In 1 Peter 3:21 Peter says that baptism SAVES us because we REQUEST that God give us A good conscience.
In Acts 2:38 Peter says that remission of sins is ONLY after obeying and being baptized: then Jesus gives us A holy spirit.
A holy spirit is OUR old unholy spirit (Mind) having, in the words of Jesus, our sins washed away.
Neither means SALVATION in the sense of having out ticket to heaven punched: A holy spirit or A good conscience means consciousness or a Co-perception of the word. A Christian is a Disciple; a Disciple is a Student; a student learns what Jesus COMMANDED to be taught. If you teach beyond the WORD (LOGOS, regulative principle) then you will NATURALLY call all of Scripture a lie.
Salvation by Grace (Jesus teaching) throuh faith (Pistis comply) means SAFE FROM something.
In Ephesians 2:1f we are made SAFE from all religious observations to which the kingdom does not.
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST ISSUED A PROPHETIC TYPE REPEATED BY JESUS IN MARK 16:
Baptism was always FOR or in order to the remission of sins. Naaman had to dip himself in water as obedience before the leprosy was "washed away."
John the baptist taught baptism FOR the remission of sins but ONLY to those who honored God and practiced justice.
The baptism of Jesus BESTOWED A holy spirit which gave one an awareness of the WORD and a seal that one is being added to the kingdom or Church of Christ
For instance, Christ denied that God wanted or needed anything of the sacrificial system but:
Isaiah 1:19. [+of iniquity+] (16) Wash [lăvo to wash awa: “
and make yourselves clean
and turn away the evil of your habitual practices from before my eyes,
stop doing evil. (17) Learn 20. to do well, pursue judgement,
bless the oppressed, judge the orphan,
contend for the widow. (PP)
21. Please come and let us reason together says YHWH,
if your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow
22. if they be as red as crimson they shall be as wool.
(19) If you are obedient and you give heed then of the good of the Land [{you shall eat.}]
23. (20) But if you refuse and you rebel you will be devoured by the sword
because the mouth of YHWH has said it.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.Example: Christ in Prophets, Jesus by example and command and Paul says that BAPTISM SAVES.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Believeth Not is Apistos which says: Baptism does not wash away my sins therefore I will NOT comply: the MARK of those OF the World or traitors to God.
Anti-Baptism say that BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVES.
1 Peter 3:21 says that BAPTISM SAVES
Anti-baptism says that BAPTISM DOES NOT SAVE.
Acts 22:16 Jesus taught "Arise and BE BAPTIZED and Wash away your sins.
Anti-baptism says that baptism DOES NOT wash away sins.
Believer's Baptism means remission of sins, A holy spirit or a clear conscience or a clear consciousness.Further notes to Sunday School in Exile. The NIV versus the KJV to defend "believer's baptism."
Baptists concede that EIS means IN ORDER TO and not BECAUSE of the remission of sins.
By Kenneth Sublett e-mail
The word BAPTISM means to be immersed in Water unless otherwise noted:
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Act 8:36
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Act 8:37
And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. Act 8:38
Into is the same EIS used in Acts 2:38 "baptized FOR the remission of sins.
Eis (g1519) ice; a prim. prep.; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered).. in (among, at
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Act 8:39
This is quite similar to:
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Ac.3:19
Then 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. Acts 2:38
The popularity of the Zwingli "Believer's Baptism" insists that Baptism can have nothing to do with the remission of Sins (Peter) or salvation (Jesus Christ).
This is true because Salvation by Faith-Only depends on total depravity and the impossibility of doing anything (including reading the Bible) to gain faith means that you cannot accept anything by the believer as part of the New Covenant with Christ.
Once one believes and has some supernatural experience, Calvinism sees that as PROOF that you have been selected as one of the few saved from eternity past. Because faith is the sign, Baptism is just a PLEDGE or recognition of already being saved by faith only.
