SAVED : without Water

[Ronald David Bruno]

WE are not saved by "choosing Christ" so, your cult commentary is wrong again , Randy.

We are saved by God, because we gave our Faith in Christ to God, and the BELIEVERS faith is "counted as righteousness".

So, Christianity has nothing to do with being "lawful".
Have you ever wondered why those who are "fallen from Grace", or not born again.... worry about law and real believers give God praise for His amazing Grace?
See....
"Christ is the end of the Law, for everyone who believes"
And, The Born again are "not under the Law, but under Grace".

Christianity is to be become a "new creation" in Christ.... and this is without the law, and not by works.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So it is the knowing the Christ died for our sins and rose on the third day; it is our belief in all His promises. Our belief is our faith.
He quickened our spirit, removed the blindness so we could see and believe.
It is as if He touched us with His finger and the LIGHT, LIFE and LOVE became part of us, a spark of life was transfered to us.
That is the gift He gave us. We don't give it back to Him, we just believe. Then we begin to demonstrate/share the Light, Life and Love with others. We confess our sins to God and one another. It is His righteousness that is imputed to us, not our own works. JOHN baptized with water, unto repentance, an outward symbolic expression the coming spiritual cleansing and baptism by the Holy Spirit that Jesus baptised with. The Holy Spirit works in is and through us.
We believe all that, that is our faith. Abraham acted on his belief, his knowledge of God. He had assurance, certainty and conviction of God's promises for the future and he acted on those beliefs, his faith, which was a gift.
God gets all the credit, Christ did the work on the cross, Who is the AUTHOR of our faith.

 

[Behold]

God gets all the credit, Christ did the work on the cross, Who is the AUTHOR of our faith.

He's also the finisher of our faith...

"Jesus is the author and finisher, of our faith"., and its God Himself who will be faithful to complete our Salvation.

Philippians 1:6

Salvation is beautiful Love, as all of it comes from God.
It has to, as Only God can meet God's own Requirements for Righteousness.
We can't meet them, as "all have sinned"... So, God became Christ on the Cross who fulfilled the law, and became the New Covenant, as the Blood Atonement.
Jesus is Salvation, Redemption, Sanctification, Eternal Life, The Resurrection, and "the Gift of Righteousness".
Jesus refers to Himself, as "the WAY" and "no person comes to the Father but by me".... (not by water).

The Cross is the eternal bridge that leads to eternal life.
Noah's ark was a symbol of the Cross, as the Ark is the safety and security against : JUDGEMENT.

We are in the "ark", which is the Cross.
And Reader, have you messed up? Have you fallen before?
Well, here is the good news for you if you are born again..... If you do, you fall in the Ark. "In Christ"... always.

The born again are "passed from death to LIFE", from Judgement to Grace, and from Darkness to Light"

This is to be born again..... Having become "One with God" "made free from sin"... having eternally become "the righteousness of God, in Christ".

Welcome to : Salvation
Its a Gift from God.

 

[GISMYS_7]

How to be saved (born again) and join the family of God!!!

Romans: Chapter 10 verse 9-10-13 GOD SAYS=

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be Saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto Salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be Saved.....

Believe God's Word!!

 

[Johann]

Excellent article on Acts 22:16 - Acts 22:16--Baptism Essential for Salvation?

Baptism: Why So Far?

How far would you be willing to walk somewhere? This might be something you are considering due to the rising gas prices. I know they've cha...

kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com

Amazing how "water divides"

Where is this authority to baptize today? The authority passed from heaven to John to Jesus to the church. Jesus ordained the group, not just individuals, to baptize in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, 20. That group was the church. Someone may ask, "Isn't Scriptural authority enough." This reasoning would go like this: the Bible commands us to be baptized, so that if folks read the Bible and see that they need to be baptized, they could just baptize one another based upon the authority of the Word of God. Couldn't Jesus have done the same thing? He especially had authority that He could have passed on to anyone He wished. But Jesus walked seventy miles to get baptized of John, an example about the importance of a proper administrator of baptism.

The proper administrator of baptism has become the means by which God's authority is passed from one church to the next. Someone gets baptized with church authority and then sent by that church to evangelize and baptize. Those baptized have a proper administrator of baptism if they are baptized by someone with a legitimate baptism. Not just any administrator will do. It must be someone sent by a true church, a church in the heritage of churches mothered by that original Jerusalem church that originated around John the Baptist and lead by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Roman Catholics, Protestants, Campbellites, and Charismatics have rejected the counsel of God concerning Scriptural baptism; therefore, all true Baptists must consider their administration of baptism null and void.
Posted by Kent Brandenburg at 10:21 AM

This article from the same site.

 

[GISMYS_7]

How to be saved (born again) and join the family of God!!!

Romans: Chapter 10 verse 9-10-13 GOD SAYS=

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be Saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto Salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be Saved.....

Believe God's Word!!

oops!!! Who thinks God just forget about baptism

 

[mailmandan]

Baptism: Why So Far?

How far would you be willing to walk somewhere? This might be something you are considering due to the rising gas prices. I know they've cha...

kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com

Amazing how "water divides"

Where is this authority to baptize today? The authority passed from heaven to John to Jesus to the church. Jesus ordained the group, not just individuals, to baptize in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, 20. That group was the church. Someone may ask, "Isn't Scriptural authority enough." This reasoning would go like this: the Bible commands us to be baptized, so that if folks read the Bible and see that they need to be baptized, they could just baptize one another based upon the authority of the Word of God. Couldn't Jesus have done the same thing? He especially had authority that He could have passed on to anyone He wished. But Jesus walked seventy miles to get baptized of John, an example about the importance of a proper administrator of baptism.

