Setting the Record Straight Re: Baptism
It is an elegantly simple, straightforward, non-controversial statement (at least in original language).
Yet, as you will hear in this PODCAST, one that has led to nearly 2,000 years of confusion. Confusion over things like:
- What is the proper mode of baptism? (Sprinkling? Immersing?) Should babies be baptized?
- Is baptism a sacrament? An ordinance? What’s the difference between the two? And what does it matter?
- Must someone be baptized in order to be saved? And if you have not been baptized, are you then not going to Heaven?
My, oh my. How adept we humans are at taking something so supremely simple, and making it so insufferably complicated.
My friends, we have a lot to talk about.
Specifically: We need to talk about:
- What did Peter actually say?
- What did Peter not say?
- What is the Scriptural significance of baptism?
- Where exactly did Peter say this? In other words, is this story even plausible? Where in the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day do you find enough water to baptize three thousand people?
- What are implications of Peter’s words for us today?
To begin, let’s read Peter’s words from Acts 2:37-38,
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.