Acts 2:38 Comparison: Evangelical vs. Oneness / Baptismal-Regeneration View

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LightBearer316

LightBearer316

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Oct 13, 2025
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Acts 2:38 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The line of reasoning mentioned in (“Acts 2:38 says be baptized for the remission of sins”) is a hallmark argument of oneness or baptismal-regeneration groups.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s behind that “tactic” and why it often shows up in debates:

1. What They Teach
  • Oneness Pentecostals (United Pentecostal Church International, Apostolic churches, etc.) and baptismal-regeneration advocates (like the Church of Christ, Christian Church, or some Apostolic groups) insist that water baptism is a necessary condition for salvation.
  • They usually quote Acts 2:38 as their cornerstone:
    “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...”
    They interpret “for” (eis in Greek) as meaning “in order to obtain” forgiveness, not “because of.”    ​
2. Why It’s a “Tactic”

In discussion, these groups tend to:
  • Anchor every salvation argument in Acts 2:38, ignoring the broader New-Testament pattern of salvation by faith apart from works (e.g., Romans 3:28; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).
  • Equate water with spiritual regeneration, even when passages clearly distinguish them (John 3:5; Acts 10:44-48; 1 Peter 3:21).
  • Frame the conversation as obedience vs. disobedience, implying that anyone who disagrees is rejecting God’s command rather than discussing interpretation.
  • Selectively quote early-Acts passages, before Paul’s revelation of salvation by grace through faith, as though those transitional moments define normative doctrine for the entire Church Age.
Essentially, it’s a rhetorical move: they start with Acts 2:38 as the hermeneutical “lens,” then reinterpret every other passage through it.

3. What’s Often Overlooked
  • Context of Acts 2 — Peter was preaching to Jews under the Law who had just crucified their Messiah. The command to repent and be baptized was part of a national call to faith and public identification with Christ, not a mechanical formula for personal regeneration.
  • Comparative Passages — In Acts 10, Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit before baptism; in Acts 16, the Philippian jailer was told, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” with no mention of baptism first.
  • Greek nuance — The word eis (“for”) in Acts 2:38 can also mean “because of” or “on account of,” as in Matthew 12:41 (“They repented at [Greek eis] the preaching of Jonah”).
  • Paul’s clarification — “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor 1:17). That’s hard to square with baptism being essential for salvation.
4. The Broader Pattern
The New Testament consistently teaches:
  • Salvation is by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 10:9-10).
  • Baptism follows salvation as an outward sign of inward faith (Acts 10:47-48; Gal 3:27).
  • The Spirit’s baptism, not water, places believers into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).
So when groups use Acts 2:38 as their proof-text, they’re reversing the biblical order—putting the symbol ahead of the substance.

Acts 2:38 Comparison: Evangelical vs. Oneness / Baptismal-Regeneration View

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Key Takeaways
  1. Acts 2:38 was situational — Peter addressing Jews at Pentecost during a covenant transition, not defining a permanent formula for all salvation.
  2. Scripture interprets Scripture — later revelation through Paul clarifies salvation is by faith apart from works or rituals (Romans 3–5; Galatians 2).
  3. Water vs. Spirit — the New Testament distinguishes symbolic baptism in water from the real regenerating baptism of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13; Titus 3:5).
  4. Faith precedes baptism — everywhere else in Acts, people believe first (Acts 8:36–37; 10:44–48; 16:30–33).

Grace and Peace
 
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Water baptism is not a work to earn righteousness. It's a work to receive the righteousness that God freely gives.

God: "Go through the door to receive my free gift"
Work-phobic person: "The door is closed"
God: "Open it"
Work-phobic person: "I can't because it's not free if I have to do something"
God: smh
 
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Greek pronouns visualized. eis (middle left) means into. In this case, moving from sin guiltiness into forgiveness of sins.

propos.GIF
 
ChristRoseFromTheDead said:
That's because eis means "into". It doesn't mean "because of". In other words, be baptized into receiving forgiveness of sins, not be baptized because of forgiveness of sins.
Click to expand...

Brother, thank you for your input — that’s a common claim, but let’s look closely at what’s actually happening in the text and language.

Yes, eis can mean “into,” but Greek prepositions don’t have a single fixed meaning; they depend on context. Even major lexicons (BDAG, Thayer’s) show that eis can mean “because of” or “with reference to” — not only “into.”

For example:

“They repented at [Greek: eis] the preaching of Jonah.” — Matthew 12:41
They didn’t repent “in order to obtain” Jonah’s preaching — they repented because of it. Same word.​

That shows eis doesn’t automatically mean “into” in a causal sense of producing something new — it can point backward to what has already occurred.

Now notice the flow of Acts 2:38 in context:
Peter had just finished declaring that Jesus is Lord and Christ (v. 36). The crowd was already “pricked in their heart” (v. 37) — conviction and faith were already present. So Peter calls them to repent (change mind about Christ) and then be baptized as a public confession in light of that forgiveness and new allegiance.

We can confirm this order by comparing other passages:

  • Acts 10:43–48 — The Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost before water baptism.
  • Acts 16:30–33 — The Philippian jailer is told, “Believe… and thou shalt be saved,” and only afterward is baptized.
  • 1 Cor 1:17 — Paul says, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” If baptism were essential for forgiveness, that verse would make no sense.

So rather than translating eis in Acts 2:38 as “into obtaining forgiveness,” the better reading fits the pattern of the rest of Scripture:
“Be baptized… on account of the remission of sins.”

Salvation by grace through faith remains the consistent message — baptism follows as the outward seal of what God has already done inwardly.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.” (Eph 2:8-9)​

Grace and peace, always.
 