Unfortunately, not even the NIV teaches this very ancient pagan view of being inducted into a community but a careless reading can use it to defend an already-held view. Our experience from mail responses has been that the NIV is used in quoting 1 Peter 3:21 to prove to me and to implant the notion that baptism is not Christ's ordained MEANS:
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge [f] of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21NIV f21 Or 'response'
Here is the way the passage is distorted to make the word FOR mean that we are baptized as (thanks) BECAUSE OF an already clear conscience. However, even the NIV says baptism now saves you. Could that mean 'SAVED BECAUSE OF AN ALREADY CLEAR CONSCIENCE"?
"In I Peter 3:21 baptism is described as an "appeal to God from (or for) a clear conscience." It is not easy to be sure of the precise meaning of the words in the Greek in fact; they could mean "an appeal to God for or from a clear conscience" or, "an pledge to God for or from a clear conscience." It lies beyond the scope of a "popular commentary" to wade through all the grammar and vocabulary to reach a decision which way Peter's words are to be understood, but whatever way we take it, Peter is saying that getting baptised is tied up in some way or other with having a good conscience ... which tempts us to ask: "Who, then, can be baptised?"
We are aware of this word being used BECAUSE OF but a "request" FOR something.
Webster: Pledge: 1. The condition of being given or held as security for a contract, payment, etc
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 1 Peter 3:21KJV
However, the definition of words and other versions prove that it is at the time and place of water baptism that we ASK for God to give us a clean conscience which is the gift of A holy spirit.
And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21NAS
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21RSV
(That, by the way, is what baptism pictures for us: In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ;[c] not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin.) 1 Peter 3:21LIV
The Holy Place was typical of the church and the Most Holy Place is typical of God's Spirit which we meet (one at a time) as we worship IN SPIRIT which is the only place Jesus said God would even seek us. Paul agrees with Peter:
And having an high priest over the house of God; Hebrews 10:21
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
Liddell and Scott note of faith:
Pistis
# 1. an assurance, pledge of good faith, warrant, guarantee, Soph., Eur.; pistin kai horkia poieisthai to make a treaty by exchange of assurances and oaths, Hdt.; oute p. outh' horkos menei Ar.; pistin didonai to give assurances, Hdt.; didonai kai lambanein to interchange them, Xen.:--of an oath, theôn pisteis omnunai Thuc.; pistin epitithenai or prostithenai tini Dem.: --phobôn p. an assurance against fears, Eur.
Didomai: # 3. in attic, didonai tina tini to grant any one to entreaties, pardon him, Xen.:-- didonai tini ti to forgive one a thing, remit its punishment, Eur., Dem.
God calls or invites us through the Gospel: His resurrection is the guarantee which He offers. We call back or answer if we have a true faith which can say "I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God." When we have this assurance it is evidenced by having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The new HEART is the same thing as A new spirit which is A holy spirit: our own spirit made holy by the washing of Jesus Christ:
And I will give them one heart, and I will put A new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Eze.11:19
A new heart also will I give you, and A new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Eze.36:26
The word translated PLEDGE in the NIV is not translatable from the Greek which is:
Eperotema (g1906) ep-er-o'-tay-mah; from 1905; an inquiry: - answer.
Eperotao (g1905) ep-er-o-tah'-o; from 1909 and 2065; to ask for, i.e. inquire, seek: - ask (after, questions), demand, desire, question.
Erotao (g2065) er-o-tah'-o; appar. from 2046 [comp. 2045]; to interrogate; by impl. to request: - ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Comp. 4441.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Mt.22:35
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 1Co.14:35
eperôtaô Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon
1. to inquire of, question, consult, ton theon Hdt., Thuc., etc.; tina peri tinos Hdt.:--Pass. to be questioned, asked a question, Thuc.
2. c. acc. rei, to ask a thing or about a thing, Hdt.:--c. acc. pers. et rei, ep. tous prophêtas to aition id=Hdt.:--absol. to put the question, Dem.
epeiromai , inf. -eiresthai v.l. in Hdt.7.101, al.: impf. -eireto Id.3.22 , al.: fut. -eirêsomai Id.1.67 , al.: used by Att. only in fut. -erêsomai Ar.Lys.98 , Pl.32, and aor. -êromên, inf. -eresthai, S.OC557 (prob.), Th.8.29, etc.; Ion. epeiresthai Hdt.1.19 , al.:--ask besides or again, touto X.Cyr.6.3.10 .
