Do you believe Spirit baptism replaces water baptism?

[Titus]

Purely an accident. I care no more for what John said than what the Early Church Father’s said. If I want advice, I prefer “Apostles” and “Prophets” already vetted and bound into 66 books that have stood the test of 2000 years (Well, sort of … there was that whole ‘apocrypha’ incident … but we worked that out.)

Good, now you need some help rightly dividing the only true authority that was given to us by Gods apostles.

 

[atpollard]

God does not directly go to preselected individuals and draw them to Himself.
God draws all through the teaching of the written word, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why did Jesus speak the exact same words to everyone in a crowd, yet only some responded?
EARS TO HEAR.

[Matthew 16:17 NASB20] And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal [this] to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

 

[atpollard]

Good, now you need some help rightly dividing the only true authority that was given to us by Gods apostles.

I strongly disagree … I need all the help I can get!
As a “little Christ” (the literal meaning of Christian), I am a “hot mess”.

 

[Titus]

Glad you asked Sir,

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son

God knows everything
This is why Paul says "those He foreknew"

God already knows all that will give their lives to Him.
This does not mean God preselected certain individuals but
He simply foreknew those who would choose Him.

"For those whom God foreknew, He also predestined"...

Paul does not mean certain individuals were already preselected, hand picked by God to be predestined.

Paul means those God already knows who will give their lives to Him are predestined to be saved IN CHRIST!!!

Not individually predestined.

Yes, the Bible teaches predestination but not of certain individuals.
All that believe in Jesus' gospel are predestined to be saved IN CHRIST.


God predestined before the world to save those who believe and obey Him in Christ,
Paul says so in Ephesians 1:11,
- In Jesus also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will

God did not predestined certain individuals to be saved but rather predestined THE PLACE WHERE MEN ARE SAVED. THAT PLACE IS IN CHRIST.

Therefore those in Christ are predestined to be saved, those outside of Christ are predestined to be lost.

This is a choice given to ALL individuals!!! No favoritism with God, Acts 10:34-35.

Whether I get into Christ or not by being baptized is entirely up to each individual,
Galatians 3:27,
- for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ

All are invited to come to the Lord.
Matthew 11:28; Revelation 22:17
Why are all invited if all are not allowed to come?

 

[MatthewG]

Pistis is faith.

Faith is Gods persuasion which you put your trust in.

You hear the word - you are either drawn in or you reject.

 

[Johann]

I might not be able to avoid sounding like a Calvinist … I am a Particular Baptist (a Baptist that believes that Jesus’ Atonement was for ‘particular’ - aka. Specific - people rather that for all people in ‘general’ - aka. General Baptist).

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

• Nobody is able to come to Jesus - although technically, nobody is willing would be more accurate, as in
  • [John 3:19-20 NASB20] "And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.”
  • everybody sins, so everybody hates the Light and fears their deeds will be exposed.
  • we naturally run and hide just like Adam and Eve
• rather than let EVERYONE be damned (Justice, but no mercy), God the Father steps in and DRAWS some (irresistible pull, like fish in a net or a sword from a sheath) to the Son.
  • [Ephesians 2:1-5 NASB20] And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
  • Father chooses, Son saves, Holy Spirit perseveres.
• Jesus promises to finish what the Father starts … to loose NONE that the Father has given Him.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.

• All without distinction, not all without exception.
• [Rev 5:6-10 NASB20] And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took [the scroll] out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased [people] for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them [into] a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth."
• every tribe, language, people and nation = “all men” without distinction

So I got no conflict or tension. I have a God who “will show mercy on whom He will show mercy”.

"will draw all men to Me"

This may be an allusion to YHWH's covenant love for Israel in Jer. 31:3 which, of course, is the passage on "the new covenant" (cf. Jer. 31:31-34). God woos people by His love for and actions toward them. This same metaphorical use of this term is in John 6:44 and explained in John 6:65.

Here the "all" is the universal invitation and promise of redemption (cf. Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5; Isa. 2:2-4; John 1:9,12,29; 3:16; 4:42; 10:16; 1 Timothy 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14)!
44. οὐδεὶς δύναται. It is a moral impossibility: comp. Joh_3:3; Joh_3:5, Joh_5:44, Joh_8:43, Joh_12:39, Joh_14:17, Joh_15:4-5. The οὐδείς corresponds to the πᾶν in Joh_6:37, as ἑλκύσῃ to δίδωσιν: all that are given shall reach Christ; none but those who are drawn are able to come to Him.

