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REPENTANCE GOES HAND IN HAND WITH BAPTISM<\/strong><\/p>\n Acts 2:38 Blessed be the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Welcome\u2014let\u2019s study God’s Word together and discover the deep connection between repentance<\/strong> and baptism<\/strong>, two essential steps in the believer\u2019s journey of salvation.<\/p>\n Before anyone can genuinely follow Christ, they must first receive a revelation of who He is. Jesus asked His disciples in<\/p>\n Matthew 16:15-17<\/em>,<\/p>\n \u201cBut who do you say that I am?\u201d Simon Peter answered and said, \u2018You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\u2019 Jesus answered and said to him, \u2018Blessed are you… for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Without this spiritual revelation, we cannot truly understand the necessity of repentance or the purpose of baptism. Faith in Christ begins with knowing who He is and what He accomplished through His death and resurrection.<\/p>\n Before ascending to heaven, Jesus clearly outlined the message His followers were to preach:<\/p>\n Luke 24:46-47 (NKJV):<\/strong> This was not a suggestion\u2014it was a divine mandate. Jesus connected repentance<\/strong>, remission of sins<\/strong>, and His name<\/strong> as a unified message. The Apostles understood this and obeyed it precisely.<\/p>\n On the Day of Pentecost, after Peter preached the Gospel\u2014the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus\u2014the people were convicted in their hearts and asked:<\/p>\n Acts 2:37-38 (NKJV):<\/strong> Peter didn\u2019t separate baptism from repentance. He showed that baptism is part of the process of receiving forgiveness<\/strong>\u2014just as Jesus had said.<\/p>\n Baptism is not merely symbolic. According to the New Testament, it is a spiritual act with profound significance:<\/p>\n It is a burial and resurrection with Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It washes away sin.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Acts 22:16 (NKJV):<\/strong> It clothes the believer with Christ.<\/strong><\/p>\n The early Church never treated baptism as optional. It was always part of responding to the Gospel. That\u2019s why every person who believed was baptized immediately (Acts 8:12, Acts 10:48, Acts 16:33).<\/p>\n Nowhere in Scripture do we see infants being baptized. Baptism is consistently shown as a response to faith and repentance<\/strong>, which requires personal awareness of sin<\/strong> and a decision to turn to Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Mark 16:16 (NKJV):<\/strong> An infant cannot believe, repent, or understand the Gospel. Therefore, baptizing a baby is not consistent with the New Testament model. Proper baptism should come after hearing the Gospel, believing in Jesus, repenting of sin, and confessing faith in Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n The New Testament consistently records people being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ<\/strong>, not merely using a Trinitarian formula. While Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize \u201cin the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit\u201d (Matthew 28:19), the name<\/strong> representing all three is Jesus<\/strong>\u2014because \u201cin Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily\u201d (Colossians 2:9).<\/p>\n Thus, to baptize in Jesus\u2019 name<\/strong> is to fully obey Matthew 28:19 as the Apostles did.<\/p>\n So let me ask you: If you were baptized as a child or in a way that didn\u2019t follow the biblical pattern, it is crucial to seek true, scriptural baptism<\/strong>. The Bible is clear\u2014repentance and baptism go together<\/strong> for full remission of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t yet taken this step, we encourage you to do so. And if you need help finding a church near you that teaches and practices biblical baptism, feel free to contact us using the information below.<\/p>\n May the Lord bless you and guide you.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\u201cRepent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nUnderstanding the Foundation: Revelation of Christ and His Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nJesus\u2019 Final Command to the Disciples<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\u201cThen He said to them, \u2018Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins<\/strong> should be preached in His name<\/strong> to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nThe Apostolic Response: Repentance + Baptism<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\u201cNow when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, \u2018Men and brethren, what shall we do?\u2019
Then Peter said to them, \u2018Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins<\/strong>; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nWhy Baptism Matters Theologically<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV):<\/strong>
\u201cOr do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\u201cAnd now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Galatians 3:27 (NKJV):<\/strong>
\u201cFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nWhat About Infant Baptism?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\u201cHe who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nHave You Been Baptized in the Name of Jesus?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Have you repented? Have you been baptized by full immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins?<\/strong><\/p>\n
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