Know The Truth – How Can My Sins Be Forgiven?

The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10. According to what the Bible says, if a person says that they have not sinned, they are lying. Honest people will admit that they are sinners. Have you ever thought how Jesus feels about your sins? How do you feel about your personal sins? The apostles were commanded to preach the Gospel to everyone. Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-47; Acts 2:22-24, 36-38. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, repentance and baptism (immersion) are all a part of the preaching of the Gospel. Jesus spoke of forgiveness of sins. What did the apostle Peter say was the purpose of baptism (immersion)? God the Father made Jesus to become sin on our behalf. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. Repentance is produced by godly sorrow. This is a conscious decision to stop sinning and turn to God. 2 Corinthians 7:8-10. God wants all men to repent. Acts 17:29-31.

The apostle Peter commanded believers to repent and be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness (remission) of sins. Acts 2:38. This is what Jesus told them to preach in the commission that was given to the apostles. Does baptism (immersion) save? Let us let the Bible speak! “The like figure whereunto even baptism (immersion) 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. Baptism (immersion) must be preceded by faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Mark 16:16, by repentance, Acts 2:38, and by a confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, Acts 8:37. Baptism is immersion. It is a burial. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12. See Acts 8:35-38 for an example. According to the Bible, baptism is a burial in water. Romans 6:3-4.

The people on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:36-38 heard the Gospel before being baptized (immersed). When one reads Acts 8:9-13, they find that the Samaritans did the same thing. Also in Acts 16:25-34, the Philippian jailor was told that he and his house could be saved and then the Bible says, “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” In Acts 19:1-5, the Ephesians had been baptized without a complete understanding of the Gospel. When they had the right understanding they immediately obeyed the Gospel. Obedience to the Gospel is necessary to be saved. It is the Gospel that calls us to be saved. See 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 2:14. According to Romans 6:1-4, in obedience to the Gospel, you must die to sin, like Jesus died for sin. In obedience to the Gospel, you are buried in a grave of water, like Jesus was buried in a grave (tomb). In obedience to the Gospel, you are immersed into the death of Christ, where He shed His blood and you are resurrected to a new life.