Acts (Part 17) - Acts 2:38 (Part B); Acts 2:39-40

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Acts (Part 17) - Acts 2:38 (Part B); Acts 2:39-40  i. There are two ways that this phrase can be understood which does not contradict the plain teaching of other scripture. a. First, the remission of sins could be a temporal forgiveness of sins that is obtained through baptism. (i) There is a forgiveness of sins that is conditioned on repentance and confession (1Jo 1:9; Psa 32:5; Pro 28:13). (ii) Confession of sins accompanies baptism (Mar 1:4-5; Act 19:18). (iii)Therefore, a penitent sinner receives a temporal forgiveness of sins at baptism. b. Second, baptism is done as the response of a sinner who has become aware that Jesus remitted his sins by dying for him on the cross. (i) Baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God (1Pe 3:21). (ii) Jesus told a man who was cleansed of his leprosy to “shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (Mar 1:44). 1. The man was cleansed prior to the offering that he was commanded to make. 2. The offering was done in response to his cleansing, not as a means to obtain it. 3. So it is with baptism which is done in response to learning of how Jesus forgave one’s sins, and not as a means to obtain forgiveness. (iii)Just like partaking of communion shows the Lord’s death, not causes it (1Co 11:26); so baptism shows that one’s sins are forgiven, not causes the forgiveness. B. and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. i. The gift of the Holy Ghost, which is received at baptism, cannot be the indwelling of the Holy Ghost which happens when a person is born again (Rom 8:9-17). a. As was already proven, regeneration precedes baptism. b. Therefore, baptism cannot result in the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the heart of a child of God which happens at regeneration. ii. The gift of the Holy Ghost at baptism can refer to two different things. a. First, the gift of the Holy Ghost can refer to the Holy Ghost which is given. (i) A special administration of the Holy Spirit was/is given to all baptized believers after the Holy Ghost was sent to earth to fill the churches (Joh 7:37-39). (ii) This is not referring to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in regeneration because it is written that “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” (iii)The Holy Ghost was regenerating men and indwelling them thousands of years before Jesus was glorified (Gal 4:28-29).  (iv) This special giving of the Holy Ghost which produced rivers of living water in the bellies of God’s children is referring to the giving of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost (Act 2:1-4). (v) When a man is baptized and added to a local church, he is put into the place where the Holy Ghost dwells and receives this special administration of the Holy Spirit. b. Second, the gift of the Holy Ghost can refer to the gift which the Holy Ghost gives. (i) When a person is baptized, he is added to the membership of the body of Christ which is the local church (1Co 12:13 c/w 1Co 12:27). (ii) When this happens, he is made to drink into one Spirit (1Co 12:13). (iii)Being made a spiritual member of a local church is the gift which the Holy Ghost gives to a child of God when he is baptized. 2. Acts 2:39 – For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. A. The promise of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is to anyone who will repent and be baptized. i. This included the Jews whom Peter addressed, their children, and all who were afar off. ii. This means that the promise is to anyone in any place at any time who will repent and be baptized. B. However, there is a caveat to this promise. i. It is limited to “as many as the Lord our God shall call.” ii. Only those whom God has called by grace will respond in faith to the gospel message and be convicted to repent and be baptized (Act 13:48; Joh 5:24). iii. The gospel is foolishness unto those who are not effectually called, but it is the power of God to those who are (1Co 1:18, 23-24). 3. Acts 2:40 – And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. A. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, i. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost was longer than the portion of it which is recorded in Acts 2. a. He testified and exhorted them with many other words. b. This is likely the case with other recorded sermons in the Bible. c. In Troas, Paul preached until midnight before serving communion (Act 20:7), and then continued his talk until the morning (Act 20:11). ii. Peter’s preaching consisted of both testifying and exhorting. a. Testify v. – 1. trans. To bear witness to, or give proof of (a fact); to assert or affirm the truth of (a statement); to attest.  b. Peter and the other apostles testified and bore witness to what they had seen and what God revealed to them concerning Jesus Christ (2Pe 1:16-18; 1Jo 1:1-3; 1Jo 4:14; Act 10:37-43; Act 20:24). c. Exhort v. – 1. trans. To admonish earnestly; to urge by stimulating words to conduct regarded as laudable. Said also of circumstances, etc.: To serve as an incitement. d. Exhorting and admonishing the church is one of the fundamental purposes of preaching (2Ti 4:2; 2Th 3:12). B. saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. i. Some of Peter’s many other words of exhortation were focused on urging those who were convicted by the gospel message to save themselves from their untoward generation. ii. This is an example of temporal salvation. iii. Untoward adj. – 1. Not having or showing inclination, disposition, or readiness to or for something; disinclined. 2. Of persons (or animals), their disposition, etc.: Difficult to manage, restrain, or control; intractable, unruly, perverse. (Sense 2 cites Act 2:40 as an example of its usage.) a. Peter’s generation was a wicked and adulterous one (Mat 12:34; Mat 16:4; Luk 11:29). b. Peter did not exhort them to try to save their wicked generation, but to save themselves from it. c. We should pray that the word of God will have free course and be glorified among God’s children (2Th 3:1) and that we will be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men who have not faith (2Th 3:2; Rom 15:31; Jer 15:21).