miracles

  • They were responsible for putting Him to death

  • The Psalms and David both look towards Christ

  • The preaching of the gospel should make people want to respond

• Peter’s sermon involved a response

  • The word was working in their heart

  • They needed to respond to the gospel in which they were called (2 Thessalonians 2:14, Acts 2:39)

I. Response (Acts 2:37)

1. Now when they heard this

   1. Goes against total depravity

   2. It was not the Holy Spirit coming in and forcing them to be cut to the heart; rather, it was the word (Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:22-25)

2. They were accused of crucifying Christ

3. God has made this Man both Lord and Christ

4. They were cut to the heart, and they said, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

   1. They were cut to the heart

   2. Strong's 2660 - be greatly troubled; formally, be pierced to the heart

   3. BDAG - of the feeling of sharp pain connected with anxiety, remorse, etc.

5. They had feelings associated with belief

   1. They were feeling anxiety

   2. They were feeling anxiety because of the content of the sermon Peter was preaching

   3. So they believed, but they still said so after understanding the foundational facts of the death, burial, and resurrection

6. They said, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

II. Command

1. They were commanded to obey the gospel

   1. Peter is going to tell them to repent; if belief only were true, why did Peter tell them to repent and be baptized?

   2. John 12:42 – to 2 Tim 2:12

2. Peter said to them, "Repent”

   1. Strong’s #3340 - repent, to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness

   2. Belief is something you do, and so is repentance

   3. Acts 26:20 - that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (cf. Matthew 3:8)

   4. They needed to change their mind from their sin

3. Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins

   1. They are being baptized for this specific reason

   2. This was for the forgiveness of sins

   3. People want to state that baptism is a public declaration of an inward saving faith, there is only one baptism, and that is in water for the forgiveness of sins

   4. There is no Bible passage stating what baptism is for, other than for the forgiveness of sins

4. Arguments against baptism for the forgiveness of sins

   1. For

   2. Stating that it means “because of”

   3. Dr. Tom Schreiner (CSB) translator, stated that “When it comes to Acts 2:38, no serious grammarians believe in a causal eis today”

   4. Comparing the Greek

      1. Same phraseology in both the Greek and the English

      2. Acts 2:28 - εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

      3. Matthew 26:28 - εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

      4. Did Christ shed His blood because sins had already been forgiven, or in order that sins might be forgiven

      5. Did Peter command baptism because sins had already been forgiven, or in order that sins might be forgiven

   5. Holy Spirit Baptism vs Water baptism

      1. Because there is no water specifically addressed, people state that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and water is not involved at all in baptism for a Christian today

      2. The issue is that they already believed and did not receive this upon belief

      3. The baptism of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit was a promise, not a command

      4. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is something that God does to you

      5. Baptism in water is a command (Matthew 28:20, Acts 2:38, 22:16), done by men to men

      6. Baptism in water is in the name of Jesus (Acts 10:47)

      7. You can only obey a command; you cannot obey a promise

5. Why sins would be forgiven (ask: why would baptism be the moment their sins were forgiven?)

   1. Because they were being added to the church (or number) (Luke later refers to the number as the church in Acts 8:1)

   2. The church is the body of Christ, which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28)

   3. Life in Christ (2 Timothy 1:1)

   4. All spiritual blessings are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)

   5. There is only one way into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27)

      1. For this reason

      2. Because you have done this, this is the reason

      3. You are the sons of God