Acts 10
37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
This^ is the truth.We must receive the Holy Spirit
Romans 8
9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
And therefore we must repent9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
and be baptized in His name after we repent
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Such as the Jews who were cut to the heart were at Pentecost, etc. rather than getting baptized while still unrepentant of drug use, lusting, etc. (sin) as we often are.
Some dispute Acts 2:38 partly because of Cornelius receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 10 before being baptized, assuming that Cornelius would have received the Holy Spirit even if he did not get baptized shortly after receiving the Holy Spirit. However, Cornelius' blessing may have been in response to his baptism becoming God's (in bold)
Isaiah 10:
10I declare the end from the beginning,
and ancient times from what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
10I declare the end from the beginning,
and ancient times from what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
after Cornelius and his family heard the Gospel for some special reason (to show Peter and the world His love for the Gentiles?), which does not in itself take away the importance of baptism, while waiting until after hands were laid on people e.g. here
Acts 8:
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
14When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. 16For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
(which is an interesting circumstance for faith alone doctrine) And here
Acts 19:
4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
and perhaps in your own life. Also note that in Acts 19, those that were baptized were already baptized into the Baptism of John who taught repentance with his baptisms, countering the idea that they didn't repent before they were baptized. Cornelius, as well, showed signs of repentance in Acts 10:31
Another objection to Acts 2:38 are verses that teach justification upon belief, however belief is used synonymously with obedience in Hebrews 3:18-19 and faith alone is refuted in James 2:23-24, which does not conflict with Acts 2:38.
Through baptism is also how we are (in bold)
Romans 6:
4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
Resulting in being
Romans 6:
5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
which is my own personal testimony:
I was addicted to porn very badly, as well as addicted to alcohol, lust in general, I was an instigator, tried pills, gossiped, sex before marriage, etc.
Eventually I began to feel bad about the porn and did believe God raised Jesus from the dead, but I was still very much in sin. In 2014, however, I had a very disturbing experience where man did not seem to have an answer, and I repented, and was soon after baptized. Since 2014, no alcohol (other than accidentally tasting my sister's jello shot in the fridge once), no sex, no porn, etc. If I something that should not be in me is made known, now I can stop it before it becomes a practice thanks to The Lord Jesus Christ.
which doesn't mean that I cannot choose to practice what these two apostles did, for example, here
Galatians 2
11When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
11When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
hence the warnings after the Gospels to believers to avoid sin such as 1 Corinthians 6:18. However, Jesus Christ is returning to the Earth and His rewards for our deeds will be with Him.
Revelation 22:12
12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
John 5:
28Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
12“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
John 5:
28Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice 29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
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