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LightBearer316 said:
“They repented at [Greek: eis] the preaching of Jonah.” — Matthew 12:41They didn’t repent “in order to obtain” Jonah’s preaching — they repented because of it. Same word.
Click to expand...

It means they repented into his preaching. In other words, they believed his message and acted on it and repented.

If Peter had meant be baptized because of forgiveness of sins he would have used the word oti, which means "because"
 
Burn1986 said:
So what do you do if you’re saved and later realize you weren’t baptized?
Click to expand...
That’s a great and honest question — and one many sincere believers wrestle with.

Salvation Comes by Faith Alone:
The Bible is clear that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, not through any ritual — including baptism.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God — not of works, lest any man should boast.”​
— Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)​

When you believed on Christ — trusting His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins — you were saved at that moment (Romans 10:9–10). The Holy Spirit sealed you (Ephesians 1:13).
Nothing can undo or add to that saving work.

Baptism Is the Next Step of Obedience:
After salvation, baptism is the public declaration of your faith — an outward testimony of what God has already done inwardly.

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.”​
— Acts 2:41​

So if you realize you haven’t been baptized since truly trusting Christ, the simple and joyful next step is to get baptized now — not to be saved, but because you already are saved.
It’s a testimony of obedience and identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4).

Don’t Feel Condemned — Just Obey in Love:
God isn’t standing over you with condemnation for not being baptized earlier.
He simply calls His children to walk in obedience now that they understand:

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”​
— James 4:17​

You’re not “losing salvation” or “getting re-saved.” You’re simply following Christ’s command with a clearer understanding.

How to Approach It Practically:
Talk with your pastor or church leader — tell them your story of salvation and that you’d like to be baptized now as a believer.
Prepare to share your testimony briefly before baptism — how you came to trust in Christ.
View it as a moment of joy, not fear — you’re publicly declaring, “I belong to Jesus!”

If you were saved but not baptized:
You are still fully saved by grace through faith.
Baptism doesn’t complete salvation — it confirms your obedience and testimony.
The right response is simply to obey now, joyfully and without guilt.

Grace and Peace
 
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The more I look at this, the more I am being convinced that water baptism is analogous to, or perhaps the type of, physical circumcision. Israelites were saved by being joined to the nation through circumcision and following the law. If this rite wasn't performed a man was cut off from Israel and the promises of God. In other words, he didn't enter into the nation of God.

Likewise, perhaps God established water baptism to serve a similar function. In other words, it is this rite through which God performs spiritual circumcision, without which no person will enter the kingdom of God. And is perhaps why Jesus said that unless a man is born of water (baptism into forgiveness of sins) and spirit (baptism into power to witness and ovecome sin) he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
 
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ChristRoseFromTheDead said:
Jesus said the baptism of the spirit was to receive power to be his witnesses, not to receive forgiveness of sins. A person can't be of his body apart from release from sins
Click to expand...

Jesus immerses us into the Spirit. He does this from heaven. This results in Power. "The baptism of the Spirit."
The Spirit immerses us into the Body of Christ. This results in a change of identity. "The baptism by the Spirit."
 
Aaron56 said:
Jesus immerses us into the Spirit. He does this from heaven. This results in Power. "The baptism of the Spirit."
The Spirit immerses us into the Body of Christ. This results in a change of identity. "The baptism by the Spirit."
Click to expand...

The vessel must be cleansed before it is filled. God circumcises the heart, then fills it.
 
LightBearer316 said:
If you were saved but not baptized:
You are still fully saved by grace through faith.
Baptism doesn’t complete salvation — it confirms your obedience and testimony.
The right response is simply to obey now, joyfully and without guilt.
Click to expand...

The desperate reasonings of Calvignosticism
 
Freddy Fleet (Charis.) said:
So what do you do if you’re saved and later realize you weren’t baptized?
Click to expand...

You should get baptized. If a person doesn't know to get baptized it's because no one ever taught them they were supposed to, or they've never read the New Testament. If they know and simply refuse, they should be prepared to hear the words: "Why do you call me Lord but don't do what I say?"
 
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ChristRoseFromTheDead said:
Justification comes by faith alone. Justification is not salvation; it is the first step.
Click to expand...

Justification — Past (Completed at Salvation)
  • Moment you believe, God declares you righteous.
  • It’s instant, complete, and unchanging.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”​
— Romans 5:1​

Sanctification — Present (Ongoing Work in Believers)
  • Begins right after justification.
  • It’s progressive — the Spirit shaping us daily into Christ’s image.
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”​
— 1 Thessalonians 4:3​

Glorification — Future (Final Completion of Salvation)
  • Will occur when Christ returns or we enter His presence.
  • Our bodies and souls are perfected — no more sin, pain, or decay.
“Whom He justified, them He also glorified.”​
— Romans 8:30​

Paul speaks of it in the past tense because it’s so certain — from God’s eternal perspective, it’s as good as done.

So to sum it up:
Salvation includes all three:
  • Justification (past) — you were saved from sin’s penalty.
  • Sanctification (present) — you are being saved from sin’s power.
  • Glorification (future) — you will be saved from sin’s presence.
They’re distinct in timing, but united in purpose — one seamless saving work of God from beginning to end (Philippians 1:6).

Grace and Peace
 
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LightBearer316 said:
  1. Faith precedes baptism — everywhere else in Acts, people believe first (Acts 8:36–37; 10:44–48; 16:30–33).
Click to expand...
Except of course when it's mentioned that households were baptized.
1. Cornelius' Household (Acts 10)
2. Lydia's Household (Acts 16)
3. The Philippian Jailer's Household (Acts 16)
4. Crispus’ Household (Acts 18)
5. Stephanas’ Household (1 Corinthians 1)
 
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