Makes sense-doesn't it?


The aor. ἐλθεῖν expresses the result, rather than the process, as in τὸν ἐρχόμενον (Joh_6:37), and ἔρχεται (Joh_6:45).
ἑλκύσῃ. Comp. Joh_12:32, πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν. Unlike σύρειν, ‘to drag’ (Act_8:3; Act_14:19; Act_17:6), ἑλκύειν does not necessarily imply force, but mere attraction of some kind, some inducement to come. Comp. Jer_31:3, ‘with lovingkindness have I drawn thee’ (εἵλκυσά σε), and Virgil’s trahit sua quemque voluptas. Ἑλκίσῃ expresses the internal process, δίδωσιν (Joh_6:37) the result.
κἀγώ.
Cambridge Greek.

The Father begins the work of salvation, the Son completes it. The Father draws and gives; the Son receives, preserves, and raises up to eternal life.

Also-
5:9-10 There is a significant Greek manuscript variant related to the PRONOUN "us."

The NKJV has the PRONOUN "us" in Rev. 5:9, "have redeemed us to God," and in Rev. 5:10, "and have made us kings and priests to our God."

Most modern translations (NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB) omit "us" in both verses. If "us" is present in both verses then Jesus' sacrificial death includes the twenty-four elders who seem to be angelic creatures. Nowhere in the Bible is Jesus' death related to angelic redemption. Also, the presence of "them" (autous) in Rev. 5:10 grammatically excludes the possibility of "us" being original. The United Bible Society's fourth edition rates the two PLURAL PRONOUN'S omission as "certain."

Us (ἡμᾶς)
Read αὐτοὺς them.<< Us-or Them?

5:9 "And they sang a new song" In the OT there are many allusions to the new song (cf. Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1 and Isa. 42:10). At every major event in the OT, the people of God were encouraged to sing a new song praising God's activity. This is the ultimate song about God's revealing Himself in the Messiah and the Messiah's work of redemption on behalf of all believers (cf. Rev. 5:9,12,13; 14:3).

The emphasis on "new" things is characteristic of the new age in Isaiah 42-66.

"new things," Isa. 42:9
"new song," Isa. 42:10
"do something new," Isa. 43:19
"new things," Isa. 48:6
"new name," Isa. 62:6
"new heavens and new earth," Isa. 65:17; 66:22
In Revelation there are also many "new things."

"new Jerusalem," Rev. 3:12; 21:2
"new name," Rev. 2:17; 3:12
"new song," Rev. 5:9,10,12,13; 14:3
"new heaven and new earth," Rev. 21:1

"Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals" This new song (Rev. 5:9-10) is a fivefold description of the worthiness of the Lamb.

substitutionary death (cf. Rev. 5:6,9,12; 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:18-19)
redemptive price paid (cf. Rev. 5:9; 14:3-4; Mark 10:45; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23; 1 Tim. 2:6)
purchased men from every nation (cf. Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6)
made the believers a kingdom of priests (cf. Rev. 1:6; 5:10)
they will reign with Him (cf. Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 20:4)
"from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" This is a recurrent metaphor of universality (cf. Rev. 7:9; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6). It may be an allusion to Dan. 3:4,7.

"and purchases for God with Your blood" This is surely a reference to the vicarious atonement of the Lamb of God. This concept of Jesus as the sacrifice for sin is central in Revelation (cf. Rev. 1:5; 5:9,12; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8; 14:4; 15:3; 19:7; 21:9,23; 22:3) and also in all the NT (cf. Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:8; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:28; and 1 Pet. 1:18-10).



5:10 "have made them to be a kingdom and priests" This is an allusion to Exod. 19:6 and Isa. 61:6. This terminology is now used for the Church, the new Great Commission people of God (cf. Rev. 1:6; 20:6; 1 Pet. 2:5,9). See note at Rev. 1:6.
Utley.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.


Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?


Exo_33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.


