Were the Apostles baptized for the forgiveness of their sins along with the 3000? ~ Pedro Rodriguez, Los Angeles, CA
There is no biblical account of anyone who became a disciple of Christ prior to the establishment of the church in Acts Two, including the apostles, being baptized in Acts Two when the 3,000 were baptized. However, that is quite a different matter from supposing that the early disciples, including the apostles, were not baptized at some time for the forgiveness of their sins. To the contrary, strong biblical evidence exists that the early disciples and apostles were baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, but not in Acts Two when the 3,000 were baptized.
As a forerunner of Christ and a prophet who prepared the way for the ministry of Christ and the establishment of the church, John the Baptist administered a baptism that was for the forgiveness of sins. That baptism also involved repentance, as did the baptism of Acts Two (verse 38). “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4). However, the actual reception of the forgiveness of sins was not received when one received the baptism of John the Baptist, but was contingent on the then pending vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, his subsequent resurrection and Ascension. Likewise, the faithful practice of Patriarchy and Judaism with their animal sacrifices and blood atonement did not provide forgiveness of sins prior to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:1-4).
Jesus, though, shed his blood on the cross that mankind might actually receive the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). Obedience to Divine law under Patriarchy and Judaism (including the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ) netted the forgiveness of sins after the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary.
The apostles, then, plus the 120 disciples of Acts One, 500 other disciples (1 Corinthians 15:6) and as many more disciples of Christ there may have been prior to Acts Two, and who were baptized in the baptism of John the Baptist, had no need of being baptized again in Acts Two when the 3,000 were baptized. The apostles, the 120, the 500 and other disciples of Christ from the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ comprised the initial church of Acts Two, to which the 3,000 were added (by Christ, verse 47) following their baptisms (verse 41).
After Acts Two, when the Lord’s church was established, the baptism of John the Baptist was no longer valid. That is, from Acts Two when the baptism of the Great Commission (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38) was first administered forward, not John’s baptism but the one valid baptism (Ephesians 4:5) for the Christian Age only was effective for the forgiveness of sins. Acts 19:1-7 chronicles 12 disciples who were baptized in John’s baptism apparently after that baptism had been replaced with the Great Commission baptism. Therefore, the apostle Paul baptized those persons (again) in the baptism of the Great Commission, or the baptism administered in Acts Two.
John’s baptism and the Great Commission baptism were similar in that they both involved repentance and baptism for the purpose of persons receiving the forgiveness of sins. They differed in that John’s baptism looked ahead to the cross of Christ and Christian baptism looks backward to the cross of Christ (Acts 19). John’s baptism rendered forgiveness of sins only after the sacrifice of Christ, whereas the baptism of the Great Commission is the point at which persons since Acts Two receive forgiveness of sins. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38).
All persons now living are amenable to the Gospel of Christ and its terms for forgiveness of sins. No one now living can be saved by attempting to comply with either Patriarchy or Judaism (inclusive of anything relative to the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ). “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law [of Moses]; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). There is only one baptism effective today (Ephesians 4:5). It is the baptism practiced in Acts 2:38. It is immersion in water (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). It is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 22:16) or salvation (1 Peter 3:21). It is the only baptism that is commanded (Acts 10:48). As essential as Christian baptism is, it must be preceded by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17), faith (John 8:24), repentance (Acts 17:30) and professing Jesus to be Christ (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10). To be truly effective, Christian baptism must be followed by faithfulness (Revelation 2:10).