The proper administrator of baptism has become the means by which God's authority is passed from one church to the next. Someone gets baptized with church authority and then sent by that church to evangelize and baptize. Those baptized have a proper administrator of baptism if they are baptized by someone with a legitimate baptism. Not just any administrator will do. It must be someone sent by a true church, a church in the heritage of churches mothered by that original Jerusalem church that originated around John the Baptist and lead by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Roman Catholics, Protestants, Campbellites, and Charismatics have rejected the counsel of God concerning Scriptural baptism; therefore, all true Baptists must consider their administration of baptism null and void.
Posted by Kent Brandenburg at 10:21 AM

This article from the same site.

Did you read the article on Acts 22:16? I'm interested in your thoughts on that article.

 

[mailmandan]

Acts 22:16--Baptism Essential for Salvation?​

In Acts 22:16, Ananias tells Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). This statement allegedly proves that one must be baptized to receive forgiveness. However, both careful consideration of the assertion of the verse itself and study of its context demonstrate the falsity of this claim.
Since the verse associates baptism and the washing away of sins (although the verb “wash away” is actually connected to “calling on the name of the Lord,” not to “be baptized”), one must ask if baptism literally or figuratively washes sin away. If baptism literally washes sins away, then this verse would advance the cause of baptismal regeneration. However, the Bible indicates that the blood of Jesus Christ really takes sin away: “Jesus Christ . . . loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Surely one cannot assert that the blood figuratively takes away sin, while baptism literally takes it away! But if baptism does not literally take away sin, it must take it away representatively or figuratively (cf. Matthew 26:26). To teach that baptism figuratively takes away sin by representing what really does remove it is consistent with justification by faith alone. Baptism is a figure of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5) and a public testimony of the believer’s faith in that death and resurrection. One who at the moment of faith has had his sins literally removed by the blood of the Christ who died and rose again later represents, testifies, and symbolizes his salvation by baptism.[ii] Indeed, the tense of the verb “wash” in Acts 22:16 supports a figurative washing. In the Greek middle voice, it points to the idea that Paul washed his sins away himself in baptism.[iii] In contrast, Revelation 1:5, which states that “Jesus Christ . . . loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” contains the word “washed” in the active voice.[iv] Christ really washes us from our sins in His own blood, and we consequently and representatively wash ourselves from sin in baptism. The Christian-killer Saul’s sins (cf. Acts 22:4) were literally washed away when he believed in the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus—those same sins were figuratively washed away, so that believers would no longer need to fear him (Acts 9:26), in baptism. Acts 22:16 teaches that baptism washes away sin figuratively; Christ’s blood really washes it away.
The book of Acts definitively indicates that Paul’s sins were forgiven before he was baptized as mentioned in Acts 22:16. His testimony of salvation appears three times in Acts (chapters 9, 22, 26). A comparison of these three narratives indicates that Paul was born again and justified as he traveled on the road to Damascus several days prior to his baptism. In Acts 9, the Savior told Ananias that Paul “is a chosen vessel unto me” (v. 15), although the apostle had not yet been baptized. The Lord never reveals that any unjustified or unregenerate person is “chosen” or “elect,”[v] one of the “vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23). Before Paul was baptized, Christ had already commissioned him to “bear [His] name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15); such a commission is not God’s portion for one still lost and under Divine wrath.[vi] Before Paul’s baptism, Christ had set him aside as one who would “suffer for [His] name’s sake” (9:16). Can one who is a child of the devil, as all the lost are (Ephesians 2:1-3, John 8:44), really suffer for Christ’s sake? God accepted Paul’s prayers before his baptism (Acts 9:11).[vii] Since the prayers of the unsaved are an abomination to Him (Proverbs 15:29, 21:27, 28:9), and Paul already had access to God through the Lord Jesus, he was already justified (1 Timothy 2:5, Romans 10:12-14).[viii] Paul also received a prophetic vision before his baptism (Acts 9:12). After the Lord originally appeared to Ananias, He sent him to Paul, who had been blinded since he saw the Son of God’s glory on the Damascus road, to lay his hands on him, “that he might receive his sight” (v. 12). Christ did not tell Ananias to visit Paul in order that the apostle might have his sins forgiven—the Lord knew he was saved already—but that he might regain his vision. Ananias feared to go, for he did not know Paul was already converted; he called him “this man,” a contrast with Christ’s “saints” (v. 13). However, the Lord Jesus’ testimony about Paul’s participation in election and his commission to preach (v. 15-16) manifested to Ananias that Paul was no longer an enemy of the gospel but had been born again, so that when they met, Ananias’ address was not along the lines of “this man,” (v. 13), as before, but “Brother Saul”[ix] (v. 17). Ananias called Paul a brother in Christ[x] and in so doing indicated that the former persecutor was born again before his baptism. Paul was also filled with the Holy Ghost while with Ananias before his baptism (v. 17)—indeed, since “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:3), his Damascus road declaration, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”[xi] (Acts 9:6, cf. 22:10) is indicative of one already “born of the Spirit” (John 3:5, 6, 8), not an unsaved man. He also received his sight (v. 18) before his baptism. Furthermore, just as Christ did not state that Ananias was sent to baptize Paul (v. 12), Ananias did not state that his purpose of coming was baptism (v. 17), a circumstance inconsistent with baptismal regeneration. Paul’s salvation testimony in Acts 9 proves that he was already one of God’s people before his baptism.
The records of Paul’s conversion in Acts 22 and 26, along with his preaching elsewhere in Acts, evidence that he was justified before his baptism. It is mentioned, as in Acts 9, that Paul is already a Christian brother before his baptism (22:13). He is already “chosen” (v. 14), and already ordained as a witness (v. 15). The apostle calls Christians “them that believed on [Christ]” (v. 19),[xii] not “them that were baptized.” Moreover, as discussed earlier,[xiii] Paul was saved (Galatians 1:15-16) and received the gospel directly from Christ apart from the interposition of any man (Galatians 1: 11-12, 15-16) on the road to Damascus, but the Lord never said a word to Paul about baptism—He said salvation was “by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). Paul almost persuaded Agrippa to become a Christian (26:28), although he said not a syllable about baptism in his salvation testimony (26:1-23), so one can become one without receiving the ordinance. Furthermore, while Christ sent the apostle to “open [men’s] eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Jesus]” (26:18), Paul tells us that “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17), so men can be turned from darkness and Satan to light and God, and have their sins forgiven, by faith in Christ, without being baptized. The gospel Paul preached in Acts was “by [Christ] all that believe are justified from all things . . . believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 13:39, 16:31). The accounts of Paul’s testimony in Acts 22 and 26, along with his preaching as recorded elsewhere in Acts, show he was forgiven before his baptism.
Acts 22:16 does not establish baptismal regeneration. The verse itself demonstrates that the “washing away” of sins in baptism mentioned is representative and figurative, not literal. The record of Paul’s salvation in Acts 9, 22, and 26, his preaching elsewhere in Acts, and supplementary information supplied in 1 Corinthians and Galatians, clearly demonstrate that Paul’s sins were forgiven on the road to Damascus before his baptism, when he placed his faith in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Acts 22:16--Baptism Essential for Salvation?