II. c. acc. pers., ask or question him besides, ti about a thing, Ar.Lys.98, v.l. in Hdt.7.101; peri tinos Id.1.158 ; with relat., e. ho ti siteetai ho basileus Id.3.22 ; hontina tropon Id.4.161 .
2. esp. inquire of a god, ton theon Id.1.19 ; epêronto ton theon, ei paradoien . . Th.1.25 ; eperêsomenos ôichomên hôs ton theon Ar.Pl. 32 ; epempon tên es theon epeirêsomenous ton chôron Hdt.1.67 ; question a person, S. l.c.
3. ask the people for their opinion, tên gnômên Pl.Ax.368d , cf. D.22.5.
erôtaô [eromai]
I. to ask, tina ti something of one, Od., Soph., etc.:--Pass. to be asked, ti Xen.
2. er. ti to ask about a thing, Aesch.:-- Pass., to erôtêthen, to erôtômenon the question, Thuc., Xen.
II. to enquire of a person, question him, Od., Eur., etc.:--Pass. to be questioned, id=Eur.
III. = aiteô, to ask, i. e. to beg, solicit, NTest.
Jesus it qualified to cleans us as fully God.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2:8
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Col 2:9
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Col 2:10
How do we get into Christ by Faith?
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27
How does Christ "circumcise" as well as "sprinkle" our heart?
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Col 2:11
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Col 2:12
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Col 2:13
What is a good conscience?
Beginning with Zwingli who invented "believer's baptism" to accommodate original sin and predestination of John Calvin, the false teaching is that one is saved the instant they believe. Baptism is then a symbolic witness that one is ALREADY saved. The NIV and most Calvinists believe that.
The KJV does not translate this as pledge. In the Hebrew the word means to bind or make an oath or to pawn something
However, the NIV word translated as PLEDGE here and in 1 Timothy 5:12 which truly means an agreement is not in the Greek. Paul's other statement about Baptism was faithful to the Commission of Jesus who said:
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:16
Save means to heal or make whole. Assuredly Jesus is not saying that one is healed or made whole before they BELIEVE.
How did Peter understand the direct command of Jesus?
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:37
Then 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 (A) Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38
Surely, they did not have their sins remitted by repentance. They asked what they must DO and Peter said this is what you must do. To earn their salvation? No. Here is why according to John's Baptism:
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. Luke 7:29
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Luke 7:30
What is the Gift of A Holy Spirit?
The Hebrew and Greek words for "spirit" speak of a mental disposition. Therefore, to have the spirit of God is to have the mental disposition of God. Church History never sees the Holy Spirit as "the god of this dispensation." Walter Scott noted:
"Again--Some will say, What does the expression Holy Spirit mean? Well, in scripture it stands first for God the Holy Spirit, and secondly for the holy mind or spirit of a believer--for illustration, take Peter's words to Ananias, "Why has Satan tempted you to lie to the Holy Spirit; you have not lied to men, but to God," (the Holy Spirit.) And the Saviour says, How much more will your heavenly Father give a holy spirit (as it should be translated) to those that ask him. Again--Praying in a holy spirit. Again--Paul says he approved himself God's servant "by knowledge, by long sufferings, by kindness, by a holy spirit'" by a mind innocent of the love of gain, or commerce, or sensuality.
"Now then the expression stands for both God the Holy Spirit, and for a believer's spirit made holy by him.
