the scriptures are put together in such a way that we can't just go to 'one' of them
and form a doctrine or opinion, it's our job to 'seek the whole council of God'...
When seeking the whole council of God, it's our job to rightly divide the word of truth and properly harmonize scripture with scripture.
we definitely believe in 'water-baptism' - 'if it's done in Faith', otherwise you just get WET'...
also when and where it takes place, will be the decision of The Holy Spirit...
We need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to become saved (Acts 16:31). Water baptism follows (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 16:31-34).
ACTS 2:38.
'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 you shall receive the gift of The Holy Ghost.'
this is not the 'whole-puzzle' but just a piece of it...
In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.
Also compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received
the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 -
the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:47).
Again, in Acts 10:43, we read .
.whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. These Gentiles
received the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 10:45
when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 -
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47 - this is referred to as
repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.
So the only logical conclusion *when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture* is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*
just like, when Jesus said to the man that asked Him, 'what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?'
and Jesus said, 'Keep the Commandments and you shall enter into life'.
Jesus showed the rich young ruler how short he falls of keeping the first commandment (Exodus 20:3) which is the first of the two great commandments (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). The rich young ruler confidently and (self righteously) declared that he has kept the commandments from his youth up and qualified for heaven under those terms. Yet Jesus knew the man's wealth had become his idolatrous god, which kept him from believing in Jesus.
The rich young ruler missed the point that Jesus was making, failed to place his faith in Jesus for salvation, and continued instead to trust in his riches (vs. 21-23). His face fell and he went away sad because he could not part from his great wealth, not even in exchange for eternal life. If keeping the commandments is the basis by which we receive eternal life, then why isn't this remark the pattern for all discussions concerning eternal life? Paul would have said to the jailer who asked, "what must I do to be saved?" by replying in Acts 16:31 - keep the commandments, yet that's not what Paul said.
Jesus knows the hearts of all men and responds to each individual a little differently because He knows where their need is. He didn't respond to the woman at the well, or to Nicodemus or to the rich young ruler the same way, yet the consistent pattern in scripture is salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9).
in another place it says, 'Believe on The Lord, Jesus Christ, and you will be saved'.
and again, 'we are Baptized into His 'death and burial', that as He rose from the dead,
that we may walk in 'newness of Life'.
These Gentiles in Acts 11:17 received the gift of the Holy Spirit when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and this was BEFORE water baptism. So it was established that they believed and were saved BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:43-47). Water baptism is the picture, but not the reality. As Greek scholar AT Robertson points out - "A symbol is not the reality, but the picture of the reality."