What wasn't "uniform" was the reception of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the reception of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit was very uniform. It was the miraculous gifts of the Spirit that was not received by everyone.
What do you think "cut to the heart" means then?
It means that they believed. But as Scripture says, and I have maintained, belief without action does not save. So they asked, “What do we need to do?”
Even believers need to be saved from God's wrath.
Exactly. The fact that someone believes is the first “stepping stone” (if you will) on the path to salvation. Belief, by itself, does not save.
Rom 13:4 - For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
This is about governments. They are "God's servants, agents of wrath on the wrongdoer". Why would you think believers are excluded from this wrath?
This is immaterial to this discussion, as it is about temporal punishment. We are discussing eternal salvation.
Eph 5:6 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Written to believers. This is how ch 5 opens:
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Again, immaterial to this discussion.
From an online commentary:
Baptism and Repentance in Acts 2:38
Curtis Vaughan,
Commentary on Acts, has an interesting footnote on p. 28 related to Acts 2:38.
"The Greek word for ‘baptized’ is a third person imperative; the word for ‘repent,’ a second person imperative. This change from the more direct second person command to the less direct third person of ‘baptized’ implies that Peter’s basic primary demand is for repentance."
This follows the preaching emphasis of John the Baptist (cf. Matt. 3:2) and Jesus (cf. Matt. 4:17). Repentance seems to be a spiritual key and baptism is an outward expression of this spiritual change. The New Testament knew nothing of unbaptized believers! To the early church baptism was the public profession of faith. It is the occasion for the public confession of faith in Christ, not the mechanism for salvation! It needs to be remembered that baptism is not mentioned in Peter’s second sermon, though repentance is (cf. Acts 3:19; Luke 24:17). Baptism was an example set by Jesus (cf. Matt. 3:13-18). Baptism was commanded by Jesus (cf. Matt. 28:19). The modern question of the necessity of baptism for salvation is not addressed in the New Testament; all believers are expected to be baptized. However, one must also guard against a sacramental mechanicalism! Salvation is a faith issue, not a right-place, right-words, right-ritual act issue!
“
Meyer's NT Commentary
Acts 2:38. What a definite and complete answer and promise of salvation! The μετανοήσατε demands the change of ethical disposition as the moral condition of being baptized, which directly and necessarily brings with it faith (
Mark 1:15); the aorist denotes the immediate accomplishment (comp.
Acts 3:19,
Acts 8:22), which is conceived as the work of energetic resolution. So the apostles began to accomplish it,
Luke 24:47.
ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι ʼΙησ Χριστοῦ] on the ground of the name, so that the name “Jesus Messiah” as the contents of your faith and confession, is that on which the becoming baptized rests. Βαπτίζ. is only here used with ἐπί; but comp. the analogous expressions,
Luke 21:8;
Luke 24:47;
Acts 5:28;
Acts 5:40;
Matthew 24:5, al.
εἰς denotes the object of the baptism, which is the remission of the guilt contracted in the state before μετάνοια. Comp.
Acts 22:16;
1 Corinthians 6:11.
καὶ λήψ.] καί consecutivum. After reconciliation, sanctification; both are experienced in baptism.”
Reconciliation and sanctification experienced in baptism!
“What is God Actually Saying Here?
In what way do people have trouble with this passage of Scripture? Consider these points:
(1) God says that we must “repent” or have a deep and radical change of mind, heart, and purpose so that we literally turn away from inward and outward sins and turn to God and His will (cf. Acts 3:18,26; 26:18; 1 Thess. 1:9). The implications of this command are far-reaching! One who repents will be radically changed because his heart and mind have been changed. The repentant believer will “bring forth fruits in keeping with [his] repentance” (Luke 3:8). He will perform “deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20). True repentance is a life-changing principle with life-altering results!
(2) God says that we must be immersed (or buried momentarily in water, then raised from water). This runs counter to many deeply-held ecclesiastical traditions. It conflicts with the prevailing view of most established churches (such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Lutheran) which contend that sprinkling or pouring are just as acceptable as immersion.
Yet God specifically says that we must be immersed (the Greek term, baptizo, means to dip, immerse, plunge, submerge, overwhelm, or sink). One authority observes that it denotes, “to dip, sink” (NAS Exhaustive Concordance, p. 1638). Another points out that the noun, baptisma, consists of “the process of immersion, submersion and emergence” (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W.E. Vine, p. 88). Yet another says that baptizo means “dip, plunge” (A Greek-English Lexicon, Liddell & Scott, p. 305). Of course, the element that one is immersed into is water (cf. Acts 8:36-39; 10:47; John 3:23). The inescapable conclusion to Peter’s words is that one who has not obeyed God in this matter has actually not been baptized.
(3) God says that we must be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.” It is Christ who has been given “all authority . . . in heaven and on earth” and who has commanded baptism (Matt. 28:18). He has also informed us of the meaning of the act–that it expresses faith in Him (Mark 16:16), is related to salvation (Mark 16:16), and through this means one is brought into a relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and is thereby enrolled as a disciple of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20).
(4) God says that we must be baptized “for the forgiveness of [our] sins.” Again, this conflicts with deeply-held theological views that separate baptism entirely from conversion and forgiveness. In fact, many religious leaders brazenly affirm that baptism is NOT for the forgiveness of sins but simply testifies to a forgiveness already granted in the past. Yet the Greek still denotes “purpose in order to” and means, “for forgiveness of sins, so that sins might be forgiven”(A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Arndt and Gingrich, p. 229). A study of eighty-one (81) different Bible translations confirms this fact. Furthermore, one authority points out that of the 1,773 instances of the Greek eis (for, into) in the New Testament, not once is it translated “because of.”
Therefore, God says that unless our baptism is Scriptural baptism that has as its purpose the forgiveness of sins, it actually is no baptism at all in the New Testament sense of the term. Consequently, even though a given act may correctly be an immersion, if the meaning and purpose is not in harmony with what Peter stated, it cannot be considered Scriptural baptism.”
There are many, many commentaries that agree with me as well. This is not about who can find the best source on the web. This is about what Scripture says and means.
And Gal 3:2,5 are clear: the Holy Spirit is received on the basis of believing in Christ.
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?
5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
Please note that the word translated “believe” is the Greek pistis which means faith. So again, this is not passive, mental assent belief, but active, evidence producing faith.
GAL 3:2,5 refute your claim. Cornelius refutes your claim.
Not at all. He asks twice, “by works of the Law (of Moses) or by faith?” The obvious correct answer is by faith, which is what I have said all along.
What did it gain him? You tell me.
Forgiveness of sin!
Go back to the actual event, 10:44 - While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
This doesn't indicate that Peter just started speaking. You're making a mountain out of a mole hill.
As he began to speak
IS while he was speaking. It is simply more instructive of when during his speaking it occurred. It wasn’t near the end. It wasn’t half way through. It was
as he began to speak. This is very instructive.
What you are saying here is that literal water symbolizes literal water. Nonsense.
Yes, the water of the Flood that saved the eight in the ark is symbolic of the water of baptism that now saves us.
The Holy Spirit doesn't "meet anyone" in the water.
Reread Rom 6:1-11 and Col 2:11-13. They both say exactly that.
