The following is a post from our friend, Shelby Smith (Adino) ...
I think it merits examination in light of this thread ....
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A post exploring the reception of sin remission at the conversion of man's heart in repentance prior to water baptism:
The idea that forgiveness of sins is received at repentance permeates the NT. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each make the point that forgiveness is received at repentance by quoting from
Isaiah 6:10.
Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
To understand with the heart and “convert” in
Isaiah 6:10 meant to “return to God in faith” or to “repent”. To “be healed” meant to be “made whole” or to be “made free from error or sin.” It meant to be forgiven.
Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert (i.e., repent), and be healed (i.e., forgiven).
Those who repented would be forgiven.
Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal (i.e., forgive) them.
See also
Mark 4:11-12 (which uses “forgiven”);
John 12:37-40; and
Acts 28:23-29.
To authors Matthew, Mark, Luke (in Acts), and John, “the heart” turning back to God in repentance brought healing / forgiveness.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Forgiveness is received when the repenting heart converts to faith in Christ.
Luke 24:47
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
The phrase “repentance and remission of sins” in the Nestle Aland Greek version of
Luke 24:47 is “metanoia eis aphesis” which is everywhere else interpreted “repentance FOR (EIS) the remission of sins.”
Mark 1:4
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for (eis) the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for (eis) the remission of sins;
John’s baptism pointed to repentance which was FOR the remission of sins.
There is strong evidence to suggest that
Luke 24:47 teaches that “repentance FOR (EIS) the remission of sins” was to be preached through faith in the name of Jesus!
Acts 10:43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
The repenting heart returning to God via faith in Jesus Christ absolutely SHALL receive the remission / forgiveness of sins.
Acts 2:38 supports this conclusion when you realize that the word “repent” is written in the 2nd person plural, the phrase “be baptized” in the 3rd person singular, and the phrase “for the remission of sins” again in the 2nd person plural.
It is grammatically sound to realize that the 2nd person plural phrases are connected while the insertion of a 3rd person singular phrase is parenthetical. Meaning, sin remission is to be connected to repentance and not to water baptism. Baptism becomes a parenthetical insertion as that which points to the forgiveness received when the repenting heart converts to faith in God through Jesus Christ.