Hey John,
If you will allow the word eis to be translated the way that it is on hundreds of times (perhaps over one thousand times) in Scripture, you will discover that we are not repenting and getting baptized "for" the remission of sins, but "into" the remission of sins. Absolutely. In fact, this word, even when translated with words other than "into" nearly always carries with whatever the translation, the nuance of movement "into." In Gal 3:27, we are immersed INTO Christ, and as a result, are putiing him "on." Repentance and baptism are responses to that which has already been provided in Christ. As you know -- I, at times, do not say what I mean to say. What you write beginning with "repentance and baptism ..." is exactly what I beleieve and is a part of my post ---- I think? The "gets us saved" part is already a reality in the finished work of our Savior.And I hope that was somehow present in my statement, What I wrote was my way, at this point in time, of allowing for the biblical teaching of the universality of God's gift in Christ to be coupled with our response AS a function of faith. Where many see "repentance" as a "requirement," something that must be obeyed, the biblical message presents it (repentance, various acts of benevolence, contrition, and so many other "works") as that which springs from faith and a certain move of the God within. Perhaps I did not make this clear. I do agree with you, however, that it is upon believing (which in the context of 2.38 is called repentance) in Jesus Christ that we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Bill
