remission of sins
Acts 2:38
2:38 remission of sins. Peter’s message was climaxed with essentially the same exhortation as preached by John the Baptist—“the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (e.g., Luke 3:3). The difference is that now—and ever since—both repentance and baptism are to be “in the name of Jesus Christ.” This, of course, implies faith in Christ as the only one who can provide remission of sins. Repentance toward God and faith toward Christ are like two sides of the same coin, each of which implies and requires the other. The full meaning of baptism in water also had now become evident, testifying of the baptism of the Spirit, as well as the death and resurrection of Christ. It is not that baptism is required for remission of sins (note, for example, the thief on the cross), but rather that baptism is always inseparably associated in Scripture with true repentance and faith.
