Subject: What about Acts 2:38? |
Bible Note: Thank you for your openness, as I am always concerned that a person is in a right relationship with Jesus. As I was thinking about this question, I was reminded of Paul's statements about those in his day who taught that new believers must be circumcised in order to be saved. It was the same sort of arguement as you are hearing today. Whenever we are told that there is something that we must do in order to earn our salvation, we are being taught in error. Jesus gave us many commandments which we need to keep, but we are to keep them in accordance with our salvation, not as a cause of our salvation. Think about it, of the commandments that Jesus gave us, if any of them were required for salvation, certainly it would have been commandment #1 or #2,: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul, and love your neighbor as yourself(paraphrase mine). But if we are required to keep commandments in order to be saved, then we are placing ourselves back under the Law, the Law which is unable to save us. Please take some time with a concordance or Bible search engine and read what Paul had to say, and study prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you into understanding, and when you come to peace with an understanding, thank God and stand firmly on that belief. Don't take my word or the word of your friend, but study God's word. If you need, I can point you to some verses, but it would be better, for you to find them and come to your on decision. God bless you. |