Thought for Today: “Repent and be Baptized”

Baptism is not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God, wrote Peter. (1 Peter 3:21)

Peter didn’t say, Repent or be baptized, but repent and be baptized. Some people repent but are never baptized, others are baptized but never repent.

Repentance is simply a change of mind that leads to a change in direction. If we are on the way to hell, and we want to go to heaven, we have to turn around. And what baptism does is that it makes our repentance public. Baptism doesn’t save us, instead it shows the world that we are saved.

Peter makes this order clear, repentance and then baptism. And repentance is the key, and baptism is the sign.

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

And the end of Peter’s message, it says, “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41)