How do I reconcile Acts 2:38, Romans 3:28, and James 2:24?

Transcription

1 How do I reconcile Acts 2:38, Romans 3:28, and James 2:24? Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Here we ve got three scriptures in the New Testament saying different things regarding justification. How can they all be right? Let s look at each verse first. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. People explain this verse away by saying that the Greek word for for is eis, and that is can mean because. So, they say that the verse should say repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ because you have the remission of sins. When people get scholarly on you and start referring to the Hebrew or the Greek, it s time to head for the hills. They want you to think: "Well, I don't know Greek. He does. So, if he says it means because, that must be what it means." They really only get scholarly on you to try to confuse you so you won t question them. Forget about the Greek. Let s talk about the English because, even if you are speaking to the world renowned expert in Greek, you cannot take that person s word over the group of expert Greek scholars that translated the

2 Greek into the English King James Version we have today. The KJV editors were translating at the peak of the English language. People today do not have the command of the English language that they did, much less the Greek. Furthermore, there were a whole group of KJV editors. A whole group of experts should be trusted over a divergent expert s opinion. Also, the KJV editors had no doctrine they were trying to enforce. They merely were in charge of translating the original languages into the common language of the day. By contrast, any guy today who tries to tell you what the English translation of Greek should be is peddling his ware of doctrine in an attempt to get more followers and, as a result, more money in his pocket. I Timothy 6:3-10 tells us about these money grubbing heathens, and the conclusion is that for the love of money many have erred from the faith. There are also several other good reasons to trust your KJV over one expert and over other translations, but that discussion will be saved for a Bible discussion. That being said, let us look at the English word for. Webster s 1828 dictionary gives 31 possible meanings for that word. "Because, On account of, By reason of" is meaning #14. Meaning #11 is "Towards the obtaining of; in order to the arrival at or possession of." I am saying that the "for" in Acts 2:38 is meaning #11. Repent and be baptized in order to possess the remission of sins. Others will say that the for in Acts 2:38 is meaning #14. Repent and be baptized on account of the remission of sins you have already received. Which one is right? And, why isn't it one of the other 29 meanings? Well, the answer all depends on the context. That's the case with any word. A lot of English words have multiple definitions and the meaning depends on how it is used. If I say that I am going to the store for a gallon of milk, I am using meaning #11, I am going to the store to possess a gallon of milk. If I say that it will take me a while to get to the store for I am walking, I am using meaning #14, I will take a while to get to the store because I am walking. So, when Peter says "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins," we have to look at the

3 context. Are they to repent and be baptized "because" they have remission of sins, or are they to repent and be baptized in order to obtain remission of sins? Let's look at the context. In Acts 2:4, the apostles speak with other tongues. In verse 5, we are told that there were devout Jews who heard this. These were people obeying the Old Testament and going to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. Verses 6-12 tell us that they were amazed that they heard in their own tongue the wonderful works of God, and they wondered what this meant that they could hear these Hebrews speaking in their own languages. Verse 13 says there were "others mocking" saying "these men are full of new wine." Immediately, in verse 14, Peter stands up and speaks to "ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem." As such, Peter is addressing both groups: 1) The devout men dwelling at Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, and 2) The men of Judea who mocked, saying those men are full of new wine. In verses 15-36, Peter gives a sermon. He says in verse 17 that they are in the last days. In verse 23, he says that Israel crucified Jesus. In verse 36, Peter says that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. As Lord, He will bring wrath. Peter mentions that in verse 20 that wrath will come in the day of the Lord. As Christ, He sits on David's throne. Verse 30 tells us that "he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne." So, Peter, in this sermon, tells them that God sent Jesus, Israel killed him, God raised him from the dead, and sat him on David's throne. He will sit there until God makes his enemies his footstool. Then, he will come back as Lord and execute wrath upon his enemies. Peter also says that this day of wrath is coming soon, because the last days have already started. Verse 37 is their response. They are pricked in their heart and ask "what shall we do?" Given the context, they are asking,

