16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Christians and Jews are both anti Acts 2:38.
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Lifelong_sinner
Well-Known Member
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
Jesus offered Salvation BEFORE physical death.
OT ——> and forward to this day....Men can Believe to their physical death, and become SAVED at the time of physical death.
( You are saying NO GENTILES could be SAVED BEFORE Jesus arrived on EARTH. ) not true. The Spirit of God is what SAVES Men. (FOR centuries a mans soul was Saved ONLY at the times of the (believing) mans physical death.)
FALSE....NO ONE (JEW OR GENTILE_ could be SAVED “BEFORE THEIR PHYSICAL DEATH”, UNTIL ....Jesus arrived on earth, LEFT Earth and Returned to HEAVEN.
The FIRST to BE SAVED, WHILE PHYSICALLY ALIVE, were the Disciples Jesus Chose (who remained WITH Him), and at the same time, about 110 other followers, believers IN Jesus. (All gathered together, as described in ACTS).
MANY men......JEWS and GENTILES, who BELIEVED in God, BELIEVED in His WORD......were SAVED (OT...NT...and to this day)....at the TIME of their “PHYSICAL DEATH”.
GRACE ambassador
Well-Known Member
Precious friends, true and true. Of course, only with God's Word Of Truth,
Rightly Divided, will the seeming Contradiction be resolved:
"Divider" Poll 13 Bible baptisms
Good day....
Being born again of the Spirit occurs whenever any one believes in Jesus Christ and so it is equivalent with salvation as this is a promise sent from the Father in Jesus's name.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
If you are referring to Pentecostalism/Charismatics in their laying on of hands for the baptism with the Holy Ghost by a sign as separate from salvation, that, brother, is apostasy. You can discern that with Jesus Christ at that throne of grace by how that supernatural phenomenon keeps on happening after that, by other signs where you may see some falling backwards in a loss of self control and yet God is not the author of confusion.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
John 16:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The problem here is you are reading Acts 2:38 into Acts 10:43 whereas I am reading Acts 10:43 into Acts 2:38 and aligning it as true by pointing out for the Jews to repent from unbelief for crucifying Jesus Christ, is by believing in Him is how they received the remission of sins same as the Gentiles.
Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
I am taking both verses together. When both verses are taken together it become clear that belief, repentance and baptism are necessary for salvation. Example, many take John 3:16 and wrongly declare from just this ONE verse that "belief only" saves while they purposefully ignore verses that require repentance (Luke 13:3) confession (Matthew 10:32-33) and baptism (Mark 16:16). Paul did not shun to declare ALL the counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and cherry picking John 3:16 is not declaring all God's counsel on salvation. Rarely does just one verse exhaust all there is to know about a topic.
No. Peter telling the Jews that had crucified Jesus in unbelief to repent which means repenting from unbelief by believing in Him is how they really received the remission of sins same as the Gentiles did.
That is not exactly what James had said nor what he was talking about. The church was disrespecting the poor as James was rebuking at the beginning of chapter 2 and the church was verbalizing their faith in God's Providence to the poor after church service in getting out of helping the poor from the bounty collected at church service. So James reference to them believing in God in pointing out the devils also believe in God & tremble was to point out their belief in God's Providence was dead in the eyes of the poor as the church's faith will not profit the poor nor save the poor seeing how the church hardly leads by example of the church's so called professed faith in God to provide.
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James referenced Abraham in regards to the offering up of Isaac as that story is well known to Jews that it was about faith in God providing.
Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.
The name of the place proves what faith that needs works that James was referencing Abraham and Isaac for. So the church that voice faith in God's providence should do so by leading by example to the poor so the poor can see the church's faith to profit the poor & save the poor.
So James was never talking about the faith in Jesus Christ for salvation because it is without works. It is faith in God's Providence when sharing that faith to others, that it needs to be led by example.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
If we had to get water baptized also for us to obtain salvation, then how can that be without works on our part?
Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
I NEVER said Gentiles could not be saved prior to Christ coming to earth. I have, for example, in various posts of mine pointed to Rahab, a Gentile, who was saved (James 2:25). Yet Rahab did not live under the NT so she was not amenable to Acts 2:38, no one is amenable to laws that do not exist. Yet when Christ did come to earth bringing His NT, men are now today under that NT which requires men to believe (John 8:24) repentance (Luke 13:3) confession (Matthew 10:32-33) baptism (Mark 16:16).
Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
"Baptism doth also noW save us " 1 Peter 3:21
Some try and change the "w" in the word 'now" to a 't'.
Peter was speaking to the Jews that had taken part in crucifying Jesus in unbelief. They were pricked in their hearts and had asked Peter what they were to do.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Your problem is not seeing how the only thing they were convicted of was crucifying Jesus in unbelief, that the act of repentance from that required them to repent from unbelief which is by believing in Him is how they got the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Because that is how the Gentiles had received their remission of sins by believing in Him. Same gospel; you are just adhering water baptism being interjected in between repent & remission of sins as the means for the remission of sins when it was repenting from unbelief by believing in Him is how the Jews & Gentiles are saved.
