Remember how Paul summed up the heart of the Event.
[I remind you of the Gospel] that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Death. Burial. Resurrection. The Corinthians had not seen the Event. But they believed the eye-witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-15). Here is how Acts describes their response.
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8).
Belief. Change of heart. Baptism. These go together in the New Testament. Every time someone responded positively to hearing the Good News, they spoke their faith, showed their willingness to change their hearts, and were baptized (Matthew 3:6; 28:20; Mark 1:4-5; 16:16; Luke 3:3; John 4:1; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13, 36-38; 13:24; 16:14-15, 30-33; 18:8; 19:1-5; 22:16; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12).
As an example, consider Peter’s message to the Jewish crowd that included the murderers of Jesus. Peter reminded them of their own experiences with Jesus, and showed how God’s prophecies came true. God’s many proofs were so convincing that many Jews cried out, “What shall we do?” Peter replied,
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…. So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:38,41).
Consider Paul. When he was still called Saul, he used to hunt and destroy God’s people. Yet God wanted him to serve as an example of grace (1 Timothy 1:13-16). Jesus reached out to Saul in a direct and startling way (Acts 9, 22, 26). Saul came to realize that the Gospel was true. He recognized the seriousness of his crimes against God. Then the Lord sent Ananias to say to Saul,
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name (Acts 22:16).
Can you imagine Saul’s relief? In justice he should have been punished, and even made an example of God’s anger. Instead God offered forgiveness, showing where He would “wash away” Saul’s sins.
Did you notice the command from Jesus’ messenger, “Be baptized”? The Lord gives an essential role to baptism. We will explore more of this subject, and Saul’s story, in Choosing Good News.