4 "Since the Lord will soon execute wrath upon his enemies, what can we do to be saved from his wrath?" Peter's response is in verses He tells them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. Then, they will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Note at the end of verse 40 he tells them to "save yourselves from this untoward generation." Peter has already brought Israel guilty before God because they crucified Jesus, and he has said that Israel will receive the Lord's wrath soon for doing so. In order to be saved from this punishment, they can repent and be baptized. Repent means to change your mind. They are guilty of shedding innocent blood with all the rest of Israel. They need to change their mind about Jesus. They need to believe He came to redeem Israel and they need to accept their role as God's kingdom of priests. They then need to be water baptized to be ceremonially cleansed from their idolatry so as to be the kingdom of priests to the Gentiles. As such, the 'for" of verse 38 must mean in order to obtain the remission of sins. If it meant "because", it would mean they have already been remitted of their sins. The question then is how could their sins already be remitted if they have not changed their mind about Jesus being their redeemer and they becoming a kingdom of priests and have not been water baptized? In other words, Peter would be saying, "repent and be baptized because your sins have already been remitted." But, how could their sins already be remitted if they have not yet repented? It's important to note the "and" between "repent" and "be baptized." They were not just to be baptized because their sins had already been remitted. They were to repent AND be baptized because their sins had already been remitted. If their sins had already been remitted, why are they asking Peter what they should do? Their response wouldn't be what should we do, their response would be, "Yeah, yeah, I already know this. I've already been forgiven. Let's go tell other people this message." But, instead, they were pricked in their heart and wanted to

5 know how to be saved from the wrath to come. Therefore, the "for" in verse 38, given its context, must mean "in order to obtain." To make it mean "because" is to believe that their sins were magically forgiven at some point in time during Peter's sermon by some method not given in scripture, because it was not by repentance since they still needed to repent according to Peter in verse 38. Therefore, the conclusion is that Acts 2:38 says that repentance and water baptism are required for the remission of sins. Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. By contrast to Acts 2:38, Romans 3:28 says you only have to have faith and you do not need water baptism to be saved. Let us see what is going on here. Since Romans 3:28 starts with a therefore, we need to go back to see what the therefore is there for. Romans 1:20-21 says for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. This passage tells us that people created have been told by God of God, and their response was not to glorify God. God s reaction is that he gave them up to uncleanness (1:24), gave them up unto vile affections (1:26), and gave them over to a reprobate mind (1:28). This three-fold giving up on man came in Genesis 11, when man tried to build the Tower of Babel in clear defiance of God. Genesis 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. Genesis 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:6-7 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one,

6 and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another s speech. God then started a new program in Genesis 12 with the calling of Abram to start the nation of Israel through which God would reconcile the world back to Himself. Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of they country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. After Israel stayed in Egypt for 400 years, building their population, God supernaturally led them away from Egypt. They were now big enough to start God s reconciliation plan of the earth to himself through the nation of Israel. It is at this time that God gives Israel his law for them to obey. Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. So, how did the Jews do at keeping the law? Paul tells us in Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God. Then, in Romans 2:21-24 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery dost thou commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

7 So, in Romans 1, Paul says the Gentiles have disobeyed God. In Romans 2, Paul says the Jews have disobeyed God. The result, then, is in Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. With all being guilty before God and all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (3:23), God brought righteousness to man any way. It is the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (3:22). 3:24-25 says Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Hmmm there s that term the remission of sins like we saw in Acts 2:38. The difference is that this remission of sins comes not by repentance and baptism. Rather, it comes by faith. That is what Romans 3:28 tells us. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. So, now we know what the therefore is there for. All men, both Gentiles and Jews, sinned and were deserving of the wrath of God. But now (3:21) God brought righteousness without following the law. So, what Romans 3:28 is saying is that man could not be justified by the law, Therefore God brought justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Paul makes it clear in this verse that law has no part in man s justification. Justification only comes by faith. So, now that we ve got that settled, let s get confused again by looking at James 2:24. James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

