"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'"
(Acts 2:38 NKJV)

we must be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins

Has there ever been a passage so controversial as this one? Probably not. Why is this so? It is not because the language is unclear, poorly stated, or illogical. Many children have understood its teaching. It is not because the connection between baptism and the forgiveness of sins had never been heard before. “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4).

It is not because Jesus had failed to speak of it. His closing words to His disciples gave them a great commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

It is not because Peter understated the importance of repentance and baptism. Verse 38 clearly connects obedience to these commands with the forgiveness of sins. In fact, the imperatives of this passage were so clearly comprehended by Peter’s audience that a large number obeyed on this very occasion of the first gospel sermon. “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:42).

There are simple reasons why so many misunderstand this clear passage —

1. Many are prejudiced against Scriptural baptism. Some even admit what the passage says, but reject any concept of salvation that requires human action.
2. Another large number rejects the teaching that water could have anything to do with being saved. (At one time, Naaman would have agreed in principle with their objection; happily he learned better, 2 Kings 5.)
3. Professional deceivers have convinced people that they are saved before and without water baptism. (They simply refuse to believe that the Lord would require it.)

A gospel preacher in Texas wrote professors on a Greek website, asking about the preposition for in Acts 2:38 —could for the remission of sins be used in a retrospective way instead of looking forward (that is, baptism because of remission of sins)?

One of the most learned professors replied, “I’d like to see any evidence for such a claim; I don’t believe it is so.”

This same preposition occurs in Matthew 26:28 —Jesus’ blood is shed for many for the remission of sins.

This means that all standard translations are correct: “for the remission of sins” means that they (and we) must be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins. How simple!

Some religious people reject Jesus, the Son of God, not because of powerful evidence that forces them to this conclusion. Others just as readily reject the Scriptures as the word of God, not because powerful evidence is lacking to prove His claims. In like manner, many reject the Lord’s commandments — baptism being one of them. Again, they do not reach this conclusion because of overwhelming evidence, but because of prejudice.

– Rick Duggin