In Acts 22:16, Ananias tells Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the...

kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com

​

 

[Johann]

oops!!! Who thinks God just forget about baptism

Oops!


"confess"

This compound term, homologeō, is literally "to say" and "the same," and meant "to agree with publicly" (speak aloud so that others may hear).

A public profession of faith in Christ is very important (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1 John 2:23; 4:15). The early church's public profession was baptism. The candidate would profess faith in Christ in the formula "I believe Jesus is Lord."


NASB"Jesus as Lord"
NKJV"the Lord Jesus"
NRSV, TEV,
NJB"Jesus is Lord"

This was the theological content of the early church's profession of faith and baptismal liturgy.


The use of "Lord" affirmed Jesus' deity (cf. Joel 2:32; Acts 2:32-33,36; 10:36; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11; Col. 2:6), while the given name "Jesus" affirmed His historical humanity (cf. 1 John 4:1-3). The affirmation also functioned as a call to discipleship/Christlikeness.

The use of "Lord" related to the rabbinical substitution of YHWH with Adon when reading Scripture. . This is confirmed by the quote from Joel 2:32 that is in Rom. 10:13.

Jesus is given several powerful titles.

1. Jesus is the Messiah/Christ - Acts 5:42; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5,28; 1 Cor. 1:23

2. Jesus is the Son of God - Matt. 4:3,6; Acts 9:20; 13:33; Rom. 1:4

3. Jesus is Lord - see above
"
1. personal trust (Hebrew)

2. intellectual content (Greek)

3. an ongoing volitional commitment (cf. Deut. 30:20)

believe in your heart" This phrase is parallel to confess, thereby giving the twin aspects of faith. The biblical term "believe" (pistis, see Special Topics at Rom. 4:3 and 4:5; and Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?") involved

The term "heart" was used in its OT sense of the entire person. Paul mentioned "mouth" and "heart" in this context because of his quote from Deut. 30:14 quoted in Rom. 10:8. This was not meant to establish a hard and fast rule that one must pray out loud to be saved.

"that God raised Him from the dead"

Christianity stands or falls on the reality of the empty tomb (cf. Rom. 4:24; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15). It is a central truth in the apostolic sermons (kerygma, see Special Topic at Rom. 1:2) of Acts (i.e., 2:31-32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,37).

The Father raising the Son is proof of His acceptance of Jesus' life, teaching, and sacrifice. The NT asserts that all three Persons of the Trinity were involved in Jesus' resurrection.

1. the Father - Acts 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9; 8:11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10

2. the Spirit - Rom. 8:11

3. the Son - John 2:19-22; 10:17-18



10:10 "resulting in righteousness"

The goal of God for every believer is not only heaven someday, but Christlikeness now! The other strong passage on predestination, Eph. 1:3-14, powerfully asserts this truth in Rom. 10:4. Believers were chosen to be holy and blameless! Election is not only a doctrine, but it is a lifestyle (cf. Deut. 30:15-20).


Verse 10 reflects the twofold emphasis of the Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:19-20), salvation (make disciples) and righteousness (teach them to observe all that I commanded you). This same balance is found in Eph. 2:8-9 (a free salvation by God's grace through Christ) and a call to "good works" in Eph. 2:10. A people in His own image has always been God's desire.