This rather than a little man is what was prophesied to rest on Jesus (Joshua or Jehovah- Saved):
AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: Isaiah 11:1
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; Isaiah 11: 2
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isaiah 11: 3
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
and (1) he shall smite the earth with the rod of his (2) mouth,
and with the (3) breath (Spirit) of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Isaiah 11: 4
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
Zoopoieo (g2227) dzo-op-oy-eh'-o; from the same as 2226 and 4160; to (re-) vitalize (lit. or fig.): - make alive, give life, quicken.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God;
that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor 2:12
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Titus 3:4
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Tit.3:5
Washing is:
Loutron (g3067) loo-tron'; from 3068; a bath, i.e. (fig.) baptism: - washing.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Ep.5:26
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, Eph 5:26NIV
Matthew Henry: That he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word (v. 26)--that he might endue all his members with a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin.
The instrumental means whereby this is affected are the instituted sacraments, particularly
the washing of baptism and
the preaching and reception of the gospel.
Adam Clark: With the washing of water] Baptism, accompanied by the purifying influences of the Holy Spirit.
By the word] The doctrine of Christ crucified, through which baptism is administered, sin canceled, and the soul purified from all unrighteousness; the death of Christ giving efficacy to all
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:27
Regeneration:
Paliggenesia (g3824) pal-ing-ghen-es-ee'-ah; from 3825 and 1078; (spiritual) rebirth (the state or the act), i.e. (fig.) spiritual renovation; spec. Messianic restoration: - regeneration.
Renewing of A holy spirit is;
Anakainosis (g342) an-ak-ah'ee-no-sis; from 341; renovation: - renewing.
And be not conformed to this world: but ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Ro.12:2
Metamorphoo (g3339) met-am-or-fo'- o; from 3326 and 3445; to transform (lit. or fig. "metamorphose"): - change, transfigure, transform.
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Mt.17:2
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Co.3:18
Morphoo (g3445)
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you Ga.4:19
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Ep.4:23
Pneuma (g4151) pnyoo'-mah; from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, doemon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Comp. 5590.
Nous (g3563) nooce; prob. from the base of 1097; the intellect, i.e. mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by impl. meaning: - mind, understanding. Comp. 5590.
The classical writers know of AN UNHOLY SPIRIT as well as A HOLY SPIRIT. The entire history (outside of ghosts) "she has a sweet spirit" never means that she has a "person" living inside of her.
Therefore the Gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of A holy spirit. "Holy" is not a first name. Rather, holy simply means "set aside for God's service." When a person has a CLEAR CONSCIENCE they have a CLEAR CONSCIOUSNESS because personal sins are sprinkled by Christ when we ASK Him for a holy spirit or clear conscience:
Conscience is:
Suneidesis (g4893) soon-i'-day-sis; from a prol. form of 4894; co- perception, i.e. moral consciousness; - conscience.
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. Heb.10:2
Suneido (g4894) soon-i'-do; from 4862 and 1492; to see completely; used (like its prim.) only in two past tenses, respectively mean. to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of: - consider, know, be privy, be ware of.
and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. Ac.5:2
Her. I should like very much to know, in the next place, how you would explain the virtues. What principle of correctness is there in those charming words- wisdom, understanding, justice, and the rest of them?
Soc. That is a tremendous class of names which you are disinterring; still, as I have put on the lion's skin, I must not be faint of heart;
and I suppose that I must consider the meaning of wisdom (phronesis) and understanding (sunesis), and judgment (gnome), and knowledge (episteme), and all those other charming words, as you call them?
Her. What was the name? Soc. Phronesis (wisdom), which may signify Phoras kai rhou noesis (perception of motion and flux), or perhaps Phoras onesis (the blessing of motion), but is at any rate connected with Pheresthai (motion); gnome (judgment), again, certainly implies the ponderation or consideration (nomesis) of generation, for to ponder is the same as to consider; or, if you would rather, here is noesis, the very word just now mentioned, which is neou esis (the desire of the new);
the word neos implies that the world is always in process of creation. The giver of the name wanted to express his longing of the soul, for the original name was neoesis, and not noesis.
The word sophrosune is the salvation (soteria) of that wisdom (phronesis) which we were just now considering.
Epioteme (knowledge) is akin to this, and indicates that the soul which is good for anything follows (epetai) the motion of things, neither anticipating them nor falling behind them; wherefor the word should rather be read as epistemene, inserting en.
