"Baptism for the Remission of Sins"

Nick S. Wallace

In Acts 2, we read of the first sermon after Jesus rose from the dead. The apostles conclude in verse 36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”1 The Jews who heard the sermon asked in their guilt, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (v. 37). Peter replied, “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” (v. 38). Why be baptized? “For the remission of sins,” says Peter. He clearly is teaching we should be baptized to obtain the remission of sins.

Many incorrectly claim that salvation comes before baptism; instead of being baptized to obtain salvation, we are baptized to declare orsymbolize the salvation we already had before baptism, allegedly. These people claim that “for” in this verse means “because of,” as in “Wanted for murder.” As a criminal is wanted because he already committed murder beforehand, the argument goes, so these men were baptized because they already had the remission of sins—as an outward sign of an inward grace.

It’s true that the English word for can mean either “because of” or “to obtain.” However, the original Greek word used in Acts is not so ambiguous. The word used is eis. Scholarly consensus is against eis meaning “because of.” For example, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says thatthe Greek phrase translated “for the remission of sins” means, “to obtain the remission of sins.” Even Baptist scholars are forced to admit the meaning of this verse although it violates their denomination’s teaching! In the words of Baptist scholar J. W. Wilmarth, “‘In order to declare’ or ‘symbolize’ would be a monstrous translation of ‘eis.’” Here are a few other translations of Acts 2:38:

“be baptized … unto the remission of your sins” (American Standard Version)
“be baptized … so that your sins may be forgiven” (New Revised Standard Version)
“be baptized … to remission of sins” (Young’s Literal Translation)
“be baptized … that you may have your sins forgiven” (Charles B. William’s Translation)
“[be baptized] in order to the forgiveness of sins” (American Baptist Commentary)
“be immersed … unto remission of your sins” (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)

More translations could be given. The first three of the above versions are accepted, standard translations of the Bible, while the latter three are the result of Baptist scholarship. If “for the remission of sins” could mean “because of the remission of sins,” why did these Baptist scholars translate the phrase against their denomination’s teaching?

Furthermore, if “for” meant “because of” in Acts 2:38, then we are to repent “because of” the remission of sins as well! Acts 2:38 says to repent as well as be baptized “for the remission of sins.” As the American Baptist Commentary (mentioned earlier) observes, for the remission of sins is “connect[ed] naturally with both the preceding verbs.” (The “preceding verbs” are “repent” and “be baptized.”) Again, the Baptist scholar J. W. Wilmarth agrees, saying “the natural construction connects [“for the remission of sins”] with both the preceding verbs [“repent” and “be baptized”]. It enforces the entire exhortation, not one part of it to the exclusion of the other, as Hackett says.” Many more sources could be cited, but such should be sufficient.

Thus, Acts 2:38 teaches salvation as the result of, not the reason for, baptism. If you haven’t been baptized to obtain the remission of sins, “why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

SENTENCE SERMONS

“Spoiled children are given what they want; wise parents give them what they need.”

“All people make mistakes; that’s why they put erasers on pencils.”

“It is proper to be on the right track, but if you sit down there you’ll get run over.”

“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”