10:11 This is a quote from Isa. 28:16 to which Paul has added the word "whoever." In Isaiah this referred to faith in the Messiah, God's cornerstone (cf. Rom. 9:32-33). As Romans 9 magnifies God's sovereignty, Romans 10 magnifies the need for individuals, any and all individuals, to respond to Christ. The universal offer is clearly seen in the "everyone" of Rom. 10:4 and the "whosoever" of Rom. 10:11, 13, and "all" of Rom. 10:12 (twice)! This is the theological balance to the selective (predestination) emphasis of Romans 9.

"believes in Him"

This is a present active participle with the preposition epi (cf. Rom. 4:24; 9:33; 1 Tim. 1:16). Believing is not only an initial response, but an ongoing requirement for salvation! It is not only correct theology (gospel truths) that saves, but personal relationship (gospel person) resulting in a godly lifestyle (gospel living). Beware of easy believism which separates truth from life, justification from sanctification. A faith that saves is a faith that persists and changes! Eternal life has observable characteristics! See Special Topic: Believes at Rom. 4:5 and Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?"

Confess

CONFESSION/PROFESSION

A. There are two forms of the same Greek root used for "confession" or "profession," homologeō/exomologō. The compound term is from homo, the same; legō, to speak; or ex, out of. The basic meaning is to say the same thing, to agree with. The Greek preposition, ex, added implies a public declaration.



B. The English translations of this word group are

1. praise

2. agree

3. declare (cf. Matt. 7:23)

4. profess

5. confess (cf. Heb. 4:14; 10:23)



C. This word group had two seemingly opposite usages

1. to praise (God)

2. to admit sin

These may have developed from mankind's sense of the holiness of God and its own sinfulness. To acknowledge one truth is to acknowledge both.



D. The NT usages of the word group are

1. to promise (cf. Matt. 14:7; Acts 7:17)

2. to agree or consent to something (cf. John 1:20; Luke 22:6; Acts 24:14; Heb. 11:13)

3. to praise (cf. Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; Rom. 14:11; 15:9; Heb. 13:15)

4. to assent to

a. a person (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11; 1 John 2:23; Rev. 3:5)

b. a truth (cf. Acts 23:8; 1 John 4:2)

5. to make a public declaration of (legal sense developed into religious affirmation, cf. Acts 24:14; 1 Tim. 6:13)

a. without admission of guilt (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 10:23)

b. with an admission of guilt (cf. Matt. 3:6; Acts 19:18; Heb. 4:14; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)

----------------------------------------------------

Oops!!
Lol!

 

[Arthur81]

This thread appears to be a debate between two false teachings. One is making water baptism a requirement for salvation, some form of baptismal regeneration. The opposing view being stated appears to be neonomianism.

To understand the scriptures mentioning baptism, it helps to keep in mind how Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper. He said -

"Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'" (Luke 22:19-20, NRSV)

The living person of Jesus is in front of them in the flesh, so obviously he speaks of the bread and wine as symbols. Speaking of the wine it represents the blood of Christ. Therefore, using the symbol can mean the reality being expressed by the symbol.

RWP/Acts 22:16 "It is possible, as in 2:38, to take these words as teaching baptismal remission or salvation by means of baptism, but to do so is in my opinion a complete subversion of Paul's vivid and picturesque language. As in Ro 6:4-6 where baptism is the picture of death, burial and resurrection, so here baptism pictures the change that had already taken place when Paul surrendered to Jesus on the way (verse 10). Baptism here pictures the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ."

Baptism is the outward symbol or ordinance of the reality experienced in Christ -

"...but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." (1John 1:7, NRSV)

Most Lutherans who teach a form of baptismal regeneration do not push it to the extreme that without baptism you are lost.

The other side I see in this thread is the "neonomian" view which admits man cannot keep the Mosaic Law for salvation, so a new law, the law of faith was given. This teaches that God in Christ has provided a hypothetical salvation for all men, but man must add HIS faith in obedience to this new evangelical law. It is a misreading of -

"Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith." (Rom 3:27, NRSV)

If man's salvation is truly determined by the contribution of HIS faith, he merited his salvation and he was not saved 100% by Jesus Christ. It was Christ plus the man's faith. So, the neonomian still has a right to boast because he believed, he made the difference. BUT FAITH ITSELF IS A GIFT OF GOD!

"By God’s act you are in Christ Jesus; God has made him our wisdom, and in him we have our righteousness, our holiness, our liberation. Therefore, in the words of scripture, ‘If anyone must boast, let him boast of the Lord.’" (1Cor 1:30-31, REB)

There are a couple web sites that explain the errors of neonomianism -

What is neonomianism?

Neonomianism teaches that the Mosaic Law could not be followed properly by anyone (except Jesus). Therefore, the law of grace was instituted

carm.org

What is neonomianism? | GotQuestions.org

What is neonomianism? What are neonomians? Is it even possible for Christians to obey God’s laws?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[Johann]

Did you read the article on Acts 22:16? I'm interested in your thoughts on that article.

Yes I have brother-and showed you the importance of it-from the same Blogger.
But I don't want to engage on this topic-since "water divides"

This here from Utley-
"confess"

This compound term, homologeō, is literally "to say" and "the same," and meant "to agree with publicly" (speak aloud so that others may hear). A public profession of faith in Christ is very important (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1 John 2:23; 4:15).

The early church's public profession was baptism. The candidate would profess faith in Christ in the formula "I believe Jesus is Lord." See Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?" and the Special Topic following.



SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION

NASB"Jesus as Lord"
NKJV"the Lord Jesus"
NRSV, TEV,
NJB"Jesus is Lord"

This was the theological content of the early church's profession of faith and baptismal liturgy. The use of "Lord" affirmed Jesus' deity (cf. Joel 2:32; Acts 2:32-33,36; 10:36; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11; Col. 2:6), while the given name "Jesus" affirmed His historical humanity (cf. 1 John 4:1-3). The affirmation also functioned as a call to discipleship/Christlikeness.

The use of "Lord" related to the rabbinical substitution of YHWH with Adon when reading Scripture. See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY at Rom. 9:29. This is confirmed by the quote from Joel 2:32 that is in Rom. 10:13.

Jesus is given several powerful titles.

1. Jesus is the Messiah/Christ - Acts 5:42; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5,28; 1 Cor. 1:23

2. Jesus is the Son of God - Matt. 4:3,6; Acts 9:20; 13:33; Rom. 1:4

3. Jesus is Lord - see above



SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NAME OF THE LORD

"believe in your heart"

This phrase is parallel to confess, thereby giving the twin aspects of faith. The biblical term "believe" (pistis, see Special Topics at Rom. 4:3 and 4:5; and Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?") involved

1. personal trust (Hebrew)

2. intellectual content (Greek)

3. an ongoing volitional commitment (cf. Deut. 30:20)

The term "heart" was used in its OT sense of the entire person. Paul mentioned "mouth" and "heart" in this context because of his quote from Deut. 30:14 quoted in Rom. 10:8. This was not meant to establish a hard and fast rule that one must pray out loud to be saved.

"that God raised Him from the dead"

Christianity stands or falls on the reality of the empty tomb (cf. Rom. 4:24; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15). It is a central truth in the apostolic sermons (kerygma, see Special Topic at Rom. 1:2) of Acts (i.e., 2:31-32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,37).

The Father raising the Son is proof of His acceptance of Jesus' life, teaching, and sacrifice. The NT asserts that all three Persons of the Trinity were involved in Jesus' resurrection.

1. the Father - Acts 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9; 8:11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10

2. the Spirit - Rom. 8:11

3. the Son - John 2:19-22; 10:17-18



10:10 "resulting in righteousness" The goal of God for every believer is not only heaven someday, but Christlikeness now!

The other strong passage on predestination, Eph. 1:3-14, powerfully asserts this truth in Rom. 10:4. Believers were chosen to be holy and blameless!

Election is not only a doctrine, but it is a lifestyle (cf. Deut. 30:15-20).

Verse 10 reflects the twofold emphasis of the Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:19-20), salvation (make disciples) and righteousness (teach them to observe all that I commanded you). This same balance is found in Eph. 2:8-9 (a free salvation by God's grace through Christ) and a call to "good works" in Eph. 2:10. A people in His own image has always been God's desire.

10:11 This is a quote from Isa. 28:16 to which Paul has added the word "whoever." In Isaiah this referred to faith in the Messiah, God's cornerstone (cf. Rom. 9:32-33). As Romans 9 magnifies God's sovereignty, Romans 10 magnifies the need for individuals, any and all individuals, to respond to Christ. The universal offer is clearly seen in the "everyone" of Rom. 10:4 and the "whosoever" of Rom. 10:11, 13, and "all" of Rom. 10:12 (twice)! This is the theological balance to the selective (predestination) emphasis of Romans 9.

Bible Lessons International

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In John 1:33 we read John say: ". . . he that sent me to baptize with water." John didn't invent this thing of baptism. He got it from above.

The only baptism that God approves of and has authorized is John's baptism. All the members of the first church had the baptism of John including the Head and founder of the church, Jesus Christ, who walked seventy miles in order to be baptized by the proper authority. Jesus believed so strongly in this baptism, He declared that those who rejected it were in reality rejecting the counsel of God in Luke 7:29-30, which states: "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." Not being baptized of proper authority was rejecting the counsel of God.

Where is this authority to baptize today? The authority passed from heaven to John to Jesus to the church. Jesus ordained the group, not just individuals, to baptize in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, 20. That group was the church. Someone may ask, "Isn't Scriptural authority enough." This reasoning would go like this: the Bible commands us to be baptized, so that if folks read the Bible and see that they need to be baptized, they could just baptize one another based upon the authority of the Word of God. Couldn't Jesus have done the same thing? He especially had authority that He could have passed on to anyone He wished. But Jesus walked seventy miles to get baptized of John, an example about the importance of a proper administrator of baptism.

The proper administrator of baptism has become the means by which God's authority is passed from one church to the next. Someone gets baptized with church authority and then sent by that church to evangelize and baptize. Those baptized have a proper administrator of baptism if they are baptized by someone with a legitimate baptism. Not just any administrator will do. It must be someone sent by a true church, a church in the heritage of churches mothered by that original Jerusalem church that originated around John the Baptist and lead by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Roman Catholics, Protestants, Campbellites, and Charismatics have rejected the counsel of God concerning Scriptural baptism; therefore, all true Baptists must consider their administration of baptism null and void.
Posted by Kent Brandenburg at 10:21 AM

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

He's also the finisher of our faith...

"Jesus is the author and finisher, of our faith"., and its God Himself who will be faithful to complete our Salvation.

Philippians 1:6

Salvation is beautiful Love, as all of it comes from God.
It has to, as Only God can meet God's own Requirements for Righteousness.
We can't meet them, as "all have sinned"... So, God became Christ on the Cross who fulfilled the law, and became the New Covenant, as the Blood Atonement.
Jesus is Salvation, Redemption, Sanctification, Eternal Life, The Resurrection, and "the Gift of Righteousness".
Jesus refers to Himself, as "the WAY" and "no person comes to the Father but by me".... (not by water).

