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then your baptism was for the wrong reason...
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 19:3-6King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 2:37-41King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]37 [/SUP]Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 10:47-48King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]47 [/SUP]Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[SUP]48 [/SUP]And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 19:3-6King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]3 [/SUP]And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 2:37-41King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]37 [/SUP]Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 10:47-48King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]47 [/SUP]Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
[SUP]48 [/SUP]And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
[h=1]Acts 2:37-41King James Version (KJV)[/h] [SUP]37 [/SUP]Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]39 [/SUP]For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[SUP]40 [/SUP]And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
we've been around this block 100 times, so let's just sum it up:
"be baptized" - untranslated transliteration of "baptizo" - meaning "be immersed"
"be immersed" in what?
Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
(John 15:4)
how are sins remitted?
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
(Hebrews 9:22)
what blood is shed in a mikveh?
but where was blood shed?
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
(Colossians 1:19-20)
was Christ's baptism with H[SUB]2[/SUB]O or through blood?
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said.
"Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
(Mark 10:38)
how can a baptism that is not with blood then be of any value?
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
(1 Peter 3:21)
symbolizes??
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
(Romans 6:3)
if it was an earthly baptism that baptized us into death, we would be in the grave - can it be that this is a symbolic act of a spiritual reality? does that sort of thing exist? scripturally?
It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
(Hebrews 9:23-24)
now is a baptismal font or mikveh or pond the "true sanctuary" where sins are remitted or merely a copy?
so is immersion in H[SUB]2[/SUB]O of any value whatsoever except in that it is a like figure of the immersion that truly saves?
when you were baptized in H[SUB]2[/SUB]O, did you trust your redemption to God or to a ritual? to spiritual things or fleshly things?
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(John 3:6)
Then I remembered what the Lord had said:
'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
(Acts 11:16)
This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
"be baptized" - untranslated transliteration of "baptizo" - meaning "be immersed"
"be immersed" in what?
Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
(John 15:4)
how are sins remitted?
without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
(Hebrews 9:22)
what blood is shed in a mikveh?
but where was blood shed?
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
(Colossians 1:19-20)
was Christ's baptism with H[SUB]2[/SUB]O or through blood?
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said.
"Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
(Mark 10:38)
how can a baptism that is not with blood then be of any value?
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
(1 Peter 3:21)
symbolizes??
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
(Romans 6:3)
if it was an earthly baptism that baptized us into death, we would be in the grave - can it be that this is a symbolic act of a spiritual reality? does that sort of thing exist? scripturally?
It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
(Hebrews 9:23-24)
now is a baptismal font or mikveh or pond the "true sanctuary" where sins are remitted or merely a copy?
so is immersion in H[SUB]2[/SUB]O of any value whatsoever except in that it is a like figure of the immersion that truly saves?
when you were baptized in H[SUB]2[/SUB]O, did you trust your redemption to God or to a ritual? to spiritual things or fleshly things?
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(John 3:6)
Then I remembered what the Lord had said:
'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
(Acts 11:16)
This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
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P
newbirth. Have you read these Scriptures that Completely Contradict
your Belief About the Power of "water baptism"??????
FOR the Remission of Sins
Already Forgiven: Here are some verses that show clearly that the sins of all people
were forgiven and forgotten on the Cross of Christ.
it is the gift of righteousness that you must accept by faith (Romans 5:17,18).
All are forgiven, but not all are saved.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man,
how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision
of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,
so also ONE righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
having made peace through the blood of His cross;
through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Mark 3:28 Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men
Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered ONE sacrifice for sins for all time,
sat down at the right hand of God.
Romans 5:10a For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, ...
(Notice this verse says we were reconciled while we "were" enemies,
not after we become friends with God.)
Hebrews 2:9b ... Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor,
that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 9:26b ... but now once at the consummation of the ages He (Jesus)
has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
John 1:29 The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
I John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;
and not for ours only,
but also for those of thewhole world.
newbirth, Now please Explain just What Sins
Your "water baptism"
Takes Away ??????
Do you Believe that Jesus Christ Once for the Sins of the World ???
your Belief About the Power of "water baptism"??????
FOR the Remission of Sins
Already Forgiven: Here are some verses that show clearly that the sins of all people
were forgiven and forgotten on the Cross of Christ.
it is the gift of righteousness that you must accept by faith (Romans 5:17,18).
All are forgiven, but not all are saved.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man,
how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision
of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,
so also ONE righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
2 Corinthians 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.
Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
having made peace through the blood of His cross;
through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Mark 3:28 Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men
Hebrews 10:12 but He, having offered ONE sacrifice for sins for all time,
sat down at the right hand of God.
Romans 5:10a For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, ...
(Notice this verse says we were reconciled while we "were" enemies,
not after we become friends with God.)
Hebrews 2:9b ... Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor,
that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 9:26b ... but now once at the consummation of the ages He (Jesus)
has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
John 1:29 The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
I John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins;
and not for ours only,
but also for those of thewhole world.
newbirth, Now please Explain just What Sins
Your "water baptism"
Takes Away ??????
Do you Believe that Jesus Christ Once for the Sins of the World ???
