Acts 2:38 Evangelism

Then Peter said unto them, 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. Acts 2:38

What we need is more Acts 2:38 evangelism? This is something that the Lord has really been pressing on my heart lately. I have gotten so busy defending the various doctrines that I have pushed to the back burner the central work of the church and its great commission to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” A church without a clear purpose of evangelism will become stagnant because they are not participating in what Jesus has called them to. They are many participating in evangelism, but not doing so with the proper formula that was given to us by the apostles.

After the apostle Peter’s cutting sermon on the day of Pentecost this is what happened;

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37

They were convicted in their hearts and desired to respond to the preaching of Peter. Peter’s response is so stunning. He did not ask them to pray the sinners prayer with him and “ask Jesus into their heart.” He did not put them through new believers classes. These are post-biblical construction. Peter told them if you desire to be saved then first, repent. Turn away from your wicked ways, leave them behind, change your mind from wickedness to the truth of the Lord Jesus. Next, he said to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. This seems very strange to us. Clearly we understand that remission of sins comes through the blood of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:14 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Here we see that through baptism “in the name of Jesus Christ” we receive the remission of sins. True baptism acted upon by genuine repentance in the heart and then done in faith (“by grace are ye saved through faith” Ephesians 2:8) applies the blood to your heart. And the promise if you walk in this faith is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Three steps to be saved according to Peter on the day of Pentecost;

1. Repentance
2. Water baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ
3. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost

This corresponds perfectly to what Jesus told Nicodemus. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5 We must be “born of water” and then “born of the Spirit.” “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5 This is a verse that corresponds to what Jesus said “the washing of regeneration” is water baptism and the “renewing of the Holy Ghost” is Spirit baptism.

In the English Standard Version notice what Peter writes, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:21 Peter says that baptism corresponds to the salvation of the family of Noah through water. He says, “baptism now saves you.” This does not throw away the scripture that shows us we are saved by grace through faith. It’s nothing we can do that saves us. It is a gift from God period. As part of the process God commands us to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. If we disobey this command we do not have faith and thus Peter writes, “baptism now saves you.”

He writes that it is not as a removal of dirt from the body. Its not a physical bath you are taking but an appeal to God for a good conscience. As you have repented and you are responding in faith to the word of God to enter the waters of baptism you are asking God to give you a good conscience. Keep in mind it is not baptism that gives you a good conscience. Baptism is an act of faith that appeals to God for a good conscience. Only the blood of Christ gives you a good conscience. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:14 The blood of Christ purges your conscience from dead works not baptism.

This is the simple formula for salvation. Most evangelicals simply state that salvation is to come by grace through faith as a gift from God. This is true, but you are missing the steps that the apostles taught the others to take. Paul’s first response to those who had not received the Holy Spirit (the new birth) yet was to baptize them in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:2-6) It’s important for our actions to correspond to the actions of the apostles. What they were doing was not simply for another age, but it was the gold standard for all of us to walk in.