BAPTISM
Why is there so much confusion on subject of baptism? An intellectual exegesis of scripture rather than an emotional isogesis of scripture peels away most of the layers of confusion.
The Holy Spirit could not come until after Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended to heaven (John 16:7).
Some 40 days after Jesus had risen from the dead, the Holy Spirit was yet to come (Acts 1:1-8).
The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
The Holy Spirit revealed the message of truth to those who wrote scripture (Ephesians 3:1-5, 2 Peter 1:21).
The apostle Peter spoke the words of Acts 2:38 before Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the words contained in their Gospels.
Being from regions beyond Jerusalem, most of those who heard the words of Acts 2:38 had not heard Jesus speak (Acts 2:9-11).
Even those who had heard Jesus speak had failed to understand His message; therefore they crucified Him (John 20:30, Acts 3:29).
Historically, the Jews had offered sacrifices with an understanding that they would invoke the forgiveness (appeasement) of God. Even on Pentecost, they believed that they needed to respond in order to receive forgiveness of God. Therefore, they asked, "What shall we do" (Acts 2:37).
Peter had just preached a persuasive sermon designed to convince the audience that Jesus was the Christ and Lord (Acts 2:36). Obviously, some who heard also believed, for their hearts were pricked (Acts 2:37). Hearts are never pricked until belief comes. In addition to believing they asked what to do. In other words they were now asking, "After believing what (else) shall we do?
If they had been forgiven [saved] just by believing then Peter should have told them so. Otherwise, he accommodated their false belief about doing something in addition to believing in order to be saved.
In the past, they had killed and offered an animal in their effort to receive forgiveness of sins. Peter informed them that no longer would they have to kill a lamb. The lamb (Jesus) had already been slain. They must now repent and be baptized to embrace the death of Jesus.
Only after Jesus had been raised from the dead did He teach the correlation of baptism with salvation (Mark 16:16). No wonder then Peter connects baptism to salvation (Acts 2:38).
But what about Romans 10:9-10. Let's set the stage.
1-Those to whom the apostle Paul addressed this letter were called and had become saints (Romans 1:6-7).
2-They had died to sin (Romans 6:2).
3-They had been baptized into Christ and His death (Romans 6:3).
4-They been raised from the dead to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).
5-They had become united with Jesus (Romans 6:5).
6-Their old self had been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).
7-They had obeyed from the heart the doctrinal teachings (Romans 6:17).
8-They had been freed from sin (Romans 6:18).
9-They had become servants of righteousness (Romans 6:18).
10-Believers had been in Pentecost and likely had been baptized then (Acts 2:10).
Therefore, the apostle Paul said to the believers, those who had already been baptized, "confess and believe" (Romans 10:9-10).
What about Ephesians 2:8 that states "for by grace you have been saved through faith"?
The Ephesians had heard the message of truth (Ephesians 1:13a).
They had believed the message of truth (Ephesians 1:13b).
They had been baptized (Acts 19:1-5).
Acts 8:35
The eunuch did not understand what he was reading from Isaiah 53:7ff (Acts 8:30-32).
Philip began at Isaiah 53:7 the place where the eunuch was reading and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35).
1) How could Philip preach Jesus when the name Jesus is not once stated in Isaiah 53?
2) How could Philip demand that the eunuch believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God when believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is never stated in Isaiah 53?
3) How could Philip introduce the subject of baptism while preaching Jesus from Isaiah 53 when baptism is not stated in Isaiah 53?
4) How did Philip understand Isaiah 53 when the eunuch did not?
The answer to all four questions are the same. Philip had a Holy Spirit led post resurrection understanding of the Old Testament scripture (Acts 6:5) and the eunuch did not.
God more fully revealed His will to the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5). There are some things that had not been understood before but came to be understood only after the resurrection of Jesus.
Because Philip had a Holy Spirit led post resurrection understanding of the Old Testament scripture, God enlightened him to understand things more fully than others understood.
God enlightened His apostles and prophets to understand the Old Testament. When we read the New Testament, we gain insight into the inspired minds of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5).
Jesus recognized that men needed a post resurrection understanding of the Old Testament scripture. Therefore, He opened their minds to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:44-47).
God opened Lydia's mind to understand (Acts 16:14). Her understanding led to her becoming baptized (Acts 16:15).
The Corinthians had been baptized (Acts 18:8). Earlier, Paul alluded to their baptism (1 Corinthians 6:8-11). He even reminded them of the role of baptism in the deliverance of the Israelites (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).
Where does Old Testament teach the purpose of baptism? It does not. It just illustrates it. The lamb's blood became available for the Israelites (Exodus 12:21-28). Yet, the Israelites were not free from bondage until they passed through the sea (Exodus 14:26-29). God saved Israel on the day that they passed through the water (Exodus 14:30). The Holy Spirit's inspired commentary called that experience a baptism, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). Now who will avoid being baptized that they may miss the salvation that God has provided?
