There are so many false “Christian” religions out there that teach you must repent of your sin and be baptized to receive forgiveness of your sin.
They absolutely love to use Acts 2:38, but for some reason, they miss everything else in the Bible.
When your interpretation of Acts 2:38 doesn’t match the rest of the Bible, then you MUST have it WRONG!!! You cannot ignore very clear teaching from Jesus Christ himself on how to receive remission of sins.
Here’s A Close Look At Acts 2:38
Let’s take a close look at Acts 2:38 right now:
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.
False preachers will take this single verse right here and teach that you must repent of your sin and be baptized to be saved. In other words, they are adding your works to salvation.
Yes, repenting of sin and getting baptized in water is a work that you do. If it’s not, who else is going to do it? They’re saying YOU must do these works to be saved.
Does Jesus Christ EVER Say You Must Repent Of Your Sin And Be Baptized To Be Saved?
Does Jesus Christ ever say that you MUST repent of your sin and be baptized to receive everlasting life? No, he doesn’t. Peter doesn’t disagree with Jesus in Acts 2:38. This Scripture is the perfect and inspired word of God and it has no errors and it does not contradict Jesus.
Acts 2:38 is the word of God and understanding the verse is actually quite simple. And the interpretation I am going to share with you perfectly aligns with all other Scripture.
When all Scripture aligns, then you know that you have it right.
For example, let’s see what Jesus says it takes to receive everlasting life. This means your sins are forgiven. When you receive everlasting life, you have received the remission of sins. Your soul is forgiven of all sin (past, present, and future).
John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus is the Son of man. Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Now, remember, every word of God is pure. Every word of God is true. Jesus says right there that the only requirement to receive eternal life is to believeth in him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus says the same thing again.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Do you think Acts 2:38 is contradicting the words of Jesus Christ? Of course it isn’t.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Now, you need to read John 3:36 again for yourself until you understand it. “He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life.” In other words, the only requirement to receive remission of sins is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
What does that mean? That simply means that you put all your trust on Jesus to save you. You believe that Jesus is THE ONE AND ONLY Savior. That’s when you realize Jesus is the only one who can save you. There’s nothing you can do to save yourself.
Believing On Jesus Is Trusting Him Completely
For example, if you think that you must repent of your sin to be saved, then you aren’t trusting Jesus to save you. You’re adding works to salvation.
Now, let’s look at VERY CLEAR Scripture that tells you how to be saved:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
There’s nothing clearer than that. You are saved by grace through faith. Grace means that you don’t deserve it and that you can’t work for it. You can’t do any works to gain eternal life. That’s what GRACE means.
Yet, preachers are teaching that you MUST repent of your sin and be baptized. These are works of yourself! The Bible clearly says that you are not saved by works. “NOT OF WORKS.” And that Scripture is directly telling you how every person is saved.
If you’re saved by God’s grace through faith, what does that mean? Grace means you don’t deserve it. It is a gift, and you don’t work for a gift.
Faith is putting 100% of your trust directly on JESUS CHRIST to save you. If you think you must repent of your sin and be baptized, you aren’t trusting Jesus 100% to save you. I’ll tell you the truth right now. Jesus is the ONLY WAY to be saved. You aren’t going to do anything that gains you salvation.
You got to stop right there. Simply change your mind about salvation. Understand that all you have to do is change your mind and trust Jesus 100%. I had to do that. I grew up in Church of Christ spin offs who taught me that I must be baptized and that I must repent of my sin.
God Doesn’t Say I Have To Repent Of Sin and Be Baptized To Go To Heaven
No, Jesus says I don’t have to do that to be saved. Jesus says this:
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Jesus says to hear his words right there and simply believe on God. When you do that, Jesus says you HAVE everlasting life. Who else do you need to hear from? Is Jesus himself not good enough? You need to hear something different from a false preacher?
And yes, sometimes I might sound harsh to you, but you have to wake up. Someone had to wake me up too. I’m trying my best to help you see and hear the words of Jesus right there. He says you are PASSED from death unto life once you believe on him.
You can do that right now, and you can be saved in a moment. And you’ll know it. You’ll be just like I was. “How in the world could I have missed this for so many years???” Once you see it, the entire Bible opens up and it begins to align perfectly. Let all of the false teaching go. Just believe on Jesus to save you.
You don’t need to do anything else to be saved!
Yes, The Work Jesus Did Already Is Enough Work To Save You
Did you know God already did all the work for you?
John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
God did all the work! Do you see that Scripture? God did it all for already. When it comes to salvation, all the work is done.
Why do you want to do more? Do you think you can do a better job than Jesus? He died on the cross for you. He was buried for you. He arose for you. He did all that so you can know he is THE Savior. Not you. You can’t save yourself no matter what you do.
John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
When people say that you must repent of your sin and be baptized to be saved, they are calling Jesus Christ a liar. What does he say in John 6:47? Are you calling Jesus Christ a liar?
He didn’t say he that he that believeth on me, repents of sin, and is baptized will receive everlasting life. Did he? Maybe I missed it. Nope. It doesn’t say that. And Acts 2:38 doesn’t say that either.
Read Acts Chapter 2, Read The Book of Acts, Read The Entire Bible Over and Over Again
Some people seem to only want to hear Acts 2:38. Did they read Acts 2:21? Peter preached that too.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In the same chapter, Acts Chapter 2, we see that we’re told that WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. What’s that mean? Call upon the name of the Lord?
Well, let’s use Scripture with Scripture to help us understand what that means.
