Expert: Marvin Howard - 7/8/2006

Question
Thanks alot. Do you know about Greek Words? Do you know the  meaning of the preposition FOR in Acts 2,38. Some say it means "because of".
In Acts people were getting baptized because it was necessary to receive the Holy Spirit in order to be Jesus witness ( acts 1,7). Although with the exeption of Cornelius family. Nowadays, pentecost has already happened. We don't seek the baptism of the Holy Spiriit through baptism. We receive the seal of Holy Spirit  when we believe( ephesians 1,13). As many other things we don't apply to us nowadays such as dreams, visions, speak in tongues. If you think believe is not enough is because you are looking at BELIVE as withouth all the elements that makes one a beliver. Beliber is a Christian, a christian follows Christ in repentance, confession, turning away to sins, doing His will, and the first obedience is to be baptized.

What do you think, Why you don't agree with it?
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Followup To

Question -
Is baptism necessary for salvation? I have been said yes by the Church of Christ. They present Act 2,38 1Peter 3, 21 and Mark 16,16 to justify their beliefs. Please, can you tell me how one enter in contact to the blood of Christ if is not through baptism?



In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962

Answer
Hi!

Valeri, you raised two issues with this question. We will get to both of them. Thank you for allowing me to continue the explanation.

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Here is the Greek used in Acts 2:38 (taken from Strong's):

G1519
åé̓ò
eis
ice
A primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases.: - [abundant-] ly, against, among, as, at, [back-] ward, before, by, concerning,   continual,   far more exceeding, for [intent, purpose], fore,   forth, in (among, at unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that,   of one mind,   never, of, (up-) on,   perish,   set at one again, (so) that, therefore (-unto), throughout, till, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-) until (-to), . . . ward, [where-] fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).

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It is plain to see from the context that the preposition "for" in Acts 2:38 is future tense, simply because the commands are future tense. However, many, not wanting the truth, like we discussed in the last answer, are given a means to twist the message so that those who don't love God can't sneak into Heaven. Therefore, this is a good question.

According to Strong's, the primary meaning of this preposition is "to or into." Many other secondary definitions are given, including "until" and "toward." He also lists a figurative sense of "purpose."

In short, baptism is "unto," "into," "for the purpose of," and "in order to receive" the remission of sin. After the remission of sins, one will receive this gift of the Spirit. These people really do understand English. They just do not want to understand this passage. They all know that if they work "for" pay they are not working "because they have already been paid." Even if the preposition "for" did mean "because of," it would be the same. The gift of the Spirit would still be future to the time of baptism. You work "because of" the pay that is out there: that is "because you will be paid."

Next, in Acts 2:38, we find the conjunction "and." Simply, this means that both conditions must be true for (again, in order to, and not because of) the statement to be true. In other words, you have to be baptized before and "in order to" receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

A look at the grammar of Acts 2:38 shows who is responsible for what at the point the commands were given. In order to understand this, you must know the basic principles of verb conjugation. The use of the first-person indicates only the speaker ("I"). Use of the second-person indicates only the audience ("you"). Use of the third-person indicates everybody both present and addressed ("we").

The command to repent was given as a second-person verb. Peter (and the other Apostles who were miraculously and simultaneously translating into other languages or tongues) had already repented, and did not need this command. However, the command to be baptized, even after the tongues of fire, is given as a third-person verb, indicating that Peter was still in need of obedience to this command. Like remission of sins, the gift of the Spirit only comes after baptism.

Yes, we receive the seal of the Spirit when we believe. The point of it all is that you do not truly believe if you are not baptized regardless of what lies your lips may say, and regardless of what someone may have been taught.

They were miraculous cases that the Apostles and Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before baptism. That's why reception of the Spirit is placed back in the second person by use of the pronoun "ye." All others revert to the given chronology where baptism comes first. Nevertheless, baptism is not the cause of reception of the Spirit, even in the given chronology. If it was, then all today would receive it, and we would still have speaking in tongues and raising the dead. Consider this passage.

Acts 8:14-18, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money..."

The Holy Ghost had not come upon the Christians in Samaria. They heard the Word (from other Christians), and they had only been baptized into Jesus (not John the Baptist). The missionary Christians to Samaria knew the Apostles. If the Samarian Christians who did not know the Apostles needed the Spirit, would it not be more so for those who did know them? Yet it was necessary for the Apostles to make a special trip. The Holy Spirit is bestowed only by the means of the Apostle's hands. The missionaries to Samaria had the gifts of the Spirit, but could not impart them to others.

You are correct that the Spirit was needed in the first century. He was needed in a miraculous measure to confirm the message. Now that it is confirmed and complete (in the form of the Bible), the Holy Spirit works differently.

2nd Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

Literally translated, this says that all scripture is "God breathed." To "spire" is to breathe. Yet, it has the same root as spirit. Our spirit is our breath within our bodies. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God. The words of God are given by His breath, or speaking, through the Spirit to the Apostles who recorded these words. In addition, the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter (Acts 9:31, John 14:26, and John 15:26). Now, according to the Bible, what gives us comfort?

Romans 15:4, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

The Scriptures give us comfort. They cannot comfort those who are not saved. It is only after we are saved that we are so committed to God that we voluntarily immerse ourselves in (are baptized into), and gain better knowledge of God's Word: the Holy Spirit. However, this baptism is not the one that saves us. It cannot come first. According to 1st Peter 3:21, the baptism that saves us does so the same way that Noah was saved: that is by water.

Once again, Valeri, thank you for the opportunity you have presented to me to teach the Word of God. Even though it is currently out of season, I pray that I have remained instant in the Word.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962