Restoration of New Testament Order

**Acts 3 By Ron Thomas     In Acts 1 and 2 we learned the Lord’s authority given to the apostles and how on the day of Pentecost they preached the first sermon to a wandering crowd. Those who heard that message and obeyed the Lord’s commands were added to His church, thus three thousand were saved.     By the time we get to chapters 3 and 4, it is a bit uncertain whether the day in Acts 2 is continued into chapter 3 or a period of unspecified time has come and gone. Be that as it may, we can be sure that when Peter and John went into the Temple to pray, they saw a man in need of assistance. It was common for those in need to position themselves in such a way that others of a charitable disposition may give to those in need. Evidently, this act was a “meritorious act” that served each Jew’s desire to be pleasing to the Lord (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, revised).     Peter and John took advantage of the circumstances and preached to the lame man and to the larger crowd that Jesus, the one they crucified, was the Christ (anointed, Messiah), the Prince of Life Moses spoke about in Deuteronomy 18. When Peter told them what they needed to do, it was slightly different than what we read in Acts 2:38. Peter said, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” (3:19-20, ESV).     How does this compare with Acts 2:38? The first thing to notice is that “believe,” or “faith” is not used in either chapter, but that does not suggest there no essentiality to the command to believe on the Lord Jesus. Second, the first words from Peter, in both cases, was “repent.” Here is a chart (not original with me).   2:38 Repent Baptized Forgiveness of sins Receive the Holy Spirit 3:19 Repent Be converted/turn back Sins may be blotted out Time of refreshing       As you look at the chart, notice the parallel. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of behavior. Be converted or turn again is an action complementing a penitent attitude; baptism is required by the Holy Spirit to be saved (2:38; 22:16), but not apart from a penitent heart. The ESV reads “turn back” – how should we understand that? It means the people to whom Peter spoke were to turn back to God and identify themselves with His Son (Rom. 6:3-7). Note the consequence of repentance and turn again: one’s sins blotted out, which is another way of saying remission (forgiveness) of sins.     Look at the chart again. Did Peter give two different responses to how one is saved? He did not. He called on the people to repent, the turn again corresponds to baptism. “This verb describes the act of turning away from a way of life that is characterized by disobedience...” (Schnabel, p. 214). One turns away from a sinful life by being identified with the life of Jesus. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:3-5).     Those who would foolishly argue that 3:19 does not stipulate baptism as a condition of salvation must do so in accordance with a denominational teaching, not anything as revealed in the New Testament. Moreover, they must still deal with 2:38 and 22:16, which does require baptism as a condition of salvation.     Let us get back to the New Testament and teach as the Bible teaches. - Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com. Visit the congregation’s website at: https://www.churchofchristatriogrande.com