Rom_9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Rom 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

And I have a God who have mercy and compassion-and also hardens.
But you are correct-the natural tendency of man is to RUN AWAY from God and the light-not to come TO the Phos and have his evil deeds exposed.

There is a member here who don't hold to the vicarious atonement of Christ Jesus-it is only "expiatory"

Shalom
J.

 

[Johann]

God did not predestined certain individuals to be saved but rather predestined THE PLACE WHERE MEN ARE SAVED. THAT PLACE IS IN CHRIST.

May I ask for a Scripture reference to this statement brother?
Thanks
J.

 

[St. SteVen]

Not really helping anyone since your understanding of John's words is lacking. You must understand who John's audience was and must read further in Luke 3 and Matt 3 to further interpret Acts 2 correctly. It was the apostles who were baptized with the Holy Ghost which references back to the promise made by the Lord in Luke 24:49 as the power from on high (Read Luke 24:36-49). That power was for the apostles which they did receive as per Acts 2 and which they were further able to impart to others in the form of manifestations of the Spirit (the gifts) that were made manifest by the laying on of their hands.

Luke calls the audience a generation of vipers and Matt goes further stating the audience consisted of Pharisees and Sadducees. And when you read further down in Matthew 3 you understand that the baptism of fire is actually the unquenchable fires of hell, and that's in direct reference to what's in store for the aforementioned audience as result of the purge mentioned.


Matt 3:7-12

7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Can you answer the topic question?

Why hadn't the baptized believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit?

Why hadn't the baptized believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit? Just to be clear, I do not question whether the believers in Samaria had received the "indwelling" Spirit when they believed. They were missing something else. Acts 8:14-17 NIV When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that...

www.christianityboard.com

 

[Grailhunter]

Hmmmm.....What man taught you that history? The Church didn't kill people for ready Scripture. That is a complete lie. You should learn Christian history instead of giving your opinion about it.I am Catholic and no one has tried to kill me for reading the bible for myself. As a matter of fact the church I go to has bible study soooooooooo whatever man taught you that lie....you can put it to rest.

Who taught you this garbage?

Mary you should follow your own advise......learn history.

The Catholic Church killed tens of thousands......But did it? Did the Pope and the Bishops take their swords and get on horses and go out and kill people? No, that is not really the point. Today we have separation of Church and State...not so back then. Most countries and or kingdoms took orders from the Catholic Church. People were killed or imprisoned by order of the Catholic Church. Then you had the inquisitions and witch hunts, but even then when priests and monks witnessed and documented the tortures and deaths....they did not touch the victims.....they let someone else do the dirty work.

Now as far as the Bible....Emperor Constantine ordered the first bound Bibles....mid 4th century...the Fifty Bibles of Constantine...hand written and illustrated.....but none were given out to the congregations ...and that is the way it was until the 17th century. The invention of the Guttenberg Press and the Protestant reform pretty much blew the lid off of that.

Now as far as killing people for translating the Bible and distributing the Bibles....there is a lot of historical evidence to this but again the priests did not march out and kill people for having Bibles. And again most European countries obeyed the Catholic Church so they made it illegal to translate the Bible or print it. Even William Tyndale who translated the Bible and smuggled Bibles, was not killed by a priest....He was killed because the Catholic Church had the countries make it illegal to produce and distribute Bibles.

Historical notes....
When Queen Mary, or “Bloody Mary,” came to the throne in the 1550s. She wanted to return England to the Roman Catholic Church, and thus it again became illegal to print English Bibles. Hundreds of Protestants lost their lives and many fled to Europe, a number ending up in Geneva, Switzerland.

And do not forget the Thirty Year War between the Catholics and Protestants....look it up

And again it is true that the Catholic Church wanted complete control the Bible. They had 1250 years to give their congregations Bibles....and they did not until they lost control of it. I went to Catholic schools and college and in college I could buy Bibles but when I was a kid there were no Bibles available in a Catholic school for kids.

There are a lot of good things that the Protestant reform did for the world and dethroning the Catholic Church was just one of them. And our founding fathers were smart enough to learn from history and insisted on separation of Church and State.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

You continue to be wrong and not understanding scripture. I'm not boasting of my works! Where did you get that from???

