Acts 2: 38-39

[Ritajanice]

Dear Ritajanice,
All church denominations and sects of Christianity became apostate shortly after Paul's death. At that time, none of the flock was spared. Nothing has changed since that time.

After I was converted in 2005, I left the apostate church I was attending and have never gone back. Light does not have any fellowship with darkness. I now only fellowship with the few converted believers I have met on-line. I know of none locally except my wife who was converted at the time I was. There are no organized churches of any denomination that are not apostate. They all mix "works" with faith which is the foundation of Satan's false gospel.

Joe

Thank God I became Born Again by His Living Witness the Holy Spirit, the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children.

There is no mistaking being Born Of The Spirit, because our spirit became Born Again, by the Living Holy Spirit, that is a “ supernatural “ Living act that only the Spirit of God can do..the Living Holy Spirit, everything he witnesses to our spirit is backed up by His written word.

The seed we received is Alive and Active in our hearts, it took root because it was from God’s Living witness His Holy Spirit.

Where it will flourish/ mature/ bear Jesus fruit/ why, because we were Born Again by the Living Holy Spirit...by HIS supernatural POWER!

My opinion, testimony and belief.

 

[CadyandZoe]

And children?

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.

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.

Mom and Dad repent and get baptized and get the Holy Ghost....

It is a promise to them and to their children..........

So the children get baptized to receive the Holy Ghost????

Elsewhere is a pointed debate on the baptism of infants.... which is claimed and is true it is not mentioned in the bible.... so I thought of that when I saw this.

Parents who baptize their children are told that baptism has replaced circumcision as the gateway into a covenant relationship with God. This is not true. As Peter says, faith in Jesus Christ is the gateway into the New Covenant.

Peter's sermon is based on a particular interpretation of the act of Baptism, and he hints at it in his first epistle. In order to clarify his point, Peter draws an important distinction between the ritual act of baptism and what the baptism is intended to signify. He writes, " "Corresponding to [God saving Noah and his family] baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Ritual baptism accomplishes one thing only, according to Peter. It removes dirt from the flesh. What saves you, instead, is an appeal to God for a good conscience. Those who were baptized as children were not yet ready to understand, let alone make an appeal to God.

Secondly, and just as significantly, one agrees to receive baptism if one seeks to become a disciple of a teacher. John baptized his disciples, and Jesus baptized his disciples too. The baptized disciple agrees to learn from, study, and obey the teacher. Thus, those baptized in the name of Jesus Christ seek to become a disciple of Jesus Christ: to study, learn, and obey Jesus Christ. Thus, Peter's call to repent and be baptized is a call to repent and take Jesus Christ as a teacher, Lord, and Savior, learning from him, following him, and obeying him.

A baby is unable to make this choice and dedicate his life to the teaching of Jesus.

 

[CadyandZoe]

1st, regarding children ( which would have included infants) we are told by Paul in 1 Cor 7:14

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

Paul was writing during the beginning of the Christian movement taking place around the Mediterranean. This was a time like the hippy movement and Woodstock when the air was charged with excitement concerning the Gospel message of freedom in Christ, forgiveness of sins, and living a holy life.

Home churches sprung up and there weren't enough teachers so people decided to write Paul with questions. Paul wrote the church in Corinth, for instance, addressing some of their questions.

1 Corinthians 7:1 "Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman."

The Corinthians were developing their own set of ethics based on their understanding of the Gospel message. The part I underlined in the verse above is an ethical statement about sexuality, particularly in the context of marriage. The main question was, "What must we do to live a holy life, respecting our Lord Jesus Christ and his call to righteousness and holiness? What does it mean to be holy?" According to the Corinthians, if a Christian man is striving to remain holy, then "It is not good to touch a woman."

Paul will go on to argue why it is not unholy for a Christian man to have intimate relations with his wife. In essence, to obey Jesus Christ is to obey God and God commanded that "a man should marry a woman and the two shall become one flesh." The marriage bond is holy.

The new Corinthian ethical system was causing believing spouses to leave or divorce their unbelieving partners. Paul argues against the Corinthian conclusion that the union of a believer with an unbeliever will be counted as an unholy union. Instead, he argues that a believing husband sanctifies the wife, and a believing wife sanctifies the husband. The holy union sanctifies the children.

Why would Paul mention children IF they need to come to the age of reason???

Peter was talking about salvation. Some of us mistakenly conclude that Paul was also talking about salvation in 1Corinthians 7. Instead, Paul was talking about living a holy life and what that looks like in a family context. When he says that the Husband sanctifies his wife, he doesn't intend to suggest that God will grant eternal life to an unbelieving wife if she is married to a believing husband. And Paul is not suggesting that God will grant eternal life to the children of believing parents on that basis.

The family, as a group are set aside and consecrated to God as a group, but God is granting eternal life to individuals who believe in his son on an individual basis.

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

Parents who baptize their children are told that baptism has replaced circumcision as the gateway into a covenant relationship with God. This is not true. As Peter says, faith in Jesus Christ is the gateway into the New Covenant.

Peter's sermon is based on a particular interpretation of the act of Baptism, and he hints at it in his first epistle. In order to clarify his point, Peter draws an important distinction between the ritual act of baptism and what the baptism is intended to signify. He writes, " "Corresponding to [God saving Noah and his family] baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Ritual baptism accomplishes one thing only, according to Peter. It removes dirt from the flesh. What saves you, instead, is an appeal to God for a good conscience. Those who were baptized as children were not yet ready to understand, let alone make an appeal to God.

