Results 1 - 6 of 6
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Holy Spirit evidence of Salvation? | Acts 2:38 | Morant61 | 51366 | ||
Greetings Inmyheart! You closed your post with this comment: "In closing, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit as they did in Acts 10 PRIOR to their water baptism! After their baptism they received the GIFT of the Holy Spirit. What's the difference?" One of the reasons that Acts 10:45 is so important in relation to Acts 2:38 is that the same exact phrase is used in both verses. Acts 2:38 says, "Peter replied, ‘‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 10:45 says, "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." So, it is not correct to say that they 'received the Holy Spirit' prior to their water baptism, but received 'the gift of the Holy Spirit' after their water baptism. Acts 10:45 takes place before their water baptism and specifically says that they had received the 'gift of the Holy Spirit'. The reason this is important is because it demonstrates that Acts 2:38 does not list two requirements for 'the forgiveness of sins' and the reception 'of the gift of the Holy Spirit', but only one - Repentance. As has been noted several times on this forum, 'repent' is a plural command and is associated with the plural phrases 'forgiveness of sins' and 'you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'. However, 'be baptized' is a singluar command and serves as a parenthetical statement, and cannot be associated with the plural promises which follow. It is simple grammar. Acts 10:45 is conclusive proof that the Baptismal regeneration approach of understanding Acts 2:38 is wrong. Because, if it were true (which it can't be grammatically), then those in Acts 10:45 would have had to 'repent', 'be baptized', and then receive the 'gift of the Holy Spirit'. Yet, this is the order which occurs. They 'repent', receive the 'gift of the Holy Spirit', and then are 'baptized' as a result of their salvation. The meaning of all this is quite simple. We are not saved by anything which we do, but only through grace by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). The only reason that I can think of for this be so unsettling to people is that it takes all control out of our hands and requires us to trust only in God's grace, not our own efforts. This is the same debate which Paul had with the Judaizers. They wanted to make 'circumcision' a requirement for salvation. In fact, they were the ones who in Acts 10 did not want to baptize the Gentile believers, because they had not been circumcized. Acts 15:1 - "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: ‘‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”" Yet, Paul taught: Rom. 2:28 - "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God." Rom. 3:29 - "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith." Rom. 4:11 - "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them." Galatians 5:2 - "Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all." Everything Paul said in these verses about circumcision can also be applied to the debate about baptismal regeneration. It is nothing more than an attempt to add 'works' to salvation, so that we can somehow 'earn' it. Yet, countless Scriptures deny that this is possible or required. We are saved through grace by faith alone! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
||||||
2 | Where's the repentance? | Acts 2:38 | let it rain | 51426 | ||
Repentance in Acts 2 and 10? Could you point out for me the verses in Acts 2 and Acts 10 that alludes to the repentance of anyone at either location? |
||||||
3 | Where's the repentance? | Acts 2:38 | Mommapbs | 51438 | ||
How does God respond to repentance? Acts 2:38 tells us that God forgives sin and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit. No one but God is able to judge the intentions of a man's(or woman's)heart. Therefore, the presence of the Holy Spirit is the "sign" of an inward change that only God can bring about. In some instances,the Holy Spirit's presence was manifest publically, but in ALL believers, the purpose of the Holy Spirit's presence is to testify with our spirit that we are indeed adopted into God's family(Romans 8:16 et al). The crux of the matter on Forum in recent days has been "what happened first?" Salvation by Grace alone or salvation by Grace AND water baptism. Read the numerous posts on this issue to understand the differing viewpoints. From Acts 2:38 the Holy Spirit is the evidence of an individual's regeneration.(And therefore necessitates repentence FIRST!) We are "new creatures" (2 Cor 5:17) "created in Christ" (Eph 2:8-10)given the "righteousness of Christ" (Phil 3:9 et al) in order to receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit(Acts 5:32 et al) This was demonstrated by the Gentiles when they believed in Acts 10. The believed, received the Holy Spirit and THEN they were water baptized. Since God cannot dwell in the presence of sin, the Gentile believers in Acts 10 could not have received the Holy Spirit unless repentence took place FIRST. This "cleansing" and "regeneration" is a work wholly accomplished by God alone and requires no participation from us other than our confession of faith in Jesus. Titus 3:5- 7 says, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Blessings be multiplied to you as you search God's Word! Mommapbs |
