Page 14 - January 2022 - Truth & Tidings

efore discussing the subject before in Acts 2, Peter preached the gospel to the
us, it is necessary to see the charac- Jews who were in the city for the Jewish
Bter of the Book of Acts. Never look feast, stressing the guilt of the Jews rela-
for doctrine in Acts; if we are looking for tive to the crucifixion of Christ (2:22,23)
New Testament doctrine we must look and the subsequent resurrection of Christ
into the epistles. Also, Acts covers a period (vv24-36). As a result, the Jews cried out,
in Church history that was transitional “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
in nature. There were events that took (v37). Peter’s reply was, “Repent, and be
place in that period which were never baptized every one of you in the name of
intended to be characteristic of the Church Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
Age. Space prevents us from looking at ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”
examples of this in Acts. (v38). Peter insisted on baptism as well as
Next, we must establish what the New repentance for them to receive forgiveness
Testament teaches as to the subject of the and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This does
receiving of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16- not conform with Paul’s teaching in Ro-
17, the Lord Jesus said, “And I will pray mans 3:21-26, where the only requirement
the Father, and he shall give you another is “faith in Jesus Christ.” Nowhere in the
Comforter ... he dwelleth with you, and epistles is baptism a requirement for salva-
shall be in you.” Here we learn that dur- tion and the subsequent receiving of the
1
ing the Church Age the Holy Spirit perma- Holy Spirit. The clue to Peter’s insistence
nently indwells all Christians. In Romans on baptism is found in Acts 2:39,40. Notice
8:9 we read, “Now if any man have not particularly the statement, “Save your-
the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” In selves from this untoward [perverse] gen-
other words, in this present dispensation eration” (v40). By being baptized, these
every believer is permanently indwelt Jews were publicly repudiating the sin of
by the Holy Spirit from the moment of Israel in the crucifixion of Christ. Nowhere
conversion. else in the New Testament is baptism a
Following the coming of the Holy Spirit requirement for salvation.
¹ All Scripture quotations in this article are from The second exception is in Acts 8:5-17.
the KJV unless otherwise noted. Although these Samaritans had believed

14 TRUTH kTidings January 2022