Daily Bread - Feb/07/07
Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, "Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the releasing of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Jesus had commissioned the disciples to baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Peter was not disregarding the instruction of his Lord in this sermon; rather, he is emphasizing in whose name they must believe and in whose authority their lives would be changed. In fact, it may be argued that it was not only water baptism that was being referred to but also baptism into the body of Christ and baptism into the Holy Spirit and fire (Acts 1:5; 1Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12; Matthew 3:11; Acts 11:16; Hebrews 6:2).
Certainly, remission and cleansing from sin comes only by the blood of Jesus, and yet it is connected to baptism in this address. Therefore, the extent of what Peter was ministering reaches beyond just the baptism in water and certainly includes baptism into Jesus and into the Holy Spirit - all of which water baptism symbolizes (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Mark 16:16). As John baptized in water unto repentance, repentance is now granted in the name of Jesus and the remission of sin by His blood (Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:22; Acts 10:43). Paul was very careful to make certain that everyone understood that salvation only came by the blood of Jesus insomuch that he rarely baptized anyone (1 Corinthians 1:17). The message of being baptized in water was of the highest importance in the early church. As Philip communicated the gospel to the eunuch, the eunuch was brought to the question of water baptism (Acts 8:36).
The need for water baptism and its important role in the early church is emphasized by the disciples of Jesus baptizing, the Samaritans being baptized, those at Lydia, also of both Crispus, Cornelius, and their households, and of the disciples at Ephesus (John 3:22; 4:1-2; Acts 8:12; 9:18; 10:47; 16:15; 18:8; 19:5). In what name should we be baptized then? According to scripture, we should be baptized in the name of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, and in the name of the Father, and in the name of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 8:16; 10:48; 19:5).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org
About Me
- Carol L
- San Diego area, California, United States
- I started this blog back in 2005, but in 2006 began dedicating it solely for the purpose of posting email messages called, Daily Bread, sent out Monday through Saturday by my pastor, Mark Spitsbergen. These daily emails contain fresh revelation that Mark gets from the Word of God by the Holy Spirit for that day for the church that God has called him to pastor, Abiding Place. 1 Peter 4:11 says, "If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God gives that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6), and He says, "The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are Life." (John 6:63). For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).
No comments:
Post a Comment