The Bible reveals that there are two basic requirements for a person to become a genuine Christian. They are first, repentance, and second, faith. Let's take a look at these vital requirements.
First the matter of repentance. In Acts 2, Peter preached a powerful sermon. Those who heard it were convicted of their sins and need for God in their lives. Verse 37 says, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter responded by saying, "Repent." This refers to a change of mind and purpose that turns a person from sin to God. Then Peter said, "and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." This is not teaching that we must repent and be baptized in order to be saved. Because when we consider the rest of the Bible's teaching about being saved, we realize that baptism could not possible be a requirement for salvation. The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized, but Jesus told him "this day you shall be with me in paradise."
And Ephesians 2:8,9 says, "by grace are you saved through faith, and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." So we ask, what does this verse in Acts 2:38 means? God does not contradict Himself. The answer is that when a person is saved, he or she is told to be baptized (immersed in water) to identify with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. In the early church, baptism was so closely associated with believing and being saved that when a person was baptized, everyone knew he or she was saved. The little word "for" can also be translated "because of" which means that Peter was probably saying, "Repent and be baptized 'because of the remission of sins'."
Second, the matter of faith. When the Philippian jailer wanted to know how to be saved, Paul did not say, get baptized, join the church, turn over a new leaf. He said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent and believe in the gospel." Paul summed it up in Romans 1:16 when he wrote "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to salvation, for everyone who believes."
God's only requirements for salvation are Repentance and Faith. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience which has already taken place, not to produce salvation, but to demonstrate a change of heart.
(Pastor Alex Rockwell)
First the matter of repentance. In Acts 2, Peter preached a powerful sermon. Those who heard it were convicted of their sins and need for God in their lives. Verse 37 says, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter responded by saying, "Repent." This refers to a change of mind and purpose that turns a person from sin to God. Then Peter said, "and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." This is not teaching that we must repent and be baptized in order to be saved. Because when we consider the rest of the Bible's teaching about being saved, we realize that baptism could not possible be a requirement for salvation. The thief on the cross had no opportunity to be baptized, but Jesus told him "this day you shall be with me in paradise."
And Ephesians 2:8,9 says, "by grace are you saved through faith, and not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." So we ask, what does this verse in Acts 2:38 means? God does not contradict Himself. The answer is that when a person is saved, he or she is told to be baptized (immersed in water) to identify with Christ's death, burial and resurrection. In the early church, baptism was so closely associated with believing and being saved that when a person was baptized, everyone knew he or she was saved. The little word "for" can also be translated "because of" which means that Peter was probably saying, "Repent and be baptized 'because of the remission of sins'."
Second, the matter of faith. When the Philippian jailer wanted to know how to be saved, Paul did not say, get baptized, join the church, turn over a new leaf. He said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Jesus said in Mark 1:15 "Repent and believe in the gospel." Paul summed it up in Romans 1:16 when he wrote "I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God to salvation, for everyone who believes."
God's only requirements for salvation are Repentance and Faith. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience which has already taken place, not to produce salvation, but to demonstrate a change of heart.
(Pastor Alex Rockwell)
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