Peter doesn't have power to save your soul either.
only Jesus.
works of man or works of God?
an evangelist or Jesus the Christ?
that's what i'm saying too.
everything to do with "immersion" = "baptizo" and everything to do with salvation.
nothing to do with H[SUB]2[/SUB]O
neither does He shed His blood every time someone gets their hair wet. one sacrifice was sufficient for all
neither do i. you know that.
why do you still falsely accuse me?
the true baptism that saves is by the hand of God, not by human hands, just as is the true circumcision.
my friend, when did your H[SUB]2[/SUB]O baptism begin? was it the moment you decided to be baptized? was it the moment you asked to be baptized? was it the moment you stepped forward to be baptized? was it the moment you put on a robe? was it the moment your foot touched the water? was it the moment your face became wet?
the moment you first believed in your heart that Jesus is Lord is the moment that you were washed in His blood.
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved
(Acts 16:31)
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Then your belief is in the WRONG Baptism, and you still are not born again:
1 Corinthians 12:13 (HCSB)
[SUP]13 [/SUP] For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
It is NOT the immersion into water that SAVES, it is the immersion into the spiritual body of CHRIST that SAVES, which happens the MOMENT you first BELIEVE, long before you climb into the Baptistry. THUS even the Thief on the Cross received the spiritual baptism that SAVES.
faith without works is dead bro ....
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
you simply do not understand the word.....believed ,baptised, added....if when one believes ....he is automatically baptised into Christ...and thus saved.....why the need for water? why the need to repent?
according to you vs 41...is wrong....it should be ...then that gladly received his word were added and the same day there were baptised about three thousand.....
the scripture says ...buried with him in baptism....we are not being buried with the risen Christ.....one must submit themselves to God as Christ did in his death and the power of God raises him as He did Christ.....you want to add yourself to God by just believing....
the scripture says..[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: it does not say they believe or repented in this verse....does it mean they did not believe or they did not repent...????.....but the verse shows baptism as the major criteria for receiving the word...and also addition to the Church...
[SUP]38 [/SUP]Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
you simply do not understand the word.....believed ,baptised, added....if when one believes ....he is automatically baptised into Christ...and thus saved.....why the need for water? why the need to repent?
according to you vs 41...is wrong....it should be ...then that gladly received his word were added and the same day there were baptised about three thousand.....
the scripture says ...buried with him in baptism....we are not being buried with the risen Christ.....one must submit themselves to God as Christ did in his death and the power of God raises him as He did Christ.....you want to add yourself to God by just believing....
the scripture says..[SUP]41 [/SUP]Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: it does not say they believe or repented in this verse....does it mean they did not believe or they did not repent...????.....but the verse shows baptism as the major criteria for receiving the word...and also addition to the Church...
For $64,000, backquote where someone here said not to be baptized.
NewB, why do you go on like that as if pretending that someone said not to be baptized???
Here is what He says:
John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance [change of mind] unto remission of sins.
this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Acts 10:43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 26: that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Acts 10:43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name
everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
"Everyone who believes" rules out any essential added to believing.
Μετανοήσατε, [φησίν,] καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν καὶ λήμψεσθε τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Change your minds
and be baptized each of you
upon the name of Jesus Christ
εἰς remission of your sins.
1) NO WATER MENTIONED!
The baptism in context is Spirit baptism.
2) Repent & be baptized eis remission of your sins.
If A & B, then C.
But if A (& not B), then also C.
Repent is the essential, not water.
(Repent = change mind from non-belief to belief).
For the text says, everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
Everyone, whatever else may or may not be true.
The only essential is believe; repent is change of mind from not believing to believing.
Moreover, where is your proof that eis means for the purpose of receiving?
NewB, why do you go on like that as if pretending that someone said not to be baptized???
Here is what He says:
John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance [change of mind] unto remission of sins.
this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Acts 10:43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
Acts 26: that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Acts 10:43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name
everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
"Everyone who believes" rules out any essential added to believing.
Μετανοήσατε, [φησίν,] καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ὑμῶν καὶ λήμψεσθε τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος.
[NO WATER, NO WORKS]
Change your minds
and be baptized each of you
upon the name of Jesus Christ
εἰς remission of your sins.
1) NO WATER MENTIONED!
The baptism in context is Spirit baptism.
2) Repent & be baptized eis remission of your sins.
If A & B, then C.
But if A (& not B), then also C.
Repent is the essential, not water.
(Repent = change mind from non-belief to belief).
For the text says, everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
Everyone, whatever else may or may not be true.
The only essential is believe; repent is change of mind from not believing to believing.
Moreover, where is your proof that eis means for the purpose of receiving?