The Cross is the eternal bridge that leads to eternal life.
Noah's ark was a symbol of the Cross, as the Ark is the safety and security against : JUDGEMENT.

We are in the "ark", which is the Cross.
And Reader, have you messed up? Have you fallen before?
Well, here is the good news for you if you are born again..... If you do, you fall in the Ark. "In Christ"... always.

The born again are "passed from death to LIFE", from Judgement to Grace, and from Darkness to Light"

This is to be born again..... Having become "One with God" "made free from sin"... having eternally become "the righteousness of God, in Christ".

Welcome to : Salvation
Its a Gift from God.

Well, I agree with most of what you said. But I think the cross is just a symbol of how Jesus died. It has no power. It was His she'd blood, death and resurrection that saves us.
" ... it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life". Lev. 17:11

 

[Johann]

RWP/Acts 22:16 "It is possible, as in 2:38, to take these words as teaching baptismal remission or salvation by means of baptism, but to do so is in my opinion a complete subversion of Paul's vivid and picturesque language. As in Ro 6:4-6 where baptism is the picture of death, burial and resurrection, so here baptism pictures the change that had already taken place when Paul surrendered to Jesus on the way (verse 10). Baptism here pictures the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ."

Love A.T. Robertson.

2) "Arise, and be baptized," (anastas baptisai) "Stand up, (take a stand, or arise) to be baptized;" Middle voice of the Greek indicated a submission to be baptized, indicating a willingness to be identified with members of the Lord's church, whom he had formerly persecuted, even as the Jews had done at Pentecost, Act_15:9; Gal_1:13; Act_2:36-38.

3) "And wash away thy sins," (kai apolousai tas hamartias sou) "And wash away (to, for, or in your own behalf) your sins;" The washing was symbolic, a practice of the Jewish people, in connection with ceremonial washing of purification; The ceremonial washings did not purify the Jews from pollution, but were offered after purification had occurred to declare the former unclean one purified, Act_21:26. In like manner, baptism washes away sins, only in a symbolic sense, picturing the gospel, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, by faith in which, one becomes a child of God, or is saved, Rom_1:16; Gal_3:26-27.

4) "Calling on the name of the Lord." (epikalesamenos to onomata autou) "Invoking the name of Him," who told you that He would tell you what things you are to do, Act_22:10. Paul cautiously avoided mentioning to the Jews this name," except where it is unavoidable, Act_22:8; Col_3:17.


J.

 

[Johann]

Well, I agree with most of what you said. But I think the cross is just a symbol of how Jesus died. It has no power. It was His she'd blood, death and resurrection that saves us.
" ... it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life". Lev. 17:11

And I am in agreement with you-it is the preaching of the CRUCIFIED and RESURRECTED Messiah what Paul is promulgating.

1Co_2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

4) "And him crucified." (Greek kai touton estauromenon) "And this one having been crucified." Gal_2:20; Tit_3:5; 1Co_1:17; 1Co_1:31.

Or I made the decision not to have da'as of anything among you except Moshiach and nivlato al haEtz (his body –gufa, kerper--on the Tree Boim (Yiddish for tree), DEVARIM 21:23).

"Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE (cf. 1 Cor. 1:23). There are two theological aspects revealed in this PARTICIPLE:

the PERFECT TENSE reveals that Jesus remains the crucified One. When we see Him, He will still have the scars. They have become His badge of glory (see note at 1 Cor. 1:23).
the PASSIVE VOICE reveals that Jesus' death was
by the Father's agency and was His eternal plan (cf. Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; 13:29) for redemption (cf. Isa. 53:10)
by human sin and rebellion demanded a sacrifice (cf. Rom. 5:14-15,18-19)
The message about Christ's death on humanity's behalf is the central message of Paul's theology. The concept of a suffering and dying Messiah was foreign to traditional Jewish thought. This aspect of the gospel must have initially troubled Paul. How could YHWH's anointed One be cursed by God (cf. Deut. 21:23). Yet, this was part of the OT revelation (cf. Gen. 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Zech. 12:10). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died in our place (cf. Rom. 5:18-19; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21). He became the curse for us (cf. Gal. 3:13)! Christ crucified for all is God's hidden mystery (cf. Col. 1:26-28; 2:2-4).

Is. 53

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Roman Catholics, Protestants, Campbellites, and Charismatics have rejected the counsel of God concerning Scriptural baptism; therefore, all true Baptists must consider their administration of baptism null and void.
Posted by Kent Brandenburg at 10:21 AM

Maybe some have?
I was water baptized a year after I was baptized by the Holy Spirit. I just went ahead and did it in an act of obedience. I was just an infant, not knowing what was what. So I repented, believed, was saved and this confirmed by the Holy Spirit way before the water baptism ( a public declaration if you will of your faith) - go figure.
Jesus Himself baptized us with the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a gift so no matter what interpretation we hold, if we believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead in the third day, we will be saved.
Christians get confused about a lot of doctrines and we understand them differently. The Book of Life existed before the foundation of the world, so either you're in it or not, regardless of our confusion and differences. The Bible says we see dimly.
It is our pride, a fleshly thing, that causes division, not our spirits that have been purified. We are one spiritually, but the flesh battles against the spirit.