Cite the scripture(s) on the so called
HS baptizing us. The scripture, if it's the one I think you're referring to is, Romans 6:3-6 below which is clearly referring to water baptism as it's comparing it to a burial and resurrection like as Christ. Has zero to do with "HS" baptism ad you've stated and inferred.

And you conveniently changed the sequence of events of Acts 2:38 by putting the receipt of the Holy Spirit before baptism, not after and as a result thereof. Changing scripture to suite your beliefs really doesn't work.

Rom 6:3-6

3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Acts 2:38

38Then 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.

Romans 6 does not refere to water baptism. there is no water in the passage. we were baptized into Christ. Not water.

You do not understand the word and how it is used in the greek.

Same with acts.. You do not understand the greek and how it is written.

I do not need to show you how you are boasting of your works. your boasting of your baptism.. it is clear for all to see

 

[Eternally Grateful]

You just admitted that faith alone salvation is fictitious!!!

No.

I just admitted we are saved by faith alone, But faith is never alone.

Better get out of your Baptist sect! That is the doctrine your church teaches.

You better get out of whatever legalistic religion you are under

You quoted Ephesians 2:8-9,
Saved by Grace through faith NOT WORKS

Except you do as all faith onlyist's do and say ALL works are not involved in salvation.

You never learned that Paul is teaching meritorious works in Ephesians 2:8-9,
Do you not know that there are all kinds of works in the Bible?

Please show me the word meritorious works.

even then, do you even understand what the word means? It means you are working to merit something.

is that not what a works based salvation is?

If faith saves and it does then we must work the commandment to believe in Jesus, 1John 3:23-24.
You cannot have faith alone(no works) salvation without the obedient work of obeying the commandment to believe in Jesus, 1John 3:23-24.

this makes no sense..

it is the work of God we believe. it is not my work. I am just trusting him and his work and what he did to save me as he promised.

Also do you not realize that you are making contradictory statements?

You said there is no such thing as faith alone
Then you said faith minus works equals faith minus nothing.

How it is contradictory?

Not by works of righteousness which we have done (works) but by his mercy he saved us.

For we have been saved by grace through faith. not of work

I was not saved by faith, I was saved by Grace, My faith allowed me to receive his grace.

there are no works of merit.

Those two statements contradict one another.

No they do not..

Faith minus works equals faith minus nothing
Faith minus nothing = FAITH ALONE

When faith is alone it is not true saving faith!!!
As you already said there is no such thing as faith alone.

Well Sir, there is such a thing as faith alone, the Bible teaches about it.
James 2:19,
- you believe there is one God, you do well, even the demons believe...

The demons have a belief that is apart from good works, thus faith without works is faith alone.

So the Bible does teach there is faith alone and that this faith alone cannot save,
James 2:24,
- you see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone

Your stuck on james, who is talking to a licentious group who thinks they are saved because they merely believed (no faith) and they had a claimed faith only


You also make James contradict paul.

Romans 4:
4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:


7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin"

Paul. Talking to Jews. who were trying to add works to faith as a means of salvation.

You need to concentrate on romans, Romans is written to you. Stop concentrating on James. James is not written to you, because you do not have an issue like the people James spoke to.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Does this?

[Romans 8:28-30 NASB20] And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers [and sisters;] and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What about this?

[Ephesians 1:3-14 NASB20] Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons [and daughters] through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding [His] plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of [God's own] possession, to the praise of His glory.

sadly,

some people are stuck in a calvin vs arminian debate and can;t see outside of the lens of these two groups

 

[DJT_47]

Romans 6 does not refere to water baptism. there is no water in the passage. we were baptized into Christ. Not water.

You do not understand the word and how it is used in the greek.

Same with acts.. You do not understand the greek and how it is written.

I do not need to show you how you are boasting of your works. your boasting of your baptism.. it is clear for all to see

Baptism IS water baptism unless otherwise specifically stated starting with the precedent established by John's baptism, so the mere mention of baptism IS water immersion.

 

[mailmandan]

No.

I just admitted we are saved by faith alone, But faith is never alone.

You better get out of whatever legalistic religion you are under

Please show me the word meritorious works.

even then, do you even understand what the word means? It means you are working to merit something.

is that not what a works based salvation is?

this makes no sense..

it is the work of God we believe. it is not my work. I am just trusting him and his work and what he did to save me as he promised.