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do you believe that we are baptized by spirit at all?
do you believe H2O the only medium of baptism in our lives?
what do you mean, no mention of "repent" ??
this is Acts 2:38 Atwood quoted. guess what "change your mind" means... you should know, you quote it a lot.
as to why "believe" isn't specifically stated here - we're picking apart word by word what was part of an entire oration. the danger in doing that is forgetting the larger context. no single handful of words here gives us complete doctrine or a complete picture. the Bible is 66 books long, not one verse long. lots of trees make up a forest.
have a look at Acts 3:36-37 for example, very near to this verse! Peter told the people of Christ, and they were cut to the heart by what he said - this is believing - and asked what they should now do?
isn't it obvious that they believed, and that's why they asked him what they ought to do?
do ya think they obediently did this in unbelief?
speaking of "larger context" -- one thing that strikes me about the book of Acts is that it is evident the apostles, Peter included, did not immediately comprehend the full mystery of the gospel.
Peter in particular, before the events at Cornelius' house, was still of a mind that some foods were unclean and that Gentiles were also not to be consorted with or preached to.
in hindsight we can see that he ought to have understood his thinking was false - Christ had already declared all foods clean, Isaiah had foretold that the Gentiles would be brought in, and Christ had also told them that the good news was also for the Gentile. He said "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." but Peter still needed to later be given 3 visions just to convince him to go and speak to a single Gentile household.
how similar we are to the apostles! they are men, just like us.
and so when Peter is recounting the events at Cornelius' house, and he describes how that the Holy Spirit was poured out on them as soon as they heard and believed, the work of God Himself demonstrates to Peter that he was understanding incorrectly that the Spirit was only given at baptism.
this is Peter telling us he had not at first understood completely the work of God, even though he had heard it and believed it and been obedient to it:
Then I remembered what the Lord had said:
'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
(Acts 11:16)
'then i remembered' he said. this means that before, he had not kept it in mind.
remember, this is the same Peter who the Lord often rebuked. he had not understood at first how that Christ had to be handed over and crucified -
'nay, Lord!' he said. 'get thee behind me, Satan!' said Christ.
'i will never deny you!' Peter said. 'three times before the rooster crows' said Christ.
Peter drew a sword at the garden. 'put away your sword' said Christ.
'this food is unclean' said Peter. 'rise, kill and eat' said Christ.
'the Gentiles are unclean' said Peter. 'go with these men' said Christ.
see how that if we quote a little bit of Peter's words here and there and ignore the rest of the testament, we are deceived?
now in Acts - Peter said 'believe, repent and be baptized, and you will receive the Holy Spirit'
and God showed him how that He Himself gave the Spirit when they had done naught but believe.
Peter learned, like we learn, by being in error, being rebuked, and considering these things.
so while he had formerly said 'believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; repent and be baptized for the remission of sins'
he later wrote to the believers that the baptism that saves us is 'not the putting off of filth from the flesh, but the answer of a clear conscience before God'
it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
the Holy Spirit is not just a name tag we receive after we fill out a registration card. it is a living and active spirit that does things in our lives. it is the down payment and assurance of our hope.
the Spirit is the medium by which Christ baptizes us. do you believe this?
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
(Mark 1:8)
Peter in particular, before the events at Cornelius' house, was still of a mind that some foods were unclean and that Gentiles were also not to be consorted with or preached to.
in hindsight we can see that he ought to have understood his thinking was false - Christ had already declared all foods clean, Isaiah had foretold that the Gentiles would be brought in, and Christ had also told them that the good news was also for the Gentile. He said "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." but Peter still needed to later be given 3 visions just to convince him to go and speak to a single Gentile household.
how similar we are to the apostles! they are men, just like us.
and so when Peter is recounting the events at Cornelius' house, and he describes how that the Holy Spirit was poured out on them as soon as they heard and believed, the work of God Himself demonstrates to Peter that he was understanding incorrectly that the Spirit was only given at baptism.
this is Peter telling us he had not at first understood completely the work of God, even though he had heard it and believed it and been obedient to it:
Then I remembered what the Lord had said:
'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
(Acts 11:16)
'then i remembered' he said. this means that before, he had not kept it in mind.
remember, this is the same Peter who the Lord often rebuked. he had not understood at first how that Christ had to be handed over and crucified -
'nay, Lord!' he said. 'get thee behind me, Satan!' said Christ.
'i will never deny you!' Peter said. 'three times before the rooster crows' said Christ.
Peter drew a sword at the garden. 'put away your sword' said Christ.
'this food is unclean' said Peter. 'rise, kill and eat' said Christ.
'the Gentiles are unclean' said Peter. 'go with these men' said Christ.
see how that if we quote a little bit of Peter's words here and there and ignore the rest of the testament, we are deceived?
now in Acts - Peter said 'believe, repent and be baptized, and you will receive the Holy Spirit'
and God showed him how that He Himself gave the Spirit when they had done naught but believe.
Peter learned, like we learn, by being in error, being rebuked, and considering these things.
so while he had formerly said 'believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; repent and be baptized for the remission of sins'
he later wrote to the believers that the baptism that saves us is 'not the putting off of filth from the flesh, but the answer of a clear conscience before God'
it saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
the Holy Spirit is not just a name tag we receive after we fill out a registration card. it is a living and active spirit that does things in our lives. it is the down payment and assurance of our hope.
the Spirit is the medium by which Christ baptizes us. do you believe this?
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
(Mark 1:8)