 

[Johann]

Maybe some have?
I was water baptized a year after I was baptized by the Holy Spirit. I just went ahead and did it in an act of obedience. I was just an infant, not knowing what was what. So I repented, believed, was saved and this confirmed by the Holy Spirit way before the water baptism ( a public declaration if you will of your faith) - go figure.
Jesus Himself baptized us with the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a gift so no matter what interpretation we hold, if we believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead in the third day, we will be saved.
Christians get confused about a lot of doctrines and we understand them differently. The Book of Life existed before the foundation of the world, so either you're in it or not, regardless of our confusion and differences. The Bible says we see dimly.
It is our pride, a fleshly thing, that causes division, not our spirits that have been purified. We are one spiritually, but the flesh battles against the spirit.

Well said brother
Johann.

 

[Arthur81]

Maybe some have?
I was water baptized a year after I was baptized by the Holy Spirit. I just went ahead and did it in an act of obedience. I was just an infant, not knowing what was what. So I repented, believed, was saved and this confirmed by the Holy Spirit way before the water baptism ( a public declaration if you will of your faith) - go figure.
Jesus Himself baptized us with the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a gift so no matter what interpretation we hold, if we believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead in the third day, we will be saved.
Christians get confused about a lot of doctrines and we understand them differently. The Book of Life existed before the foundation of the world, so either you're in it or not, regardless of our confusion and differences. The Bible says we see dimly.
It is our pride, a fleshly thing, that causes division, not our spirits that have been purified. We are one spiritually, but the flesh battles against the spirit.

I agree with what you said about the Lamb's Book of Life -

"...and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain." (Rev 13:8, RSV)

Yet we should not be fatalistic about salvation as if it makes no change or difference in our life, giving evidence of our salvation -

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Pet 1:3-11, RSV)

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

And I am in agreement with you-it is the preaching of the CRUCIFIED and RESURRECTED Messiah what Paul is promulgating.

1Co_2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

4) "And him crucified." (Greek kai touton estauromenon) "And this one having been crucified." Gal_2:20; Tit_3:5; 1Co_1:17; 1Co_1:31.

Or I made the decision not to have da'as of anything among you except Moshiach and nivlato al haEtz (his body –gufa, kerper--on the Tree Boim (Yiddish for tree), DEVARIM 21:23).

"Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" This is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE (cf. 1 Cor. 1:23). There are two theological aspects revealed in this PARTICIPLE:

the PERFECT TENSE reveals that Jesus remains the crucified One. When we see Him, He will still have the scars. They have become His badge of glory (see note at 1 Cor. 1:23).
the PASSIVE VOICE reveals that Jesus' death was
by the Father's agency and was His eternal plan (cf. Acts 2:23; 3:18; 4:28; 13:29) for redemption (cf. Isa. 53:10)
by human sin and rebellion demanded a sacrifice (cf. Rom. 5:14-15,18-19)
The message about Christ's death on humanity's behalf is the central message of Paul's theology. The concept of a suffering and dying Messiah was foreign to traditional Jewish thought. This aspect of the gospel must have initially troubled Paul. How could YHWH's anointed One be cursed by God (cf. Deut. 21:23). Yet, this was part of the OT revelation (cf. Gen. 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Zech. 12:10). Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died in our place (cf. Rom. 5:18-19; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21). He became the curse for us (cf. Gal. 3:13)! Christ crucified for all is God's hidden mystery (cf. Col. 1:26-28; 2:2-4).

Is. 53

I have spoken with several Rabbis who are confounded and repulsed about our faith, that a man (instead of an animal) could be offered as a blood sacrifice and atonement for our sins. They don't see and interpret all the Old Testament scriptures like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 like we do. They don't see that Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies ( I have heard over 300 counted). They are still blind!

 

[Johann]

I have spoken with several Rabbis who are confounded and repulsed about our faith, that a man (instead of an animal) could be offered as a blood sacrifice and atonement for our sins. They don't see and interpret all the Old Testament scriptures like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 like we do. They don't see that Jssus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies ( I have heard over 300 counted). They are still blind!

Same here-but you will find if you are in a conversation with Jewish people you need to change the terminologies, instead of saying Jesus-say Yeshua-also, ask THEM to read Is 53 and PS 22 and see the shock-Rashi and the Targums are more authoritative than the Torah.
God bless brother.
Johann.

 

[Johann]

I agree with what you said about the Lamb's Book of Life -

"...and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain." (Rev 13:8, RSV)

Yet we should not be fatalistic about salvation as if it makes no change or difference in our life, giving evidence of our salvation -

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature. For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Pet 1:3-11, RSV)

Great Scripture reference-how do you understand "to be more zealous to confirm your call and election?"

I remain mindful of the serious error of going beyond what the scriptures clearly state, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture.

Spurgeon said-"Study many good books-as long as the remain the secondary source and not a substitute for the primary source-the Scriptures"-something like that.

You have quoted from A.T. Robertson-so what is he saying re calling and election?

And I will show you what a precious Baptist minister is writing on "calling and election"-so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Pet 1:3-11, RSV)

God bless
Johann

 

[GISMYS_7]

Oops!


"confess"

This compound term, homologeō, is literally "to say" and "the same," and meant "to agree with publicly" (speak aloud so that others may hear).

A public profession of faith in Christ is very important (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1 John 2:23; 4:15). The early church's public profession was baptism. The candidate would profess faith in Christ in the formula "I believe Jesus is Lord."


NASB"Jesus as Lord"
NKJV"the Lord Jesus"
NRSV, TEV,
NJB"Jesus is Lord"

This was the theological content of the early church's profession of faith and baptismal liturgy.


