{"id":1413,"date":"2022-12-10T13:31:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T13:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1413"},"modified":"2024-01-16T20:15:05","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T20:15:05","slug":"is-the-doctrine-of-baptismal-regeneration-the-road-to-hell-post-22b-exegesis-of-acts-237-47-part-1b-of-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=1413","title":{"rendered":"Is the Doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration the Road to Hell? \u2013 Post 22B (Exegesis of Acts 2:37-47 \u2013 Part 1B of 5)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

INTRODUCTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post 22B considers the impact the pre-Pentecost events, the Pentecost events, and Peter\u2019s Pentecost sermon have on my study.   In summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) In reference to Acts 1:4-8, Jesus\u2019 promise of the upcoming Pentecost event does not appear to confer any saving power or salvific effect on John\u2019s water baptism or any water baptism for that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) In reference to Acts 2:1-4, there is nothing one can take from the Pentecost event that confers any saving power or salvific effect on John\u2019s water baptism or any water baptism for that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3) In reference to Acts 2:14-36, the most salvific-oriented verse is verse 21, and it does not teach or infer any saving power or salvific effect by water baptism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DISCUSSION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 Promise of the Pentecost Event in Acts 1:4-8<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acts 1:4\u20138 (NASB95) describes Jesus\u2019 promise of the Pentecost event:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

4<\/sup> Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, \u201cWhich,\u201d He said,<\/em> \u201cyou heard of from Me; 5<\/sup> for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\u201d 6<\/sup> So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, \u201cLord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?\u201d 7<\/sup> He said to them, \u201cIt is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8<\/sup> but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Verse 5 refers back to John\u2019s water baptism and its contrast with the upcoming occurrence of baptism with the Holy Spirit.  The \u201cJohn baptized with water\u201d does not indicate John\u2019s baptism resulted in forgiveness.  Per verse 8, the baptism with the Holy Spirit has a specific evangelistic purpose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

8<\/sup> but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 promise of the upcoming Pentecost event does not appear to confer any saving power or salvific effect on John\u2019s water baptism or any water baptism for that matter,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentecost Event (Acts 2:1-4) and Peter\u2019s Pentecost Sermon (Acts 2:14-36)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter\u2019s Pentecost sermon (Acts 2:14-36) into consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acts 2:1\u20134 (NASB95) describes the Pentecost event to which Jesus referred in Acts 1:4-8:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

1<\/sup> When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2<\/sup> And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3<\/sup> And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4<\/sup> And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

There is nothing one can take from the Pentecost event that confers any saving power or salvific effect on John\u2019s water baptism or any water baptism for that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter\u2019s sermon on Pentecost is in Acts 2:14-36.  The most relevant portions of the report of Peter\u2019s Pentecost sermon are in Acts 2:14\u201316, 21-24, 32-33, 36 (NASB95), which read [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

14<\/sup> But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: \u201cMen of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15<\/sup> \u201cFor these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only<\/em> the third hour of the day; 16<\/sup> but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: \u2026 21<\/sup> \u2018And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.\u2019<\/u><\/strong> 22<\/sup> \u201cMen of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know\u2014 23<\/sup> this Man<\/em>, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him<\/em> to death. 24<\/sup> \u201cBut God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. \u2026 32<\/sup> \u201cThis Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33<\/sup> \u201cTherefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. \u2026 36<\/sup> \u201cTherefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ\u2014this Jesus whom you crucified.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The most salvific verse is verse 21, and it does not teach or infer any saving power or salvific effect by water baptism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONCLUSION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, Jesus\u2019 promise of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Pentecost event, and Peter\u2019s Pentecost sermon do not provide support for the doctrine of baptismal regeneration.   In a collective sense, these passages show that water baptism is not a requirement for salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU BELIEVE IN BAPTISMAL REGENERATION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, let me quote gotquestions.org (link: https:\/\/www.gotquestions.org\/baptism-Mark-16-16.html<\/a> ):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you believe in baptismal regeneration, you would do well to prayerfully consider whom or what you are really putting your trust in. Is your faith in a physical act<\/em> (being baptized) or in the finished work of Christ on the cross? Whom or what are you trusting for salvation? Is it the shadow (baptism) or the substance (Jesus Christ)? Our faith must rest in Christ alone. \u201cWe have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace\u201d (Ephesians 1:7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please read and take to heart what I write in the section entitled \u201cIF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN.\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth<\/strong><\/em> (book link at Xulon Press: https:\/\/www.xulonpress.com\/bookstore\/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638<\/a> ).  At Amazon the book link is  https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual\/dp\/1662828632<\/a> .  I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book.  The link to my website for the book is https:\/\/thesalvationmeter.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 please (1) read through \u201cGod\u2019s Plan of Salvation\u201d so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d meaning every word.  If you do, you will be reconciled to God \u2013 saved – through Jesus Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Plan of Salvation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe.  As a part of His creative actions, He made humans in His image to know Him.  For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve.    But Adam sinned, and his sin was passed down to all of humankind whereby we became separated from God.  Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God\u2019s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God\u2019s only unique Son.  While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation.  Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ\u2019s sacrifice and that God\u2019s wrath against us has been exhausted.  He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-25;  Genesis 3:1-7, 23-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cSinner\u2019s Prayer\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life.  I know I\u2019m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell.  But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven.  I now repent of my sins and trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation.  Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior.  Thank You so much for saving me.  I am now Yours forever!<\/em> (Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon your salvation, you must find a spiritually solid Bible-believing church that (1) teaches that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God, (2) believes in the doctrine of the Trinity, which means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons \u2014 the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit \u2013 and each Person is fully God, and (3) teaches that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (e.g., water baptism by immersion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ONE CAUTIONARY POINT.  Please do not make the mistake of thinking that once you become a Christian, your life will become easy.  Most likely, it will become more difficult.  God\u2019s blessing of salvation and life’s difficulties are not mutually exclusive.  Jesus told His disciples, \u201cIf the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.\u201d John 15:18 (NLT).  Always keep in mind that you have an eternal home in heaven waiting for you per John 14:2\u20134 (NLT):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/sup> There is more than enough room in my Father\u2019s home.  If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  3<\/sup> When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  4<\/sup> And you know the way to where I am going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or “fair use” is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be “fair use.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “NCV” is taken from the New Century Version.  Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.  All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked “NET” are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked “GW” is taken from the God’s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations.  Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION Post 22B considers the impact the pre-Pentecost events, the Pentecost events, and Peter\u2019s Pentecost sermon have on my study.   In summary: (1) In reference to Acts 1:4-8, Jesus\u2019 promise of the upcoming Pentecost event does not appear to confer any saving power or salvific effect on John\u2019s water baptism or any water baptism for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[320],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-baptism"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1413"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2077,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1413\/revisions\/2077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}