||||||
4 | Where's the repentance? | Acts 2:38 | let it rain | 51482 | ||
I don't see any evidence of repentance in these verses. Or, in fact, in the entire New Testament. Except, as you say, many receive the Holy Spirit. That is sure evidence that repentance was there somewhere. But it is odd, don't you think, that there is no direct example of repentance, but so many claim it's ALL that is necessary (your "confession" is noted -- an obvious 'work') but with so many thousands of examples of water baptisms given in scripture the same people say it's all meaningless for salvation. I'm told Peter's grammar isn't perfect (for 'pete's' sake) so baptism clearly isn't called for. May I remind you of this: "Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus" No one needs perfect grammar to understand "repent and be baptized, every one of you" doesn't mean repent and if you feel like it get wet... I just don't get it. I know there's nothing about getting wet that saves anyone. But i would sure hate to face God and try to explain to him why i took repentance seriously when witnessing, but left it up to denominations when it comes to baptism. Paul says it's necessary that there should be some division, to show who has God's approval. That tells me that some will be correct and some not. I accept that I could be wrong, and baptism is the outward expression of something that's already happened inside. ,But if we cannot be united with Christ in his death without baptism (Rom 6) then why do you tell people they need not be baptized? I understand your point of view. I am familiar with the topic being discussed. I merely think you are incorrect. In his love and grace, Rob |
||||||
5 | Eternity - the real bottom line? | Acts 2:38 | Mommapbs | 51494 | ||
Greetings Rob! You asked," But if we cannot be united with Christ in his death without baptism (Rom 6) then why do you tell people they need not be baptized?" Perhaps you have misunderstood my position. I am not saying that believers need not to be baptized (water immersed)for indeed this is easy act of obedience we can do to show our love for Jesus. I believe the salvic "baptism" that we receive upon confession of faith is of and by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). This question has been "is water baptism necessary for SALVATION?" To which I answer,"NO." Salvation is a gift of God alone; if water baptism was required, that would be a "work" or a way to "earn" God's favor. (Eph 2:8-9) God loves everyone of us exactly the same. Nothing we DO can make Him love us more or less than He does at this very moment. I see water baptism as an act of obedience that FOLLOWS the new birth wrought at the moment of salvation. Eph 2:10 puts this in the proper order: "We are God's workmanship, created in CHrist Jesus, unto good WORKS which He prepared in advance for us to DO." (EMPHASIS, mine) God loved me, a sinner - I believed(this moment only God alone can know, for He sees my heart); God saved me by His Grace; I demonstrated my love for Him by my obedience to His Word. I confessed with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and entered the waters of baptism. Had I died prior to entering the baptistry (months after my conversion) WHERE would I spend ETERNITY? Isn't this the REAL bottom line? |
||||||
6 | Eternity - the real bottom line? | Acts 2:38 | let it rain | 51500 | ||
Thanks for your response. If I had written the bible all these world shattering questions would have been answered to the last detail...I'll have a chat with daddy when he's done burning the dross off me! For instance, the eunich asked Phillip, "what prevents me from being baptized?" Were I the author of this episode, there would have been a real impediment to the baptism, and gone into what may happen if it were not completed before his death. It's a pretty extreme case, but it's a fair question. I think that if there is something in the way, a "No Trespassing" sign, or heart attack, then the Lord sees the heart's desire for his forgiveness. But i truly feel like we're mocking his word when we say baptism isn't necessary (for anything) when his word so clearly demands it. It's not a suggestion, and it's not a "grammarical error" that can't be understood. It's a command. I guess I'll let others be theologians and be happy that as his child, I'm accepted as his own. |
||||||