Secondly, and just as significantly, one agrees to receive baptism if one seeks to become a disciple of a teacher. John baptized his disciples, and Jesus baptized his disciples too. The baptized disciple agrees to learn from, study, and obey the teacher. Thus, those baptized in the name of Jesus Christ seek to become a disciple of Jesus Christ: to study, learn, and obey Jesus Christ. Thus, Peter's call to repent and be baptized is a call to repent and take Jesus Christ as a teacher, Lord, and Savior, learning from him, following him, and obeying him.

A baby is unable to make this choice and dedicate his life to the teaching of Jesus.

As one who was baptized as a baby and then had the obligatory 12 plus years of teaching and learning from my mother and the church... that when I confessed Jesus and received my first holy communion that was an important milestone for my life. The completion of the two sacraments as signs of God's grace and points to something greater.

Now, I freely admit they did not stop me from doing wrong when I was younger, but I trusted in forgiveness. I dare say that not all who receive their baptisms even at a very old age live the balance of their live sinless.

I am so grateful my mother loved me enough to start me off with God at that tender age.

 

[CadyandZoe]

Fair enough.

Cannot help but wonder when an infant becomes a child?

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

Now, Correct me if I am wrong.... And I know you will but I read the promise is specific and not baptism for the forgiveness of sins directed to children or all who were afar off.... but
the Gift of the Holy Spirit.... for as many as God will call.

Peter is not saying, "If you repent and be baptized, your children will receive the Holy Spirit." Instead, Peter is saying, "The conditions God established for receiving the Holy Spirit not only apply to you, but they also apply to your children." In other words, if their children also repent and are baptized, they will receive the Holy Spirit.

 

[CadyandZoe]

As one who was baptized as a baby and then had the obligatory 12 plus years of teaching and learning from my mother and the church... that when I confessed Jesus and received my first holy communion that was an important milestone for my life. The completion of the two sacraments as signs of God's grace and points to something greater.

Now, I freely admit they did not stop me from doing wrong when I was younger, but I trusted in forgiveness. I dare say that not all who receive their baptisms even at a very old age live the balance of their live sinless.

I am so grateful my mother loved me enough to start me off with God at that tender age.

Your early baptism says a lot about how much your mother loved you and how much she loved and respected Jesus. But now, as a follower of Jesus in your adult life, not only do you honor your mother, you honor her Lord also. :)

 

[Truther]

Acts 2:38-39

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.

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.

Who can explain what verse 39 means?

It is speaking of the last part of verse 38. The promise of the Holy Ghost.

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

It is speaking of the last part of verse 38. The promise of the Holy Ghost.

The promise of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) to children?

 

[Truther]

The promise of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) to children?View attachment 46653

They also can get the Holy Ghost, not just the adults that were the audience at Pentecost.

 

[CadyandZoe]

The promise of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) to children?View attachment 46653

Since the topic is repenting and believing, Peter talks about adult children.

 

[Truther]

Since the topic is repenting and believing, Peter talks about adult children.

Kids cannot get the Holy Ghost?

What age must they be?

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

Kids cannot get the Holy Ghost?

What age must they be?

Their consensus is that they need to be old enough to understand and then be old enough to desire to move forward and then they are old enough to believe and be baptised.

In my observation I would say that is about 25 to 30.

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

Since the topic is repenting and believing, Peter talks about adult children.

Blatherskite. He should just have said those old enough...

 

[Truther]

Their consensus is that they need to be old enough to understand and then be old enough to desire to move forward and then they are old enough to believe and be baptised.

In my observation I would say that is about 25 to 30.

I was baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of my sins at age 18 and was filled with the Holy Ghost at 17.

My sister was 14 when it happened to her.

 

[marks]

Acts 2:38-39

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.

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.

Who can explain what verse 39 means?

Isaiah 59:20-21 KJV
20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Do you think this relates?

Much love!

 

[Truther]

Isaiah 59:20-21 KJV
20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Do you think this relates?

Much love!

Israel in the Millennial

 

[marks]

And children?

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.

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.

Mom and Dad repent and get baptized and get the Holy Ghost....

It is a promise to them and to their children..........

So the children get baptized to receive the Holy Ghost????

Elsewhere is a pointed debate on the baptism of infants.... which is claimed and is true it is not mentioned in the bible.... so I thought of that when I saw this.

I read this as, the promise is to you, and subsequent generations.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Israel in the Millennial

Acts 3:19-21 KJV
19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

What was the plan?

Much love!

 

[Truther]

I read this as, the promise is to you, and subsequent generations.

Much love!

Regardless of age.

 

[Rella ~ I am a woman]

Isaiah 59:20-21 KJV
20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Do you think this relates?

Much love!

In so much as Isaiah is OT and Acts is NT. The wording seem awkward for it to be a direct tie.

Isaiah here states "nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed,"... which to me seems to indicate a genealogy blood line that would be passed on... so to in acts where it states

Acts states " For the promise is unto you, and to your children, "

If you start in Acts 2 and read of the day of Pentecost, then note what is said in the prophecies along the way to Acts

16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all [q]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;

Seemingly sons and daughters , young men and old men are not presented or worded as children.
Does there not come an age where one is referred to as a son or daughter but not a child?

Same can be said for ...

18 Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,
I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit

But who would be included in "everyone". here...???

19 ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

But then Peter goes on

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

Peter did not say... "your sons and your daughters " or "your young men"

He SAID "your children"...

To me that definitely says younger people. When I am talking to a friend who has children and grandchildren I will ask, "How are your sons and grandkids...." I never would say how are your children.. " about 40ish plus grown men.

This , to me, is as much a mystery as the Jailer, Lydia, and Crispus who had entire families baptised... BUT NO ONE had any children?????????????????