Verse of the Day 3/26

Through the Bible -Joshua 18-19, Luke 6:1-26

 

Good morning,

Across the U.S. and even the world, many churches pattern themselves after the Acts 2 church "where it all began".   Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  NIV  It is a good "model" to follow.  However many start with verse 42 without seeing where "it begins" in the chapter.

 

Peter had been speaking to them and his words " pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" (v.37)

Today's verses are Peter's response to the question "what shall we do"?
Acts 2:38 Peter 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. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call."    NIV

Too often the modern church has focused on verse 42 which outlines important basic, fundamental elements of the church but many have neglected the element of turning, turning from sin, from the world, and turning to Christ.

In verse 38 the NIV uses the words "forgiveness of sins", while the NKJV  translates it as "remission of sins".

 

John MacArthur explains what this "remission" means.  "This might be better translated "because of the remission of sins".  Baptism does not produce forgiveness and cleansing from sin.  The reality of forgiveness precedes the rite of baptism.  Genuine repentance brings from God the forgiveness (remission) of sins (Eph. 1:7) and because of that the new believer was to be baptized.  Baptism, however was to be the ever present act of obedience, so that it became synonymous with salvation.  Thus, to say one was baptized for forgiveness was the same as saying one was saved.  Every believer receives complete remission of sins."

 

The most common use of the word remission in our day is probably in relation to cancer or some other illness.  When it is in "remission" it means that the symptoms are no longer present, visible. The cancer may actually be gone.    In the case of sin, as believers, sin should be in remission in our lives as evidence of the turning, "the change" that has taken place in our lives, in our hearts.

 

We may not be able to conquer every sin.  We still do sin.  But by His grace we can overcome.

 

1 John 5:3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  NLT

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Acts 2:36-43

 

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

 

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

 

38 Then Peter said to them,"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."

 

A Vital Church Grows

 

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.    NKJV