Is Acts 2.38 the plan of salvation ?
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1. John the Baptizer was sent by God as the forerunner or herald of Messiah. And Christ came to Israel at a very specific time. Therefore John's baptism was necessary to prepare hearts in Israel to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
2. Christian baptism was similar to John's baptism in that the one who repented and believed on Christ was baptized by immersion in water. At the same time Christian baptism was quite different in that it was the first step of obedience to Christ, and it was administered in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Therefore Peter COMMANDED that those who believe be baptized, and the words of Christ in Mark 16:16 joined salvation and baptism together.
2. Christian baptism was similar to John's baptism in that the one who repented and believed on Christ was baptized by immersion in water. At the same time Christian baptism was quite different in that it was the first step of obedience to Christ, and it was administered in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Therefore Peter COMMANDED that those who believe be baptized, and the words of Christ in Mark 16:16 joined salvation and baptism together.
John 4:22-24
King James Version
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God [is] a SPIRIT: and they that worship him MUST worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
King James Version
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God [is] a SPIRIT: and they that worship him MUST worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
This one statement by Peter sums up what is needed for salvation: Trust in Christ, period; nothing else needed.
Repentance is not about making a to-do list for sinning less. It is a total abandonment of the idea that we can do anything on our own to save ourselves from eternal separation from God.
We as seasoned church-goers often desire to add to the Gospel. But Peter as a masterful apologist lays out in one sentence what is necessary to be saved. He then lays out just as succincly in verse 39 the only benefit that matters:
"For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
The semmingly ironic thing is, only by abondoning our selves and trusting completely in Christ can we allow the Holy Spirit to do the important work of sanctification.
This one statement by Peter sums up what is needed for salvation: Trust in Christ, period; nothing else needed.
Repentance is not about making a to-do list for sinning less. It is a total abandonment of the idea that we can do anything on our own to save ourselves from eternal separation from God.
We as seasoned church-goers often desire to add to the Gospel. But Peter as a masterful apologist lays out in one sentence what is necessary to be saved. He then lays out just as succincly in verse 39 the only benefit that matters:
"For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
The semmingly ironic thing is, only by abondoning our selves and trusting completely in Christ can we allow the Holy Spirit to do the important work of sanctification.
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Acts 2
“38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent (admit that God is right, and we are wrong), and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ (by the authority of that Name; there is no baptismal formula given in the Book of Acts; the only formula given was given by Christ in Mat. 28:19) for the Remission of sins (should have been translated, “because of remission of sins”; one is Baptized in Water because one’s sins have already been remitted due to Faith in Christ, and not that sins should be remitted), and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Repentance guarantees Salvation, which makes the Believer ready to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit; one is not Baptized with the Spirit automatically at conversion; it is an experience that follows Salvation, and is always accompanied by speaking with other tongues [Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7]).
39 For the Promise (of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit) is unto you (directed toward the many Jews standing in the Temple listening to Peter that day), and to your children (means that this great outpouring did not stop with the initial outpouring, but continues on), and to all who are afar off (meaning that it’s not only for those in Jerusalem, but the entirety of the world as well), even as many as the Lord our God shall call (that “Call” is “whosoever will” [Jn. 7:37-39; Rev. 22:17]).
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort (tells us that we only have a part of Peter’s Message here), saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation (it is a call to Repentance).
41 Then they who gladly received his word were baptized (some believed what Peter said, gave their hearts to God, and repented of their sins; they were then baptized in water): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (on the first Day of Pentecost, the Day the Law was given, some three thousand men died [Ex. 32:28]; on this Day of Pentecost, due to the Cross, some three thousand people were saved).”
JSM
“38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent (admit that God is right, and we are wrong), and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ (by the authority of that Name; there is no baptismal formula given in the Book of Acts; the only formula given was given by Christ in Mat. 28:19) for the Remission of sins (should have been translated, “because of remission of sins”; one is Baptized in Water because one’s sins have already been remitted due to Faith in Christ, and not that sins should be remitted), and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Repentance guarantees Salvation, which makes the Believer ready to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit; one is not Baptized with the Spirit automatically at conversion; it is an experience that follows Salvation, and is always accompanied by speaking with other tongues [Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7]).
39 For the Promise (of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit) is unto you (directed toward the many Jews standing in the Temple listening to Peter that day), and to your children (means that this great outpouring did not stop with the initial outpouring, but continues on), and to all who are afar off (meaning that it’s not only for those in Jerusalem, but the entirety of the world as well), even as many as the Lord our God shall call (that “Call” is “whosoever will” [Jn. 7:37-39; Rev. 22:17]).
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort (tells us that we only have a part of Peter’s Message here), saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation (it is a call to Repentance).
41 Then they who gladly received his word were baptized (some believed what Peter said, gave their hearts to God, and repented of their sins; they were then baptized in water): and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls (on the first Day of Pentecost, the Day the Law was given, some three thousand men died [Ex. 32:28]; on this Day of Pentecost, due to the Cross, some three thousand people were saved).”
JSM