Objection 24

From Sovereign Grace and the Scope of Election: A Comparative Examination of Attainment Theology and Grace Theology, with Particular Attention to the Question of Whether God's Elect Are Found Among All Nations and Religions

Acts 2:38, "Repent, and be baptized... for the remission of sins.

The Greek preposition eis ("for") regularly means "with reference to, on the basis of", as in Matthew 12:41, the Ninevites "repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonas": because of it, not in order to obtain it. Men are baptized for remission the way a man is decorated for valor, the valor precedes the medal. Peter's hearers were already "pricked in their heart" (2:37), the Spirit's quickening work, before a drop of water; and Peter's own commentary later settles his theology: in Cornelius's house the Spirit fell, and only then Peter asked, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" (Acts 10:47). Reception of the Spirit first; water afterward, as testimony. If baptism remitted sins, Peter administered the seal before the transaction.