A “TROUBLING” VERSE
I recently heard a preacher on the radio say that a certain verse was “troubling” for some. The verse he referred to is Acts 2:38: “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.” The preacher said that this verse is troubling because it “seems to say that baptism is for the remission of sins.” His understanding was correct. This verse not only “seems” to say, but it actually “does” say that “baptism is for the remission of sins.”
But why would that thought be troubling for some? The preacher explained that he did not believe baptism was necessary for salvation. He said that Acts 2:38 seems to teach that baptism “is” necessary for salvation. Therefore, he said this verse was “troubling.”
However, there is no reason for any person to be troubled by the teaching of this verse. The solution is to accept what it teaches, and then there will be no reason for a person to feel disturbed by Peter’s statement.
Nevertheless, instead of accepting the clear teaching of the verse, some attempt to interpret the verse so that it fits with their view that baptism is not necessary for salvation. One such attempt is made by saying that the word “for” in Acts 2:38 actually means “because of.” If this is true, then the verse actually teaches that one should repent and be baptized “because one’s sins have been forgiven.”
But this interpretation will not stand. The word “for” in this text does not mean “because of”; rather, “for” means “in order to obtain” the forgiveness of sins. Consider the following: Jesus said that He would shed His blood “for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). “For the remission of sins” in Matthew 26:28 is identical, in Greek and English, to “for the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38. If “for” means “because of,” then Jesus shed His blood “because of” the remission of sins? But that cannot be true. Jesus shed His blood “in order” for sinners to receive the remission of sins (cf. Hebrews 9:22).
In addition, after Peter instructed his audience to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, he then urged them: “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). However, if the people were saved already, then there would have been no reason for Peter to urge them to be saved. This shows that the people needed to be saved, and, therefore, “for the remission of sins” means “in order to be forgiven.”
Let us resolve that Acts 2:38 will not trouble us. Rather, let us “gladly receive” the Word (Acts 2:41)!