Thank you for sharing.
Baptism with the Holy Ghost now saves us, not by water which is used for putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God by believing in Jesus Christ.
Did I suggest (see what I did there?) otherwise? No, I did not.
No, Peter encouraged, exhorted, urged sinners ~ and in these words we, by extension, are getting the same encouragement, exhortation, and urging ~ to respond positively to Acts 2:38, to God's invitation to repent of sin and believe on Christ so as therefore to receive eternal life in Christ, because the promise is for them and their children. He's saying, "Hey, you asked how, and this is how." It's a proclamation. This is what preachers and evangelists do.
Grace and peace to you.[/QUOTE]
A clarity on my agreement with you is that repenting from the sin of unbelief for those Jews as part of the mob for having crucified Jesus on the cross was all that was required for the remission of sins for them. Since the Gentiles' remission of sins was believing in Him, so is the same for the Jews.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Jesus explained to Nicodemus that one is born again after His ascension which is after His crucifixion for when ever any one believes in Jesus Christ for eternal life. John 3:7-16
Evangelists should clarify the call to repent is from unbelief by believing in Him for salvation because sinners need Jesus in them to deliver them from their sins & keep them from their sins daily ( Hebrews 12:1-2 1 John 3:3 & 1 John 3:8 & 2 Timothy 4:18 & Jude 1:24-27 ).
Evangelist should inform sinners that Jesus can save them from their sins & not just give eternal life for all those that come to & believe in Him.
Thank you for sharing.
Ah! So no, the 'for' is in fact 'for' and not 'because' (of course), but this speaks directly to what seems to be the issue. Not that they are already saved, but the people to whom Peter was speaking were asking the question (addressing Peter and the rest of the apostles as brothers, which shouldn't be but is apparently being missed by some here), "...what shall we do?” And they asked this question because they were "cut to the heart," words of the Holy Spirit, through Luke here, that carry great meaning.
I'll leave it at that, except to say two things:
1.) Just because Peter says what he says in the imperative does not make it a command. If someone were to ask me, for example, "How do I make it less likely to be seriously affected or even die from COVID-19?", and I answer, "Get vaccinated!", I am not somehow commanding anyone to get vaccinated, but am answering the question and... urging them to action.
2.) That the response Peter gives in answer to their question is not a command does not make it somehow less important for them (or us) to act. But what Peter says there in Acts 2 is not a command, but an encouragement, exhortation, and a great urging to action and of great import.
Grace and peace to all.
Last edited:
GRACE ambassador
Well-Known Member
op: acts_2:38?
Precious friends, Only by "studying God's Word Of TRUTH, Rightly
Divided," can Satan's Confusion be Vanquished Into Oblivion!:
Prophecy/Law for ISRAEL:
►►► The Twelve Were Sent to {water} baptize! ◄◄◄
The TWO Main (of 12) baptismS =
A) water, For remission of sins/induction into Israeli "priesthood!":
(Matthew_3:5-6; Mark_1:4; Luke_3:3; John_1:31; Especially Luke 7:29-30;
Acts_10:37; Matthew_28:19; Mark_16:16; Acts_2:38, 22:16; Ezekiel_36:25)
+
B) WITH The Holy Spirit, Poured Out By CHRIST, for power, signs And wonders!
(Isaiah_44:3; Matthew_3:11; Mark_1:8, 16:17-18;
Luke_24:49; Acts_2:17-18, 38, 8:15-17, 11:16)
Prophecy/Law
Rightly Divided (2 Timothy 2:15) From “Things That DIFFER!” {online}:
Mystery/GRACE! =
our "apostle to the Gentiles" for The Body Of CHRIST:
►►► Paul Was Not Sent to {water} baptize! Why Not?: ◄◄◄
Today: Only ONE Baptism = "BY" The ONE Spirit = God's OPERATION,
Spiritually Identifying members In (The ONE Body Of) CHRIST!!
(Ephesians 4:5; Colossians_2:12; Galatians_3:27;
Romans_6:3-4; ►►► 1 Corinthians 12:13 ◄◄◄)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: God's ONE Baptism Today? = ONE
Is it not Possible That God's Answer Of "No water baptism, for
us Today," Under HIS Pure GRACE, absolutely vanquishes Satan's
{Many Severely DIVIDED denominations?} Confusion into oblivion!?
---------------------------------------------------
FULL "study" of ALL Bible baptisms is here:
"Divider" Poll THIRTEEN Bible baptisms
LORD JESUS, thank You for This Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided, That Has Solved my Confusion. May This Also be used for the
Encouragement of Many others. Amen.