How it is contradictory?

Not by works of righteousness which we have done (works) but by his mercy he saved us.

For we have been saved by grace through faith. not of work

I was not saved by faith, I was saved by Grace, My faith allowed me to receive his grace.

there are no works of merit.

No they do not..

Your stuck on james, who is talking to a licentious group who thinks they are saved because they merely believed (no faith) and they had a claimed faith only

You also make James contradict paul.

Romans 4:
4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin"

Paul. Talking to Jews. who were trying to add works to faith as a means of salvation.

You need to concentrate on romans, Romans is written to you. Stop concentrating on James. James is not written to you, because you do not have an issue like the people James spoke to.

Works-salvationists will never come to understand the difference between faith (rightly understood) in Christ "alone" for salvation (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works (James 2:14-24) until they repent and believe the gospel. (2 Corinthians 4:3,4)

The Bible clearly states in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications." (Luke 7:50; 8:12; John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 11:17; 13:39; 15:9; 16:31; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:24-28; 4:5; 5:1; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:6-9, 26; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:39; 1 John 5:13 etc..).

Now you don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture in order to figure out that the words, "belief/faith" stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Hence, FAITH ALONE. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus works? NO. So, then it's faith (rightly understood) in Christ alone.

Not to be confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works. (James 2:14-24)

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-24)

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works.*

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24-28; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-24) *Perfect Harmony*

 

[DJT_47]

Can you answer the topic question?

Why hadn't the baptized believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit?

Why hadn't the baptized believers in Samaria received the Holy Spirit? Just to be clear, I do not question whether the believers in Samaria had received the "indwelling" Spirit when they believed. They were missing something else. Acts 8:14-17 NIV When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that...

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​ The answer is simple and found below in Acts 8. The apostles prayed that they MIGHT (not would) receive the Holy Ghost and then laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.So it required the laying on of the apostle's hands that the MANIFISTATION of the Spirit might happen, the GIFTS, of the Spirit. This says 2 things: 1. the manifestation of the Holy Spirit required the laying on of the apostle's hands, and 2. It wasn't automatic that everyone would for certain receive a gift, hence the word "might" was used. Acts 8 14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

 

[atpollard]

God knows everything
This is why Paul says "those He foreknew"

This conflates two distinct aspects of God.
"God knows everything" points to His omniscience and reflects knowledge of facts. No fact catches God by surprise ... God cannot "learn" something new. [I will discuss that in your second part.]
"those he foreknew" refers to PEOPLE rather than facts. The claim is not omniscience (as you said, God knew everything) rather the verse is speaking of RELATIONSHIP. God knew these people relationally BEFORE God predestined and called and justified and glorified ... us. Elsewhere (Ephesians 1:4), we learn that this relationship predates the world.

God already knows all that will give their lives to Him.
This does not mean God preselected certain individuals but
He simply foreknew those who would choose Him.

While the points above are true, they are irrelevant.
The flaw is that you have made God's plan predicated on man's actions [decisions]. However, God's plan predates creation and, therefore, cannot rely on anything outside of God as its cause. [This is the law of First Cause].

Only God is the FIRST (uncaused) Cause. Anything that acts on God becomes either THE First Cause (making that thing God and God a second cause) or another "Uncaused Cause" [called Dualism]. So unless we are prepared to embrace the view that there are TWO GODS in eternity past (God's Will and Our Will), then our future decisions cannot be the cause of God's actions. The "cause" (reason) for God's actions MUST originate from within God himself [the uncaused cause].

 

[Behold]

​ they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

That's water, and notice that it didn't save anyone. It didnt wash away anyone's sin.

 

[atpollard]

This is a choice given to ALL individuals!!! No favoritism with God, Acts 10:34-35.

Respectfully, NOBODY can read the Bible and seriously claim that there is no favoritism with God.

Tell that to the Canaanites and the Egyptians ... God's OTHER chosen people.

 

[Behold]

Respectfully, NOBODY can read the Bible and seriously claim that there is no favoritism with God.

Tell that to the Canaanites and the Egyptians ... God's OTHER chosen people.

Romans 2:11

 

[Johann]

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-24)

Why is it so many miss this?