At what point are you converted according to scripture? What is converted? When was the Ethiopian eunuch "converted" in Acts 8? Being obedient doesn't mean you are earning anything.
I gave a timeline, Jews only Temple Mt Acts 2 & gentiles aprox 7 yrs later Acts 10. The Ethiopian eunuch is Acts 8. Before the mystery/secret of the gentiles is given to Paul.
KJV Dictionary Definition: convert
3. To change or turn from one religion to another, or from one party or sect to another; as, to convert pagans to Christianity;
Acts 26:
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
(MY NOTE: The Risen Lord sends Paul to convert/turn the gentiles from unbelief in Him to belief in Him. Also see Acts 15:3, 28:27 & 1 Thes 1:9-10)
I shared these verses earlier
Eph 1:
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(MY NOTE: They HEARD the gospel of salvation, AFTER they BELIEVED, they were SEALED with the Holy Spirit & NO mention of water)
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
(MY NOTE: The EARNEST/Holy Spirit is the Lords promise/pledged/down payment on the believers final redemption. Bible dictionary definition of The Earnest below)
Rom 10:
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(MY NOTE The words of FAITH that he's preaching are close, even in you confession/mouth)
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
(MY NOTE: Confess Jesus as Lord & BELIEVE He died for you sin & was raised from the dead & you will be saved/converted. No H2O needed)t
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
The gospel/good news is:
1 Cor 15:
Moreover, brethren, """I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you""", which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 """By which also ye are saved""", if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, """how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures""";
4 """And that he was buried""", """and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures""":
MY NOTE: Vrs 1-4 Recap: """I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you""" """By which also ye are saved""" is """that Christ died for our sins""" """that he was buried""", """and that he rose again the third day""") NO WATER USED!
Find additional resources here:
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: definition - Seal
English "seal" = Greek "sphragizo" context as a verb - Strongs ref #4972
(d) ownership and security, three indications are conveyed in Ephesians 1:13 , in the metaphor of the "sealing" of believers by the gift of the Holy Spirit, upon believing (i.e., at the time of their regeneration, not after a lapse of time in their spiritual life, "having also believed," "after that ye believed;" the aorist (TENSE) participle marks the definiteness and completeness of the act of faith); the idea of destination is stressed by the phrase "the Holy Spirit of promise" (see also Ephesians 1:14 ); so Ephesians 4:30 , "ye were sealed unto the day of redemption;"
(MY NOTE: Below are the Vine's translators verses: They define SEAL/SEALING (Eph 1:13) as: "ownership & security" The GIFT of the Holy Spirit given upon/at the moment the person truly BELIEVED in Jesus finished work. They add: This SEAL/gift of the Holy Spirit (context > aorist TENSE participle) marks the definiteness & completeness of the act of faith.
Find here the verses Vines cites:
Eph 1:
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words - [ 1,,G728, arrabon ] (Noun) EARNEST:
originally, earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed, was probably a Phoenician word, introduced into Greece. In general usage it came to denote "a pledge" or "earnest" of any sort; in the NT it is used only of that which is assured by God to believers; it is said of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge" of all their future blessedness, 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; in Ephesians 1:14, particularly of their eternal inheritance.
(MY NOTE: Below are the Vine's translators verses: The EARNEST denotes "a pledge". The giving of the Holy Spirit as the Divine "pledge". An assurance/guarantee given by God, of all their future blessedness/deliverance from sin & eternal life)
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
Eph 1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(MY NOTE: Christ's Holy Spirit, given to every believer at the moment of conversion/when the believer is SEALED via Christ's Holy Spirit. Is God's pledge/guarantee of ownership & security. Christ's pledge/promise (He's completely trust worthy & proved it on the cross) that believers are a purchased (with His perpetually cleansing God blood sacrifice) possession & have been given ETERNAL LIFE.
REREAD Acts 10:44-45 (shared in post #87) The gentiles received, By FAITH, Christ's, Forever indwelling (Jn14:16) salvation sealing (Eph 1:13-14, 4:30, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5, 2 Tim 1:14) Holy Spirit before they were water baptized.
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
(MY NOTE: The key to this verse is found in the article "TOWARD". Repentance TOWARD God & faith TOWARD Christ)
- what to do?:
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