Precious friends, Only by "studying God's Word Of TRUTH, Rightly
Divided," can Satan's Confusion be Vanquished Into Oblivion!:
Prophecy/Law for ISRAEL:
►►► The Twelve Were Sent to {water} baptize! ◄◄◄
The TWO Main (of 12) baptismS =
A) water, For remission of sins/induction into Israeli "priesthood!":
(Matthew_3:5-6; Mark_1:4; Luke_3:3; John_1:31; Especially Luke 7:29-30;
Acts_10:37; Matthew_28:19; Mark_16:16; Acts_2:38, 22:16; Ezekiel_36:25)
+
B) WITH The Holy Spirit, Poured Out By CHRIST, for power, signs And wonders!
(Isaiah_44:3; Matthew_3:11; Mark_1:8, 16:17-18;
Luke_24:49; Acts_2:17-18, 38, 8:15-17, 11:16)
Prophecy/Law
Rightly Divided (2 Timothy 2:15) From “Things That DIFFER!” {online}:
Mystery/GRACE! =
our "apostle to the Gentiles" for The Body Of CHRIST:
►►► Paul Was Not Sent to {water} baptize! Why Not?: ◄◄◄
Today: Only ONE Baptism = "BY" The ONE Spirit = God's OPERATION,
Spiritually Identifying members In (The ONE Body Of) CHRIST!!
(Ephesians 4:5; Colossians_2:12; Galatians_3:27;
Romans_6:3-4; ►►► 1 Corinthians 12:13 ◄◄◄)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion: God's ONE Baptism Today? = ONE
Is it not Possible That God's Answer Of "No water baptism, for
us Today," Under HIS Pure GRACE, absolutely vanquishes Satan's
{Many Severely DIVIDED denominations?} Confusion into oblivion!?
---------------------------------------------------
FULL "study" of ALL Bible baptisms is here:
"Divider" Poll THIRTEEN Bible baptisms
LORD JESUS, thank You for This Precious Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided, That Has Solved my Confusion. May This Also be used for the
Encouragement of Many others. Amen.
So your bible says this...
Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
My Word of God says this...
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
[8] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
Ah! So no, the 'for' is in fact 'for' and not 'because' (of course), but this speaks directly to what seems to be the issue. Not that they are already saved, but the people to whom Peter was speaking were asking the question (addressing Peter and the rest of the apostles as brothers, which shouldn't be but is apparently being missed by some here), "...what shall we do?” And they asked this question because they were "cut to the heart," words of the Holy Spirit, through Luke here, that carry great meaning.
I'll leave it at that, except to say two things:
1.) Just because Peter says what he says in the imperative does not make it a command. If someone were to ask me, for example, "How do I make it less likely to be seriously affected or even die from COVID-19?", and I answer, "Get vaccinated!", I am not somehow commanding anyone to get vaccinated, but am answering the question and... urging them to action.
2.) That the response Peter gives in answer to their question is not a command does not make it somehow less important for them (or us) to act. But what Peter says there in Acts 2 is not a command, but an encouragement, exhortation, and a great urging to action and of great import.
Grace and peace to all.
God's commands are a necessity not just suggestions men can take or leave with no consequence. There is a cost man cannot afford to pay for not obeying God's commands for those who will not obey and repent will face God's wrath (Romans 2:4-5) be in flaming fire for not obeying the gospel of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Acts of the Apostles 2:41 not obeying the command to be baptized is the same as rejecting the gospel as preached by Peter.
"Imperative Mood - "This expresses action which is not really taking place but which is volitionally possible; i.e., the action will result from the exertion of the will of one to produce action on the part of another. It is the furthest removed from the real action of the indicative mood" [Summers, p. 107]. It is often characterized as the mood of command. If one party can somehow motivate or command the other party to act, then the desired verbal action can take place. The uncertainty is whether or not the party being commanded will respond. Example: "Grab the line, boy!!" One may command such action repeatedly, but commanding does not assure compliance on the part of the one being commanded."
https://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx778.htm
Peter could command, exhort, urge them to repent and be baptized but his commanding them does not "assure compliance". Men are not forced to comply to God's commands but there is a price to be paid (condemnation) for non-compliance. Therefore compliance to God's command to repent and be baptized is a necessity, an essential if one does not want eternal condemnation/wrath of God....there are consequences for non-compliance to imperatives.
Compliance to the imperatives is necessary, essential to be saved/not lost.
Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
1 Peter 3:21 refers to water baptism, the same water baptism Peter commanded to the Jews Acts 2 and Gentiles Acts 10 that saves/remits sins.
OT Type: saved by water (flood)
NT anti-type: saved by water (baptism)
Acts 2 Peter convicted those Jews of their sins, their wicked hands crucified the Messiah. Their conscience was pricked by Peter convicting them of their sins to the point they asked what must we do. The ANSWER Peter gave them for their guilty conscience was to be baptized for remission of sins. Those who obeyed had their sins washed away by the blood of Christ and could face God with a good conscience now.
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