Ronald David Bruno
Well-Known Member
Luke 23:40-43You can't cherrypick scripture as you've just done. If you do, scripture will appear to conflict with scripture because the answer isn't found in just one, but rather the true answer is found when all the relative scriptures are taken into consideration. Scripture doesn't contradict itself. As An example, Romans 10:9 says confess and you'll be saved! So, which is it? The fact of the matter is, it's both plus more: belief and faith, confession of your belief as the Ethiopian eunuch did in Acts 8, repentance as the Jews did in Acts 2, and baptism into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, also ad the jews did in Acts 2. If you believe, then you'll be obedient and do what you are told to do.
Mark 16:15-16
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Belief + baptism = salvation in Jesus words
And Billy Graham, and now his son preach a false, non scriptural message. There are no examples of anyone being saved by reciting a prayer and asking Jesus into their heart. That's total BS nonsense. Read the various conversions in the book of Acts.
Repentance is not turning to God but rather is sorry for, and turning away from your sins.
Acts 22:16 (contrary to what you said)
16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
No, baptism is not a public testimony. That's also man made-up nonsense that's not scriptural. When the Ethiopian eunuch was converted, the only ones present were him and Philip, and that isn't why he was baptized. So who was his baptism a public to? Read the account in Acts 8.
The Holy Spirit didn't save anyone on the day of Pentecost. It was a sign from above which validated and enabled the apostles to speak in tongues native to the audience, after which they in the audience became believers, were told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and were added to the body of Christ by the Lord himself. Read the account in Acts 2:38-47.
Read and adhere to the words of the bible and don't follow your gut feeling or unscriptural, man contrived doctrine.
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” L
He feared God
He confessed to be a sinner.
Confessed Jesus as Lord.
Believed in an afterlife where Jesus headed and in a sense asked for forgiveness, "remember me ..." (forgive me and allow me to go with you).
Jesus forgave him and promised salvation.
John 6:47
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Acts 16:31
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
John 20:31
but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
Acts 19:1-7
9 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
1 John 3:23
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Millions of people are saved moments before they die who are given the last rights, preached the gospel and they believe and confess the Lord - without water baptism.
John's baptism was to prepare them, to repent, but when Jesus came, they turned to Him and believed and He baptized them with the Holy Spirit.