Sunesis (understanding) may be regarded in like manner as a kind of conclusion; the word is derived from sunienai (to go along with), and, like epistasthai (to know),
Implies the progression of the soul in company with the nature of things.
By looking at Peter's FIRST and LAST revelation about the purpose of baptism, he identifies THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT as A CLEAR CONSCIENCE OR CONSCIOUSNESS.
PAUL CONFIRMED that A holy PERSONAL spirit is the same as A pure conscience:
For God is my witness, whom I serve with MY SPIRIT in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Rom 1:9
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in NEWNESS of SPIRIT, and not in the oldness of the letter (Flesh only). Ro.7:6
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with PURE CONSCIENCE, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 2 Tim 1:3
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your CONSCIENCE from dead works to SERVE the living God? Heb.9:14
Therefore, as the gift of a "clear conscience" is not an indwelling 1/3 of God, the gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of A holy spirit or mental disposition.
Perhaps some one is ready to object, just here, that it is rather a strange mode of speech, for a man to represent his own spirit as being a witness to himself. But this is not the only passage in which Paul speaks in this way. When speaking of the unbelief of Israel, in the ninth of Romans, he uses this language:
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart." Romans 9:1-2
In the Greek we have here the same verb as in our text, so that, more exactly translated, it would read,
"my conscience also bearing witness with me." Here are two witnesses,
himself in the aggregate testifying to the brethren,
and his conscience,
which does not in every man agree with the spoken words, asserting within him the same thing.
We now have the subject sufficiently before us, to begin to feel the solid ground beneath our feet.
When the Holy Spirit testified to Paul what character God would adopt as a child, he could not doubt it;
and when he honestly inquired of his own spirit what his own character was, he could not doubt the answer that was given.
When these two characters agree, to doubt that you are a child of God is to doubt either your own consciousness, or the words of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching that baptism is to witness that one is ALREADY saved has its origin in Zwingli who is the father of "Believer's Baptism."
However, neith Zwingli nor Smyth were speaking of "saved by faith only" but were addressing those who had never heard the Word and infants. His message was that baptism was reserved for those WHO HAD A CHANCE to hear the gospel and respond to it.
Therefore, it was a conflict between "infant versus Believer's Baptism."
"To Zwingli, baptism was more a pledge of what we ought to do rather than a testimony to what God has already done for us."
The developing BAPTIST'S BELIEVER'S BAPTISM is no much different from historical pagan baptism.
Baptism for (in order to the remission of sins) receives lots of attention by the church Fathers.
I add this e-mail to show that some people add a DISPENSATION between the Old Testament Law and the New Testament period of Grace. We do understand that Jesus as Spirit appeared to Paul and gave him the same promise of a fuller revelation as the first apostles.
Hello Ken,
The Palestinian Jews were the only ones required to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 19:5, 6; 22:16). Never was this command given to the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-48; 19:2). Acts 19:2...this is why Paul asked these individuals if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. He doesn't say believe and baptized. Reception of the Spirit occurs when one believes. Upon further questioning he realizes that these men are Jews. Thus they are said to receive the Spirit AFTER they were baptized (Acts 19:5, 6). The same is true in regards to Acts 8:16, 17.
Sincerely
Better be careful or you will cut Christ off from the world. You remember what Matthew wrote:
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Matt 2:6
Both Peter and Paul testify that the Gentiles were to be saved:
Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. Acts 15:12
And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Acts 15:13
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. Acts 15:14
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, Acts 15:15
After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: Acts 15:16
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Acts 15:17
Simeon said:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: Luke 2:29
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Luke 2:30
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; Luke 2:31
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2:32
Chapter XIV.-Righteousness is Not Placed in Jewish Rites,
But in the Conversion of the Heart Given in Baptism
by Christ.
"By reason, therefore, of this laver of repentance and knowledge of God, which has been ordained on account of the transgression of God's people, as Isaiah cries,
we have believed, and testify that that very baptism which he announced is alone able to purify those who have repented; and this is the water of life.