8 What?!?! We just found out that justification is by faith alone, that the law has nothing to do with it. Now, we are told that works are involved in justification. Make up your mind, God! Let s look at what this passage is really saying. James starts his epistle by talking about tribulation. He says to count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (1:2) because the trying of your faith worketh patience (1:3). Then, James beings to talk about the temptations that plague man. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life (1:12). 1:13 tells us that temptation does not come from God. Then, we are told in 1:14-15 that yielding to temptation eventually results in death. Since enduring temptation reaps a crown of life and yielding to temptation results in death, James encourages his audience to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (1:21). Therefore, they need to be doers of the word (1:22). In 2:1-9, James tells his audience not to be respecters of persons. Then, in 2:10, he says whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. So, James starts his epistle by saying that his audience needs to endure tribulation, which are trials that come from without the person. Then, he says that his audience needs to endure temptation, which comes from within the person. Then, he talks about a specific issue of being respecters of persons. Now, in James 2:14, James takes it up a notch. Not only do you need to endure tribulation and endure temptations, you also need to do good works. The motivation behind doing good works is salvation of the soul. James 2:14 says, What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? The implication is that faith alone cannot save man.

9 James reiterates this in 2:17 by saying that faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. He then makes the point that even the devils believe in God (2:19), but they are not saved, because faith without works is dead (2:20). Then, James gives an example of Abraham, saying that Abraham was justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar (2:21). This shows that by works was faith made perfect (2:22). This work of offering Isaac on the altar fulfilled the scripture which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness (2:23). This shows that Abraham needed works to make his faith perfect and, thus, give him righteousness. The conclusion then, is 2:24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Then, James gives another example of Rahab, and how she was justified by works (2:25). James concludes chapter 2, then, by reiterating his conclusion that faith without works is dead (2:26). Note the emphasis on works by James. He says in 2:14 that faith alone cannot save a man, but that he also needs works. In 2:17, he says that faith is dead without works. In 2:20, he says that faith without works is dead. In 2:22, he says that works made faith perfect. In 2:24, he says that faith plus works justifies a man. In 2:26, he says that faith without works is dead. Therefore, 2:24 is not some isolated citing that could be interpreted differently. Rather, SIX times in this section of scripture, James says that works must accompany faith or else faith is useless. Therefore, James clearly says that faith alone does not save. Only faith plus works saves a man. So, what do we make of all of this? All three passages are true, but they say contradictory things. Acts 2:38 says repentance and baptism are required for the remission of sins; Romans 3:28 says that faith alone saves a man; and James 2:24 says that faith plus works saves a man. So, how can all three be true at once?

10 The answer is that only by rightly dividing the word of truth can we understand all three being true. For details on how to rightly divide the word of truth, please see my paper on how to understand the Bible. With this knowledge, we know that Acts 2:38 was part of the Israel program. They were to become a kingdom of priests to reach the rest of the world with the gospel of the kingdom. They were required to change their mind about Jesus and to be water baptized to ceremonially cleanse them for their idolatry. This was the method of salvation through the end of Acts 7. Acts 7 is when Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah after the one-year period of grace that was extended to them per Luke 13:6-8. Acts 9 began the dispensation of the gospel of grace in which salvation is by faith alone. This is what Romans 3:28 refers to. At the rapture, the Body of Christ will leave this world for the heavenly places, and the prophetic program with Israel as God s people again will resume. They will be called to be a kingdom of priests to reach the rest of the world with the gospel of the kingdom. Since they will need to endure until the end to be saved (Matthew 10:22), and they cannot take the mark of the beast at the penalty of death (Revelation 14:9-11). Thus, salvation is not by faith alone. In fact, works will be required. They will need to go to the rest of Israel with the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 10:7), and they will not even finish that work before Jesus second coming (Matthew 10:23). But, if they do not endure until the end by going to the cities of Israel with the gospel of the kingdom and refraining from taking the mark of the beast, they will not be saved (Matthew 10:22). This is what James refers to. Thus, in the tribulation period when Israel is God s people again, they will need to obey James 2:24 by having faith plus works in order to be saved. In conclusion, Acts 2:38 is correct in saying that repentance plus baptism are required for salvation during the gospel of

11 the kingdom program with the nation of Israel during the gospels through Acts 7. Then, Romans 3:28 is correct in saying that salvation is by faith alone ever since then through the time of the rapture. Then, James 2:24 is correct in saying that salvation is by faith plus works during the tribulation period. Therefore, all three are correct, and they mean what they say. However, they are applicable at different times of history depending upon what program God is operating under. Today, the program is the dispensation of the gospel of grace which means that salvation by faith alone as told to us in Romans 3:28 is the plan for today, while Acts 2:38 applied in the past and James 2:24 will apply in the future.