Is Baptism for the Remission of Sins? (Pack of 10)

God’s greatest gift was Jesus on the cross (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 9:15; James 1:17). Jesus died that men might have remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). After His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection, He told His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15–16).

This generation of Christians descends from a long line of preachers who have taken their turn at announcing remission of sins to a lost generation (2 Timothy 2:2). Tens of thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) are baptized every year to wash away their sins. We average more than five baptisms a day just with the House to House/Heart to Heart ministry. Helping sinners receive salvation is a labor of love.

On the church’s inauguration Sunday, Peter preached, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). The word translated “for” in the phrase “for the remission of sins” is the Greek preposition eis.

That small word has been the subject of controversy through the years. Those who teach salvation by faith only contend that it means “because of.” That is, one is baptized because he is already saved. Churches of Christ (among others) say that it means that baptism is
“in order to” be saved. Which interpretation is correct?