The reason I said that the Jews were accepting the authority of Jesus (Lordship) in Acts 2 and did not emphasize “for the forgiveness of sins” is because I do not believe “for the forgiveness of sins” is what made this baptism unquie. That does not mean I disagree that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, because I do believe that preposition looks forward to forgiveness. But imagine if Peter had only said “repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins” (which he did not despite hearing this verse misquoted more than a few times in my life to suggest that Peter did only say that prepositional phrase). Since it is very probably that many of those Jews may have already been baptized for the forgiveness of sins by John the Baptist, what would be the point of baptism? But when you learn that this baptism is in the name of Jesus and that it is associated with the reception of the Holy Spirit, then there is very big reasons for accepting this baptism. First, to accept this baptism is to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus (as I already pointed out). Secondly, it is to accept the gift of God’s salvation that comes not through the Law of Moses but through the blood of Jesus Christ.
So your question is a good question to ask but you are also reading to much into what I did not say in the last post. I certainly believe that baptism is God’s means of raising us into Christ where salvation is found, though I also believe scripture suggests that God can and is willing to use other operative means (but baptism is the normative). Where I would differ from what has been emphasized by some in the CoC is that I do not believe “for the forgiveness of sins” is the most important aspect of baptism. I would agree with Harding and Lipscomb that obedience is the highest motive for being baptized (i.e., we are being baptized to be obedient to the command of God). As for other purposes for baptism, I believe the self-surrender of our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is a higher motive than being baptized to find forgiveness. Rather than worrying about how God is going to forgive us, people who believe in Jesus should be baptized as commanded and just trust that God will save them (despite whatever difficulties and/or complexities one might have with interpreting certain baptismal passages).
In short, I teach people who want to follow Jesus that they should repent, be baptized, be committed to their local church and its mission, and be committed to living the life they have now been called too. Thought very simplified, I teach that because that is what I believe is necessary if people are to become and continue being disciples. I believe I am being faithful to the Lord and to the teaching of his word in doing so. He will be my judge and I pray that he will have mercy because I do know that I am far from flawless.

Grace and peace,

Rex

Where am I missing it. I just can’t see what you and many are saying.

I do not disagree that it is important for be given the opportunity to respond to God’s call (invitation) but for the most part, our culture has changed and most people be more like to respond to such an invitation if it was in a different format (i.e., I mentioned the struggling brother who showed up early for our early prayer group to pray with him). Further, unless someone has already decided they need to be baptized, it is doubtful that a few proof-texts from scripture about the so-call ‘plan of salvation’ will pursuade them.

One common flaw we tend to have is assuming that we are preaching to the same audience and same context as Peter did on the day of Pentecost. The Jews that responded on the day of Pentecost were already committed to God. They were monotheistic believers in God the creator, having already committed their lives to the will of God. Their only problem was their failure to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was part of God’s will. Once they came to belief in Jesus they changed (repentance) and we baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (accepting the authority of Jesus). So it was not as if they needed to be taught about what it means to live a life for God (discipleship), for they were already striving to do that. Many in our North American context are different and do need to be taught about the life of discipleship. When they are not and when they are only taught to be saved from sins, I am afraid that we are making converts to salvation but not disciples of Jesus whose allegiance is to the Kingdom of God alone. Without the later, we fail the Great Commision and produce a church that our Lord never intended for.

Grace and peace,

Rex

And As I said I was the one spewing, spitting and sputtering. Thank you for calling me out.

I have learned that labels such as liberal or any other have done nothing but harm. If there is a thinking I disagree with I address that thinking specifically I do not label the person who has the idea with which I disagree. Especially when it is a fellow believer. The word change agent is now thrown around as a derogatory term such as hardliner or legalist. I am calling all to stop this name calling and focus on the actual ideas and information.