Romans 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
In order to call upon the name of the Lord, you must first believe on the Lord. For example, if I call out to the Lord right now and ask him to save me, he will do it IF I truly believe on Jesus alone to save me.
If I think that I must be baptized to be saved, I am not believing on the Lord to save me. I am trusting in something else that I think I must do to be saved.
False Preachers, Are You Missing The Words In The Bible?
So, I ask again. Did the false preachers miss Acts 2:21? It’s in the same sermon as Acts 2:38. Peter is preaching. Was Peter confused? No, he wasn’t confused.
Repent does not automatically mean “repent of your sin.” Repent, in Acts 2:38, means to change your mind and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent is a change of mind. Peter just told them they need to change their mind about Jesus. He is the Savior.
Don’t believe me? Do you still think that repent means to repent of your sin? Do you still think that John the Baptist and Jesus taught we must repent of sin to be saved? Well, let’s see.
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke 24:46-47 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
You might say, “See!!! I told you that you must repent of your sin and be baptized.” No, that’s not what that Scripture means. If it did, Jesus Christ would be a liar in the book of John over and over again. Jesus Christ is not a liar so please don’t continue to call him a liar by teaching repent of your sins and baptism to be saved.
The Book of Acts tells us what the “BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE” actually means.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
I want to make sure you see Acts 19:4. Slow down and read it again if needed. John baptized with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people that they should “BELIEVE ON CHRIST JESUS.”
The Baptism Of Repentance Is Believing On The Lord Jesus Christ
Repent in Acts 2:38 is changing your mind and “BELIEVING” on the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what it means in Acts 2:38.
The rest of the book of Acts teaches us the same thing. The Bible, in every book from start to finish, agrees. To be saved, you must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s it.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
How do you receive remission of sins according to Acts 10:43? Believe in Jesus to save you. Does the Book of Acts contradict itself since Acts 2:38 says something different? No!!! Acts 2:38 doesn’t say anything different than Acts 10:43.
Repentance For Salvation Is A Change Of Mind
Repent is change your mind and believe. Acts 19:4 says so. Then, Acts 2:38 agrees with John 6:47. Then, Acts 2:38 agrees with John 3:16.
Let’s read it again.
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.
Repent stands alone right there between the commas. Once you’ve believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you’re saved and you should be baptized immediately. The act of water baptism doesn’t save you. But you should be baptized?
Why? Because you have received remission of sins. Because you want to profess that you understand Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again. Being baptized is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You’re saying, “Hey, I understand Jesus died for me and he is THE Savior. Not me.”
One Definition Of The Word FOR is BECAUSE OF
Acts 2:38 says that you should be baptized “FOR” the remission of sins. Did you know a definition for the word “FOR” is “BECAUSE OF?” Yes, it’s 100% true. Substitute “BECAUSE OF” for the word “FOR” in Acts 2:38 and it’s very easy to understand.
Peter tells them to change their mind and believe on Jesus and THEN be baptized because of the remission of sins. Because you’ve been forgiven of sin, get baptized!!! When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. You receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It’s not an outward showing of the Holy Ghost!
“I need to take aspirin FOR my headache.” I need to take aspirin “BECAUSE OF” my headache. I don’t take aspirin so I can receive a headache. I hope you see how easy and simply Acts 2:38 is to understand. It’s the false preachers who have changed the meaning of Acts 2:38. Peter wasn’t confused. Jesus wasn’t confused.
Yes, understanding Acts 2:38 really is that simple.
The Blood Of Jesus Christ Was Shed For The Remission Of Sins (Not Your Works)
Watch what Jesus says here:
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The blood of Jesus Christ forgives sin. Do you actually think that repenting of sin will forgive your soul of all the sin you commit? If so, then Jesus Christ died in vain.
Do you actually think that going under water forgives your sin? If so, then Jesus Christ died in vain. There is no act or work you can do to forgive sin. It took the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive sin.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The law of God is doing what he says. God said to get baptized. That’s a law. Yes, you should get baptized. God says to repent of sin. That’s a law. He said to do it. Should you? YES!!! It’s a great work to do so.
Baptism Is A Work Of The Law, Repenting Of Sin Is A Work Of The Law
Works OF ANY TYPE do not save you. If they did, Christ wouldn’t have needed to come and die for our sins. But Jesus Christ did come. He had to come to forgive us of our sin. God says so.
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
We are redeemed through his sacrifice once we put all of our trust in Jesus. He did all the work. Trust that he did a good job saving you. That’s all you have to do. Give it up. It’s nothing else! Yes, you were wrong. I was wrong. God is right. Hear his words.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
What else do you need to see? If you need more, please let me know. I don’t want you going to hell when you die. I do care. If needed, I’ll spend more time with you. Just let me know. Please read Repent and Be Baptized.
Simply Trust On The Lord Jesus Christ To Save You And You Can Be Saved Right Now
Trust in the blood of Jesus Christ. He didn’t die in vain for me. Please don’t let him die in vain for you. If you don’t put 100% of your trust in him, he’s died in vain for you. That means it didn’t save you because you simply wouldn’t hear his words.
Romans 3:22-26 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
I hope you can now read Romans 3:22-26 and understand. That’s it my friend. Believe in Jesus to save you. Call upon him right now and be saved. Let all the other stuff go.
Get away from the false preachers and the false churches and trust on the REAL JESUS that is within the pages of the Bible.
Once you read the Bible cover to cover and over and over again, you’ll see that the world has made up it’s very own version of Jesus. That Jesus sure isn’t the one in the Bible. It’s time to put away the false gods and listen to the ONE TRUE GOD.