The use of "Lord" affirmed Jesus' deity (cf. Joel 2:32; Acts 2:32-33,36; 10:36; 1 Cor. 12:3; 2 Cor. 4:5; Phil. 2:11; Col. 2:6), while the given name "Jesus" affirmed His historical humanity (cf. 1 John 4:1-3). The affirmation also functioned as a call to discipleship/Christlikeness.

The use of "Lord" related to the rabbinical substitution of YHWH with Adon when reading Scripture. . This is confirmed by the quote from Joel 2:32 that is in Rom. 10:13.

Jesus is given several powerful titles.

1. Jesus is the Messiah/Christ - Acts 5:42; 9:22; 17:3; 18:5,28; 1 Cor. 1:23

2. Jesus is the Son of God - Matt. 4:3,6; Acts 9:20; 13:33; Rom. 1:4

3. Jesus is Lord - see above
"
1. personal trust (Hebrew)

2. intellectual content (Greek)

3. an ongoing volitional commitment (cf. Deut. 30:20)

believe in your heart" This phrase is parallel to confess, thereby giving the twin aspects of faith. The biblical term "believe" (pistis, see Special Topics at Rom. 4:3 and 4:5; and Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?") involved

The term "heart" was used in its OT sense of the entire person. Paul mentioned "mouth" and "heart" in this context because of his quote from Deut. 30:14 quoted in Rom. 10:8. This was not meant to establish a hard and fast rule that one must pray out loud to be saved.

"that God raised Him from the dead"

Christianity stands or falls on the reality of the empty tomb (cf. Rom. 4:24; 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15). It is a central truth in the apostolic sermons (kerygma, see Special Topic at Rom. 1:2) of Acts (i.e., 2:31-32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,37).

The Father raising the Son is proof of His acceptance of Jesus' life, teaching, and sacrifice. The NT asserts that all three Persons of the Trinity were involved in Jesus' resurrection.

1. the Father - Acts 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9; 8:11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 1:10

2. the Spirit - Rom. 8:11

3. the Son - John 2:19-22; 10:17-18



10:10 "resulting in righteousness"

The goal of God for every believer is not only heaven someday, but Christlikeness now! The other strong passage on predestination, Eph. 1:3-14, powerfully asserts this truth in Rom. 10:4. Believers were chosen to be holy and blameless! Election is not only a doctrine, but it is a lifestyle (cf. Deut. 30:15-20).


Verse 10 reflects the twofold emphasis of the Great Commission (cf. Matt. 28:19-20), salvation (make disciples) and righteousness (teach them to observe all that I commanded you). This same balance is found in Eph. 2:8-9 (a free salvation by God's grace through Christ) and a call to "good works" in Eph. 2:10. A people in His own image has always been God's desire.



10:11 This is a quote from Isa. 28:16 to which Paul has added the word "whoever." In Isaiah this referred to faith in the Messiah, God's cornerstone (cf. Rom. 9:32-33). As Romans 9 magnifies God's sovereignty, Romans 10 magnifies the need for individuals, any and all individuals, to respond to Christ. The universal offer is clearly seen in the "everyone" of Rom. 10:4 and the "whosoever" of Rom. 10:11, 13, and "all" of Rom. 10:12 (twice)! This is the theological balance to the selective (predestination) emphasis of Romans 9.

"believes in Him"

This is a present active participle with the preposition epi (cf. Rom. 4:24; 9:33; 1 Tim. 1:16). Believing is not only an initial response, but an ongoing requirement for salvation! It is not only correct theology (gospel truths) that saves, but personal relationship (gospel person) resulting in a godly lifestyle (gospel living). Beware of easy believism which separates truth from life, justification from sanctification. A faith that saves is a faith that persists and changes! Eternal life has observable characteristics! See Special Topic: Believes at Rom. 4:5 and Special Topic: What Does It Mean To "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," And "Call Upon?"

Confess

CONFESSION/PROFESSION

A. There are two forms of the same Greek root used for "confession" or "profession," homologeō/exomologō. The compound term is from homo, the same; legō, to speak; or ex, out of. The basic meaning is to say the same thing, to agree with. The Greek preposition, ex, added implies a public declaration.



B. The English translations of this word group are

1. praise

2. agree

3. declare (cf. Matt. 7:23)

4. profess

5. confess (cf. Heb. 4:14; 10:23)



C. This word group had two seemingly opposite usages

1. to praise (God)

2. to admit sin

These may have developed from mankind's sense of the holiness of God and its own sinfulness. To acknowledge one truth is to acknowledge both.



D. The NT usages of the word group are

1. to promise (cf. Matt. 14:7; Acts 7:17)

2. to agree or consent to something (cf. John 1:20; Luke 22:6; Acts 24:14; Heb. 11:13)

3. to praise (cf. Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21; Rom. 14:11; 15:9; Heb. 13:15)

4. to assent to

a. a person (cf. Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; John 9:22; 12:42; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11; 1 John 2:23; Rev. 3:5)

b. a truth (cf. Acts 23:8; 1 John 4:2)

5. to make a public declaration of (legal sense developed into religious affirmation, cf. Acts 24:14; 1 Tim. 6:13)

a. without admission of guilt (cf. 1 Tim. 6:12; Heb. 10:23)

b. with an admission of guilt (cf. Matt. 3:6; Acts 19:18; Heb. 4:14; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)

----------------------------------------------------

Oops!!
Lol!

Try again===wha are you saying??