For the Remission of Sins
Acts 2:38
Baptism is not an obscure Bible topic. It is featured very
prominently in the pages of the New Testament. We do not have to wonder what the
purpose for baptism is in God's mind because He has plainly indicated its
purpose already. We do not have to wonder who a proper subject for baptism is
because the Bible tells us. We do not have to guess about the proper mode of
baptism because the Bible reveals exactly what that is. Baptism is found in
numerous passages in the New Testament, and the teachings found there relating
to baptism are consistent.There is no excuse for not accepting what God has
revealed in His word about baptism. There is no good reason to deny what the
Scriptures say in favor of some religious creed that some church leaders
somewhere have egotistically legislated.The Holy Spirit revealed the purpose of
baptism during the very first gospel sermon preached following the ascension of
Jesus back into heaven. By the Spirit Peter answers the peoples' plea, "What
must we do?" He says, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit." (ACTS 2:38).
THE DIFFICULT TASK AND THE SOLUTION
"...which the untaught and the unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the
Scriptures, to their own destruction." (II PETER 3:16). It is indeed a difficult
thing to read such a plain passage as ACTS 2:38 and then try to explain to
others why baptism is not necessary to be forgiven of one's sins. And yet, that
is exactly what the overwhelming majority of denominations teach in their
various creed books.Why take such an awkward view of baptism? Because they must
support the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Rather than restudy "faith
alone" they simply explain away every passage in the New Testament which shows
the necessity of baptism in God's plan of redemption.Let me simply quote their
distortion of ACTS 2:38 in their attempt to make the passage say something other
than baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is for the forgiveness of sins. They
say that "This baptism would also be for (eis) the forgiveness of sins. 'Eis'
here means 'because of." Do you see what they are saying? They are contending
that one is not baptized "for" (i.e. in order to have) the remission of sins but
"for" (i.e. because of the fact) their sins have been forgiven; that they were
forgiven before baptism and were baptized because of forgiveness.
"FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"
"...this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for
forgiveness of sins" (MATTHEW 26:28). In determining the meaning of the phrase
"for the forgiveness of sins" we can look for the phrase in other places. In the
above verse, Jesus is speaking with His apostles at the last supper. The exact
same Greek phrase is used. Does Jesus mean to say that His blood is poured out
"because" sins have already been forgiven or that His blood is poured out "in
order that" our sins may be forgiven? Everyone understands that Jesus is saying
that His blood is being shed so that we may have our sins forgiven. So why is it
so easy to understand here and so difficult in ACTS 2:38?
WHAT THE TRANSLATIONS SAY
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (MATTHEW 28:18). Teaching the gospel
to all nations makes translating the Scriptures into various languages
necessary. We have English translations because we speak English. How do the
various English versions translate ACTS 2:38 from Greek to English? How many say
the Greek word "eis" (for) means "because of" or something similar? Which
translation do you use? What does it say?
"..and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins.." (King James).
"..let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins.." (New American Standard).
"..let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the
remission of sins.." (New King James).
"..and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be
forgiven.." (Today's English).
"..be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins.." (Challoner-Rheims).
"..be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins
may be forgiven.." (New International - 1978 edition).
"..be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission
of your sins.." (American Standard).
"..be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins.." (Revised Standard).
".. each one of you must be immersed by the authority of Jesus the Messiah, so
that your sins may be forgiven.." (Simple English Bible).
The version you use is probably listed above. None of them translate "eis" into
"because of". These constitute the major works of the best Greek scholars of the
past several centuries.
REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM ARE "FOR" THE SAME PURPOSE
"...Unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (LUKE 13:3). Very few would
say that one is forgiven of his sins even before he repents of them. They would
not say that one repents because his sins have already been forgiven. And they
are right because the Bible says one must repent in order to receive
forgiveness.
Interestingly enough, one of the verses of Scripture that teach this about
repentance is ACTS 2:38. Even more to the point, it mentions two prerequisites
to the remission of sins. One is repentance and the other is baptism! How can
one split the verse down the middle accepting that repentance is necessary but
not baptism? Maybe instead of playing such games we had better respect God
enough just to take Him at His word. Amen!
By Jon W. Quinn
From Expository Files 7.9; September 2000
