GOSPEL NUGGET # 72
Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Again this verse is used to prove that water baptism is essential to salvation. Despite 150 other verses that clearly teach that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. If you read the apostle Peter's other sermons in the book of Acts, you will notice that it is repentance or faith in Christ that is emphasized, no mention of water baptism.
In the very next chapter, Peter spoke:
Ac 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Again, in chapter 10:43, Peter again spoke:
Ac 10:43 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
In Peter's own book, he wrote this:
1Pe 1:9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.
If water baptism is essential to salvation, then he carelessly failed to mention it 3 different times!!! So it is clear that it is repentance or faith alone in Christ alone that Peter is emphasizing. Look at Acts 2:38 this way:
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, (and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ) for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
These guys must repent---change their attitude about Christ. They rejected Christ, they crucified Him, they took Him as an imposter but now they must change their attitude towards Him, God has raised Him from the dead, clearly He is the Savior and the Messiah of Israel, they must now trust in Him for salvation. After that, they must be baptized in His name.
The order: Trust in Christ first for salvation and forgiveness of sins and then be baptized in His name. Peter himself said this (after Cornelius and company trusted in Christ as manifested in their receiving of the Holy Spirit):
Ac 10:47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
