Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 9/14/2010

Question
Is the baptism referred in Acts 2:38 is the "baptism of
incorporation" in which entitles a person to belong to the
body of Christ? Please help find the right answer to this
question. thank you for your answer

Answer
Lloyd,

Thank you for your questions and the opportunty to help. If I understand your question about Act 2:38 being the "baptism of incorporation" (and by this you mean that Acts 2:38 is teaching that water baptism is necessary to receice salvation) then I would so no. If however you are saying that the baptism in Acts 2:38 is for those who have already been saved (or incorperated into the Body of Christ) then I would say yes. Let me see if I can explain what these text mean...

Acts 2:37,38 (You cannot read vs 38 without vs 37)
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?  
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.  

Notice in these Scriptures that the crowd did not ask Peter "What shall we do to be saved?" They were convicted in their hearts and asked Peter "What shall we do?" Notice his answer.

First he said to repent. What does it mean to repent? Repentance is defined as..."to change one's mind, i.e. to repent, to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins, to ask forgiveness, turn from sin to Christ through faith" You see Lloyd, if a person does not repent, then baptism does nothing for them but get them wet!

Second he said to be baptized. This was not a suggestion, but a command of the Lord Jesus for all who would follow Him (Matt. 28:19).
Thirdly he said that they need to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Jesus also commanded His disciples to “..tarry until ye be endued with power..” (Luke 24:49). Those who have repented from their sins are acceptable candidates for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Some have taught that there is a three step process to salvation.
1. Repent
2. Baptism
3. Receive the Holy Ghost
Notice that the very Scripture that those people use (Acts 2:38) does not teach this formula. The Bible does command us to do these things (to repent from our sins, to be baptized in water, and to be filled with the Holy Ghost). But Scripture teach us that salvation is by faith through grace.

Ephesians 2:8,9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  

Not of works, lest any man should boast.  

Notice that Act 2:38 says "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 'for' the remission of sins..." Remission is defined as "release from bondage or imprisonment forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty ".

But notice the word "for" comes before the word "remission" The word "for" in this Scripture is defined as "because of". For example, "For" could have two meanings. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery", "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too is this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works.

Lloyd, I am not saying that baptism is not a command of our Lord to be followed. It most certainly is! Too many have deemphasized it importance. Christ commands, not suggests, that we follow Him in water baptism. It is a vital part of our walk of faith.

Col. 2:12
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.

Let me sum up my answer to you by saying that the Bible clearly teaches salvation as God's grace, recieved through faith...

Romans 10:9,10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Lloyd, let me know if this helps, or if you have any further questions.

Elder Greg Madden