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Originally Posted by coksiw
If Peter was so convinced they were cleaned of their sins after receiving the Spirit, why he wanted to baptize them? It was the same Peter that said you shall be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. Did Peter change his theology? Or is his theology ambiguous?
If receiving the Spirit means all your sins are forgiven, why call people that received the Spirit to be baptized? Baptism becomes vain, ... just a formality without real implications.
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Quite simple answer here, it was because of obedience. The instructions of Jesus given in
Mathew 28:19. If we have true faith in Christ we will follow his commands.
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Also, what is the theological benefit here? Do you want to make the baptism in Jesus' name optional? or that you can get the Spirit or baptism but not needing both? Who are you trying to save without baptism?
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I don’t think it is a false assumption to think that God forgives someone when they ask Him. I don’t see how that makes baptism optional. If someone is truly repentant and has turned to Christ, they will desire to fulfill all righteousness.
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Peter definitely focused on the sign of the Spirit for his argument, however, it doesn't mean that he wasn't referring to the entire experience of salvation that actually occurred. Do you think Peter was trying to hide the fact that they were baptized?
"Peter: ... and that was the story. Elders: Great! God accepted the Gentiles! Peter: I forgot to mention that I also.... hmm... baptized them, hehe... he.... I guess it was OK? Elders: nah, no a big deal, they were forgiven already. You just should pray for people to receive the Spirit and forget about baptism..."
Can you image? It doesn't sound right, does it?
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Peter knew that baptism was Jesus command. Just because the Gentiles received the Holy Ghost didn’t mean that the work was finished and there wasn’t more to be done. The baptism of the Gentiles was hard to swallow because many felt that their club was exclusive. Peter baptized the Gentiles to fulfil obedience to Christs words, not because he was panicked that they where not forgiven yet. He knew that some Jews would not agree, but he basically told them that we can’t argue with God. Peter was trying to convince Jews that the gentiles have now became one of us and the implications of that would need to continue.
Galatians 3:27-28
27......For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28......There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.