Just saying but if you really want to have a discussion about baptism go check out the United Pentecostal Church; their doctrine on salvation through baptism is interesting. It makes for an interesting read. Acts 2:38 is the cornerstone of their doctrine.
The UPCI is only one of several organization that teach Acts 2:38, but probably the largest.
Mr Idleman is a “Ahimaaz” messenger: he is out there with a message, but he doesn’t have all the facts, or at least doesn’t have them straight. (2Samuel 18:19-32)
He is leaning on man-made tradition. (Also, the thief on the cross was granted forgiveness while the Law was still in effect, which was before the Lord died. The new testament was not in effect until the death of the testator. See Heb. 9:16,17). Consider the scriptural facts:
The following shows a LOT of proof that water baptism is in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin.
First of all, is it not right to believe on the Lord as HE instructs us to believe on him? He gives very explicit instructions in being born again, beginning with John 3:5-8. Then, at the end of the Gospels, we read his words of commission to his apostles.
Matt. 28:19; the Lord commanded that THEY baptize souls.
Mark 16:16; The Lord commanded to his disciples that one must believe and be baptized.
Luke 24:47; The Lord commanded that repentance and remission of sins are to be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 20:23; The Lord commanded that whose soever sins YE remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins YE retain, they are retained.
Then following those commands, the apostles preached Jesus Christ, commanding repentance, and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost.
Jesus has made it quite clear that if you want his blood on you, you must be buried (by baptism) in his name.
In Acts 2:37 (Jews) we find convicted souls asking, “what shall we do?”
The wide way answer seems to be, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved”. but no details, such as HOW to believe, contrary to what the Lord and his apostles specifically commanded.
2:38; 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. (note the position of the commas in the KJV.)
Now I will list the separate DETAILED accounts of water baptism:
8:12,13 (Samaritans) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip...”.
Notice that they believed, and were baptized. (sounds like fulfillment of the the Lord’s command in Mark 16:16; “He that believeth, and is baptized..”). They had NOT received the Spirit yet. Peter and John were then called to come to Samaria:
8:16; (For as yet he was fallen upon NONE of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
The Ethiopian eunuch: 8:35-38; “Then Philip....preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See here is WATER; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down INTO the WATER, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” (first detailed witness mentioning water used in baptism).
10:46,47,48 (Gentiles) “...Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid WATER, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord...”. (care to guess what that name is?)
AND, remember these words of Peter: “Can any man forbid water..”.That is the second detailed witness mentioning water baptism).
In Acts 11 we find Peter back in Jerusalem, after the conversion event at Cornelius’ house in Caesarea, testifying of their receiving the Holy Ghost. With God giving them the Spirit, his hand was forced to obey God’s ordained plan, and baptize them in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Notice his testamony at that point:
11:17; “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; WHAT WAS I, THAT I COULD WITHSTAND GOD?”.
God expected Peter to do HIS part, and baptise them in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission sins. Peter HAD to do it, for it was required by God.
Re-baptism in Ephesus: 19:5,6 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
1Cor. 1:17 is a declaration by Paul, telling us that his ministry was not just baptism. Otherwise, he would not have baptized ANYBODY!)
Now, the list of the brief mentioning of baptisms. You may argue that those are Spirit baptisms only. Can you prove that? I say they are water baptisms, or both (and Paul is involved in all but the first of them):
Acts 2:41 about 3,000 were added.
9:18 Saul/Paul conversion.
16:15 Lydia and her household.
16:33 keeper of the prison and his household, in Philippi.
18:8 Crispus (one of several Paul admitted to baptizing in Corinth. 1Cor 1:14,16)
22:16 Saul/Paul again.
Now, the references to baptism in the epistles, which were written to those ALREADY born again (note the intro to those letters: brethern, faithful, saints, etc., that is the context).
Romans 6:3; “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:....” (That is certainly not Spirit baptism, because the Spirit is life.) “..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.”
5. For if we have been planted together in the LIKENESS of his death, we shall be also in the LIKENESS of his resurrection.”
Col. 2:12 is quite similar: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the operation of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Buried,...planted.....That sure is clear to me: Paul is referring to water baptism, and Spirit baptism, as separate events, and that both are required.
1Cor. 1:12-17
Now is as good of a time as any to address the inconsistancies of the folks that say that water baptism is not essential:
When faced with passages that mention baptism, but do not specifically say that it was water baptism, they will say it is not talking about water baptism. But, when faced with the passage in 1Cor. 1:12-17, then they wholehearted agree that it is referring to water baptism.
(I have just taken the afore mentioned Acts 18:8 (Crispus), and solidly put that passage in the water baptism category.)
Then there is the emphasis on the name, which Paul makes clear to be Jesus: 1Cor. 1:13 “Is CHRIST divided? was PAUL crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the NAME of Paul?”
(Yes, Paul baptized in water at Corinth, in the name of Jesus.)
But then the ‘not essential’ crowd totally dismisses baptism at times, using the “..Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel..”, when Paul JUST got done admitting to baptizing several souls.
Heb. 6:1-3 is written to those born again: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this we will do if God permit.”
(Notice the ‘doctine of baptisms’ is plural?)
1Peter is also written to born again souls. Look at 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto OBEDIENCE and SPRINKLING of the blood of Jesus Christ...”
1Peter 3:20,21 is quite plain, if you are willing to allow it to harmonize with everything presented so far. 20 “...eight souls were saved by water. 21 The LIKE figure whereunto even BAPTISM doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Water baptism is not a bath, but is done in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. That is how it saves. That is how one has the answer of a good conscience toward God. Being buried with him is where you get his blood on you, but his NAME must not be left out.
If there is no resurrection, then water baptism is a waste of time. “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?” 1Cor 15:29.
That is Paul (the one who was not suppose to baptize), saying that if Christ (and the asleep in Christ) rise not, then it is all vain. Of course, we know that is not the case, since Christ is risen, and the Spirit poured out.
Being born again requires obedience, which is NOT ‘our OWN works’. As Paul said to the saints in Rome:
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but have OBEYED from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being THEN made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Rom. 6:17,18
Acts 16:30-31 is a favorite of the believe only folks (but do we really believe when we don’t believe the rest of the story?
The rest of the story:
32. “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were IN his house”.
We can see that between vs 31 and 32, Paul, Silas, the keeper of the prison have left the prison and entered into the man’s house.
33. “And he TOOK them the same hour of the night, and washed there stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway.”
He took them somewhere. Somewhere where there was plenty of water, for he washed their stripes, and was baptized along with his household.
34. “And when he had brought them INTO his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house”.
They came back from somewhere and went back into his house. Details are in the scriptures for a reason. (SkyDancer, when a captain tells the first officer to preflight the aircraft, he expects the first officer to have a checklist. Correct?). There are many messengers that think that they can tell the message with an incomplete checklist.