"For" As Used In Acts 2:38

"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" (Acts 2:38 KJV). Did Peter tell the people to be baptized in order to have their sins forgiven or did he tell them to be baptized because their sins were already forgiven? Religious people have disagreed about this for many years. The points of discussion are (1) what the Bible says about "when an alien sinner is saved," (2) the grammar of Acts 2:38, and (3) the meaning of the word "for."

When Is An Alien Sinner Saved?

Universalism says that all men will be saved. So really what difference does it make when an alien sinner is saved? If Universalism is true, it doesn't make any difference. Others say that an alien sinner is "...justified by faith only..." (Methodist Discipline, p 73, 1948 edition) and "...solely through faith in Christ...." (Baptist Manual, Hiscox, p. 62), or at the point of faith (B. L. Sparks, Bonner/Sparks Debate), still others believe that the Bible teaches that the alien sinner is saved from his past sins when he is baptized (immersed) in water in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38).

Many passages teach the necessity of faith: John 3:16; John 8:24, Mark 16:16; Acts 16:30,31. Truly, alien sinners are justified by faith (Rom. 5:1). The question then comes: What believer is saved from past sins and when is that believer saved from past sins?

The believer has the right to become a child of God (John 1:11,12) for Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9; Gal.5:6). It is the obedient believer who will be saved. Hence, Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16). Further, Saul was told, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Saul, believed on the road to Damascus, but had his sins washed away after he was in the city three days (Acts 9:9).