What is the Biblical response to
Acts 2:38 & the rite of entry into the Chrisitan church, aka the body of Christ? Let us enter into a challenging and scriptural debate concerning these things. And yes, I do believe in tongues. My question is how do some force their rigid interpretation of
Acts 2:38 (meaning if one hasn't spoken in tongues, they are damned, no matter what else) into the following verses? Please feel free to answer question by question, or verse by verse.
What was the BIBLICAL RESPONSE to Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two? And what was the result of that response?
Answer, verse 41.
Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
#1)they were baptized (an act which follows repentance in the normative New testament pattern)
#2)they were added to the church
Question, where are tongues present or even implied in this passage?
In
Acts 2:37 the people ask Peter a question, "What shall WE do?"
Peter's reply:
"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
Please correct me if I'm reading it wrong, did not Peter give them 2 specific commands? 1)repent 2)be baptized these are things that we choose to do, or not to do. The third thing is something that God only can do. Is it impossible that God would give the gift of the Holy Ghost to those who obey what Peter preached? Yet, as I mentioned, where are tongues present in the passage? Only as a means to preach the gospel between verses 4-11.
When they followed Peter's two commands, does not the Bible say they were added unto them (verse 41)?
Did not Luke quote Jesus in
Luke 24:47 "And that
repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "
Where does remission of sins take place, and entry into the Christian faith?
Furthermore, can your sins be forgiven and washed away, and you still be lost? On what account would you be damned, if you were to stand before God sinless?
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and
be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 22:16
Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should
walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Romans 6:3-5
How can someone be baptized INTO Christ, and enter into newness of life, and still be lost (for not speaking in tonuges)? Can you be IN CHRIST, and be lost all at the same time?
For as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:27
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also
ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath
he quickened together with him, having
forgiven you all trespasses Colossians 2:11-13
Again, how can you be buried with Him, and risen with Him, and forgiven all, and be lost?
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 3:21
or, quoted without Paul's explaination- The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 3:21
Now, I personally believe Paul's explaination is needed so that one doesn't teach baptismal regeneration. I am in no way promoting a view that the water does anything special in and of itself, but suggesting that it is our response to the gospel, and the command to be baptized that brings about the result. In other words faith in God and the blood of Jesus is the means upon which we recieve regeneration. And such faith is demonstrated in responding to the gospel through repentance and water baptism.
He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19
One thing I notice when studying tongues in the gospel, especially the great commission, is that tongues are not mentioned in Matthew's account. Mentioned in Mark account, not with salvation, but rather as signs that will foloow believers, but not necessarily for ALL believers (unless one suggest all believers are required to cast out devils, drink poisonous things,etc). And Luke speaks of the promise of the Father, but doesn't link it to salvation (mentioned in 24:47) but in the smae manner as Mark, as more of an "empowerment" given to the church to fulfill the mission of Christ. (
Luke 24:49)
That enough to get us started.
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