"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." Acts 2:33
Spiritual Baptism
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The New Testament rebirth consisting of water and Spirit was not available to anyone prior to the Holy Ghost being given on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:4, 36-42)
Jesus prophesied repentance and remission of sin would be preached in His name BEGINNING in Jerusalem. This first occurred on the Day of Pentecost:
"Repent, and be baptized EVERYONE of you IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost..." Acts 2:38
Note the very next verse:
"He that rejecteth me, (Jesus) and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48
It says they were circumcised having been buried in baptism. I don't see how it can mean anything else. What do you believe it says?
And do you know a verse that tells us when/what/how we are circumcised?
It is saying they were circumcised after having been baptized. It does not say that they are one and the same thing, or happen concurrently. Heart circumcision is very rarely discussed here and I am not aware of any verse that specifically tells us when exactly it happens, but it is definitely something I am interested in, and think I know exactly when my heart was circumcsised.
I suggest the verse tells us when and why it happens. I'm going to suggest some things and then not bother you with this.
Please consider. I'm sure you know that what Paul means by being circumcised, he is telling them they are God's chosen people, heirs to the promise. It says having been baptized, past tense. They are not heirs before baptism as many would suggest but after baptism. And that agrees exactly with what Jesus said.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved "and is baptized", past tense.
If it said anything other than baptism, you would have no problems accepting it. For example, 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been "believing, confessing, appealing", in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Baptism is what puts us into Christ.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Since it is the final step in being saved, Satan is doing his best to convince us it cannot save us. Just as he did in the garden.
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also
Note the parallel in Acts 2:38 and Col. 2:11-12 concerning remission of sin:
"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.
"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" Col 2:11-13
Sure I believe all of God's word. To reject any scripture is unwise. Generally speaking, many refuse to accept things they don't believe make sense. But make no mistake, God has a reason for every single jot and tittle in His word. Often times understanding only comes as a result of belief and obedience; it's called faith.
Consider John Mark is the accepted writer of the Gospel of Mark. He went on mission trips with the Apostle Paul. (Acts 12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37-40) As such, he would have first hand knowledge of the things he penned. I expect your objection to the scripture is the snake and poison reference. See Acts 28:3-6 below. Clearly God has the power to protect His children.
"And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god." Acts 28:3-6
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18
"John Mark (Greek: Ἰωάννης Μάρκος, romanized: Iōannēs Markos) is named in the Acts of the Apostles as an assistant accompanying Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journeys. Traditionally he is regarded as identical with Mark the Evangelist, the traditional writer of the Gospel of Mark." wikipedia
Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god
People should honour there brothers and not worship them
So many people follow each other, Paul was saved By God,.only the people thought he must be God.
Paul states categorically, that I do not boast in my infirmities.
Believing is far more than a mental exercise. Those who believe in Jesus will obey Him. See confirming scriptures below:
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, (at this point they believed in Jesus)
IF (if, if, if) YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, then are ye my disciples indeed; (not recognized as disciples until obedience)
And YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. (obedience to gospel message, Acts 2:36-38, brings about freedom) John 8:31-32
And again,
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation (TO WHOM) UNTO all them that obey him;" Heb 5:9
Man did nothing to deserve God providing a way of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Everyone living since Jesus' resurrection is commanded to repent and be baptized in water in the name of Jesus for remission of sin. (Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 9:17-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-6, 22:16) Jesus made this possible for all humanity; but not all will receive it.
It's odd that you would make that comment. Nothing I've shared has anything to do with the Old Testament.
The God-ordained command to repent and be baptized in water in the name of Jesus for remission of one's sin is for all those living since Jesus' resurrection, and is a beautiful expression of the kindness of God.
If the circumcision happens at water baptism, then it is a circumcision made with hands isn’t it? If it happens at water baptism, and water baptism is required, then it would never happen without water baptism and hands would always be involved.
I'm sorry but I don't see how you can come to that conclusion based on the wording of the verse.
11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism,
If the act of "having been buried with Him in baptism" makes the circumcision "made with hands", then the verse would say so. I suggest what it is telling us is by being baptized in the name of Jesus, we are put into Christ and are now His, Eph. 2:18-20. Paul uses circumcision to show we are God's chosen people. Before Christ, God's chosen people were Abraham's descendants and in covenant relationship with God through circumcision. As Christians we meet those same 2 requirements. Here is the other one.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
We are not physically circumcised, and we are not physically Abraham's descendants, but through Christ we are spiritually(without hands).