But the cisterns which you have dug for yourselves are broken and profitless to you.
For what is the use of that baptism which cleanses the flesh and body alone?
Baptize the soul from wrath and from covetousness, from envy, and from hatred; and, lo! the body is pure.
For this is the symbolic significance of unleavened bread, that you do not commit the old deeds of wicked leaven.
But you have understood all things in a carnal sense, and you suppose it to be piety if you do such things, while your souls are filled with deceit, and, in short, with every wickedness.
Accordingly, also, after the seven days of eating unleavened bread, God commanded them to mingle new leaven, that is, the performance of other works, and not the imitation of the old and evil works. And because this is what this new Lawgiver demands of you, I shall again refer to the words which have been quoted by me, and to others also which have been passed over. They are related by Isaiah to the following effect:
"Hearken to me, and your soul shall live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the nations.
Nations which know not Thee shall call on Thee; and peoples who know not Thee shall escape unto Thee, because of Thy God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified Thee. Seek ye God; and when you find Him, call on Him, so long as He may be nigh you.
Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will obtain mercy, because He will abundantly pardon your sins. For my thoughts are not as your thoughts, neither are my ways as your ways; but as far removed as the heavens are from the earth, so far is my way removed from your way, and your thoughts from my thoughts. For as the snow or the rain descends from heaven, and shall not return till it waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread for food,
so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return until it shall have accomplished all that I desired, and I shall make My commandments prosperous. For ye shall go out with joy, and be taught with gladness.
Jesus usually spoke to the majority Jews in parables to keep the truth from them. He taught nothing "Jewish" and He promised nothing Jewish. The believers (meaning baptized) were not called Messianic Jews or any kind of Jew but Christians.
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Ro.2:29
Paul confirmed that both Jew and Gentile are translated into Christ or put on Christ BY faith WHEN that faith ia ACCEPTED. This was the fulfilment of Christ the Spirit's promise to Abraham:
When Paul used the word "all" who were excluded:
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Gal 3:22
What? For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Gal 3:26
How? For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Gal 3:27
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28
And if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:29
Paul leapfrogged the period of the Law because that was a period of Israel driving themselves into captivity and death brought on by the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai and repudiating God and demanding a human king.
Jesus died retrospectively for the Jews and prospectively for you and I: there can be no difference unless He died two deaths which, incidentially, inheres in BELIEVER'S BAPTISM just as it does in the Catholic Eucharist.
Believer's Baptism also insists that the commands of Jesus and Peter was that they submitted to water baptism to SIGNIFY their rejection of "this corrupt generation." A recent E-Mail insists that ALL of Acts has authority only for that TRANSISITIONAL PERIOD and is no longer in effect.
No one that we are aware of who teaches believer's baptism does not apply it to THE ELECT in a Calvinist sense.
"In his thorough book, "Handbook On Baptism," first published in 1884, by J.W. Shepherd, quotations are given by all the great scholars that ever wrote on the subject to that point in time. From page 339 to 359, just one quotation after another from scholars of differing religious persuasions, yet all attesting to the same great truth...The OVERWHELMING consensus of conviction among them was that the Greek preposition "eis" meant (and still means) "unto," "in the direction of," "in order to."
"Thus, such translations as, "that you may have your sins forgiven" (Williams), "in order to have your sins forgiven" (Goodspeed), "so that you may have your sins forgiven" (Phillips), etc. And even in some of the most recent modern speech translations, such as the New International Version, "so that yours sins may be forgiven," are correct in their renderings.
"The preacher, Ananias, told Saul of Tarsus, to "arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). That coincides perfectly well with Peter's command in Acts 2:38. The "washing away" of sins, or the act of being: redeemed" is accomplished by the blood of Christ as is taught in 1 Peter 1:18-19, when a penitent believer is immersed into the death of Christ as the apostle Paul plainly teaches in Romans 6:3ff. Resource
I will add to this as you respond.
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