The what, who, how, and why of Acts 2:38

Why I am baptized in the name of Jesus.

I am baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of my sins.

The meaning of “remission” is: “forgiveness, pardon, of sins (properly, the letting them go, as if they had not been committed), remission of their penalty:” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

Remission of sins is through the name of Jesus.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. [He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.]" - Acts 10:43

Jesus spoke to His disciples,

"Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." - Luke 24:46-47 KJV

Beginning in Jerusalem, Peter preached repentance and remission of sins in the name of Jesus.

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

We claim the death of Jesus for ourselves when we repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV

Because of His death and burial applied to our life by repentance and water baptism in the name of Jesus, we receive the promise of the gift of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to live a new life in Christ.

Global Tracts UPCI link - 60 questions on the godhead

 https://globaltracts.com/2019/01/60-questions-on-the-godhead-2/

Repentance

What is the definition of repent?

“To change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins” – Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." [For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.] - 2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV 

We are not to continue in sin, every day repenting and continuing to sin. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to God.

"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." - Acts 2:38 

Apostle Paul said,

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? [Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" [Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?] - Romans 6:1-2 

When Jesus healed the man that had been sick for thirty eight years He told him, now you are well; so stop sinning.

"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more..." - John 5:14 

Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, go and sin no more.

"And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." - John 8:11 

The Birth of the Church

The church began on the Day of Pentecost. In obedience to Jesus, one hundred and twenty of His followers were gathered in the upper room awaiting the promise of the Holy Ghost. When the Day of Pentecost was fully come, Jesus poured out His Spirit and they all began to speak in other tongues as His Spirit gave them the utterance. (Acts 1:15, Acts 2:4).

Filled with the Holy Ghost and with the keys of the kingdom of heaven given to him by Jesus, Peter preached the first gospel message. At the conclusion, he declared what we must do to be saved – “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.” (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2:38).

From that point on, the church continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:42,47).

*This photo is from the Bible Study, "Exploring God's Word."

The took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus

Jesus spoke to His disciples letting them know He would not leave them. They could receive His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, and Jesus would be in them. He told them He would abide with them forever. (Acts 4:13).

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:16-18 KJV

We find that when we turn from our sins, giving our life to Jesus, covenanting with Him by baptism in His name, He promises He will fill us with His Spirit, the Holy Ghost. His Holy Ghost is a promise of the covenant we make with Him. (Acts 2:38-39).

Jesus told His disciples that His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, would give them power to be His witnesses.

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:4-5 KJV

"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." - Luke 24:49 KJV

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." - Acts 1:8 KJV (Power to live godly and be witnesses: 2 Timothy 3:5, 2 Peter 1:3 Power to do miracles and be witnesses: Acts 4:31, Acts 4:33, Romans 15:19).

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." - John 14:15 KJV

Joseph understood this. When Potiphar’s wife said to Joseph, “Lie with me” he refused. (Genesis 39:7-8).

Joseph saw this as a sin “against God.”

"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" - Genesis 39:9 KJV

When David had Uriah the Hittite killed with the sword of the Ammonites, and took Uriah’s wife to be his wife, God told David, “thou hast despised me.” (2 Samuel 12:9-10).

"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD…" - 2 Samuel 12:13 KJV

"He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him." - Proverbs 14:2 KJV

Stedfast -

 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV