First this is how the verse reads in the NIV: 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter's telling a crowd repent and be baptised. Good. No argument. Is it the repentence or the act of immersion that's the effective action?
Second, and more importantly, to imply that baptism (by immersion) is what remits our sins implies that this does not.
Acts 22:16 says that baptism "washes away sins". Can you become a Christian before your sins are washed away?
In this verse Paul is exhorting people to accept Christ, not that the act of baptism is essential for salvation
Galatians 3:27 says that "as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ". Can you become a Christian before you "put on Christ"?
Gal 3:26 is really more to the point "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,"
Actually this is even more to the point
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
As is this:
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
As is this:
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[c] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Amazing. You said all that, and didn't answer a single question I asked.
Acts 2:38 does not negate Matthew 26:28. Yes, Christ's blood was shed for the remission of sins, but we do not receive that remission of sins until we obey his commandments, which includes baptism.
In Acts 22:16, it is Ananias telling Paul to "be baptized, washing away your sins". You still did not answer my question. Is it possible to become a Christian without having your sins washed away?
I agree that Galatians 3:26 is very important to this discussion. Let's look at both verses.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Verse 26 tells us that we become sons of God through faith. How do we do that? Verse 27 explains it for us. The word translated "for" at the beginning of verse 27 is a conjunction . It ties the 2 verse together, and thus verse 27 explains how we become sons of God through faith. It is by being baptized into Christ. And yet you still didn't answer my question. Is it possible to become a Christian without putting on Christ?