If this is your best reply to my questions, I suggest you rethink your theology.
I have nothing to rethink, but you have plenty to rethink. You should learn to use the (Quote) feature instead of responding in obnoxious red bold lettering.
You still can't figure it out? Salvation through faith in Christ alone continues to go right over your head. A childish attempt at mockery.
There is nothing childish about what I said, and the truth does continue to go right over your head. So much for your attempt at mockery.
Prior to my conversion several years ago I did not get it either. Another plead to personal testimony. Bad hermeneutics.
I was not trying to make my personal testimony about hermeneutics. It was simply a personal testimony.
You are willing to admit you were wrong in the past (a positive sign) are you willing to admit you could be wrong now?
Prior to my conversion several years ago while still attending the Roman Catholic church, I was wrong about the plan of salvation then and just like you now, I was trusting in water baptism for salvation and NOT in Christ alone. I also had absolutely no assurance of salvation then as a works trusting Roman Catholic, but I have assurance of salvation now as a born-again believer in Jesus. (1 John 5:11-13; 1 Peter 1:23) Praise God!
I am willing to admit I could be wrong on this and other issues.
You are wrong about the plan of salvation. We are not saved by works including water baptism. (Acts 10:43-47; Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9)
Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption alone and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28)
Amen! Now what happened to baptism in Romans 3:24-28?
24 and all are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a
sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. (not faith plus baptism, not faith plus works, but simply faith) He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who
justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (faith in Jesus and not faith in Jesus "plus something else") 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works?
No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For
we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
If you are going to attempt to proof-text your assertion at least provide text that has your qualifier. Where is the "alone" you are attempting to prove?
So that's what bothers you. The word "alone" is not specifically spelled out next to faith in Romans 3:24-28 and you can't seem to figure out that the word "alone" does not need to be specifically spelled out next to faith in order to figure out that the word faith "stands alone" in connection with receiving justification in Romans 3:24-28. Did Paul say faith "plus something else" in Romans 3:24-28? NO. He simply said faith. Did Paul simply say we are justified by faith in Romans 5:1 or did he say faith "plus something else?" He simply said faith. Did Paul say we are saved through faith "plus something else" in Ephesians 2:8 or did he say faith "plus something else?" He simply said faith. Hence, faith alone. This is not rocket science.
Are you ready to place your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation or are you still clinging to works for salvation? (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9
I have faith in Jesus Christ, that is why I obeyed and was baptized so that my sins would be forgiven. (Mark 16:16 & Acts 2:38)[/QUOTE] I see that you are still clinging to works for salvation, with a heavy emphasis on water baptism. That's not faith in Jesus. That's faith in baptism. What other works are you also trusting in for salvation "in addition" to water baptism?
Mark 16:16 - He who believes and is baptized will be saved
(general cases without making a qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized) but he who
does not believe will be condemned. The omission of baptized with "does not believe" shows that Jesus does not make baptism absolutely essential to salvation. Condemnation rests on
unbelief and not on a lack of baptism.
If water baptism is absolutely required for salvation, then why did Jesus not mention it in the following verses? (3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26). What is the ONE requirement that Jesus mentions NINE different times in each of these complete statements?
*BELIEVES. *What happened to baptism? *Hermeneutics.
John 3:18 - He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who (is not water baptized? - NO)
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (been water baptized? - NO)
because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
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)
In Acts 10:43 we read
..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, 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*