Acts 2:38 Comparison: Evangelical vs. Oneness / Baptismal-Regeneration View

[LightBearer316]

Just how unique do you think your theology is?

You asked how unique I think my theology is — not unique at all. It’s straight from Scripture and as old as the gospel itself.

Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works, isn’t some modern “camp-based” idea — it’s the consistent message from Genesis to Revelation. The apostles preached it, the early church affirmed it, and Scripture still proclaims it plainly.

The truth doesn’t need to be “unique” — it just needs to be biblical.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

[LightBearer316]

We all think and say we rely on the Spirit to discern truth, yet we have multitudes of denominations, including the one you're in.

True — many claim to rely on the Spirit, yet not all truly submit to the Word He inspired.
The Spirit never contradicts Himself, and He always leads in harmony with Scripture. The divisions come when people elevate tradition, emotion, or personality above what’s plainly written.

The Spirit doesn’t cause division; human pride and misinterpretation do.
When believers truly yield to the Word He inspired, the message stays consistent no matter the denomination.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

[studier]

You asked how unique I think my theology is — not unique at all. It’s straight from Scripture and as old as the gospel itself.

Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works, isn’t some modern “camp-based” idea — it’s the consistent message from Genesis to Revelation. The apostles preached it, the early church affirmed it, and Scripture still proclaims it plainly.

The truth doesn’t need to be “unique” — it just needs to be biblical.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Still ignoring your errors and showing inability to admit them.

Can you find the integrity and honesty to state that there are many denominations, several which are promoted on this forum, and that it's typical for each one of them to say what you just said about their beliefs being straight from Scripture? There's another thread in process where a Roman Catholic is fighting just as hard for his system as you are for yours. There are likely others still in process where devout Calvinists are doing the same.

What you say about "Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works" is fine and you'll likely get little disagreement with it even around here. But you know it's not the whole story and that there are details within it and directly related to some of the words in that Truth that are discussed and debated and have been for many centuries.

The Truth is Biblical and is unique - His name is Jesus Christ and you misrepresented it and Him as I and others have tried to explain to you.

Got this out of our system? How about back to Scripture beginning with where you've misrepresented it - we can begin with Acts2:38, the opening point of this thread of yours.

 

[studier]

True — many claim to rely on the Spirit, yet not all truly submit to the Word He inspired.
The Spirit never contradicts Himself, and He always leads in harmony with Scripture. The divisions come when people elevate tradition, emotion, or personality above what’s plainly written.

The Spirit doesn’t cause division; human pride and misinterpretation do.
When believers truly yield to the Word He inspired, the message stays consistent no matter the denomination.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

So, what caused your error and unwillingness to admit to it? Is it not being submitted to His Word and Spirit to the degree you think you are? How many have tried to point out your error here? Are we all the ones creating division or are you and your denominational friend?

 

[Blue155]

@studier, @ChristRoseFromTheDead Isn’t it amazing that the 3k on Pentecost didn’t squabble or look for loopholes (like the massive majority do) about being baptized for the remission of sins? They didn’t ask Peter what he meant. They simply obeyed. It’s no different than when people squabble and look for loopholes over every other verse about baptism. No one in the New Testament who got saved never made any fuss or griped about baptism. When one wants to be saved, they will take Jesus at His word. And when someone loves Jesus, they will be willing to repent of any sinful act or lifestyle that they find themselves in.

 

[LightBearer316]

Still ignoring your errors and showing inability to admit them.

Can you find the integrity and honesty to state that there are many denominations, several which are promoted on this forum, and that it's typical for each one of them to say what you just said about their beliefs being straight from Scripture? There's another thread in process where a Roman Catholic is fighting just as hard for his system as you are for yours. There are likely others still in process where devout Calvinists are doing the same.

What you say about "Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works" is fine and you'll likely get little disagreement with it even around here. But you know it's not the whole story and that there are details within it and directly related to some of the words in that Truth that are discussed and debated and have been for many centuries.

The Truth is Biblical and is unique - His name is Jesus Christ and you misrepresented it and Him as I and others have tried to explain to you.

Got this out of our system? How about back to Scripture beginning with where you've misrepresented it - we can begin with Acts2:38, the opening point of this thread of yours.

Gee Thanks! That response from you is another attempt to shift the discussion from Scripture to me personally — accusing me of “ignoring errors,” “lacking integrity,” and “misrepresenting Christ.” It’s condescending rhetoric designed to provoke, not genuine dialogue. Didn't you take any debating classes in college?
You keep claiming I’ve “misrepresented” Christ and Scripture, but I’ve consistently quoted the text itself — not a system or tradition.

The reality is, everyone says their view comes from Scripture; the real question is whether it aligns with the full counsel of God’s Word. That’s why the Bereans were called “noble” — not because they claimed inspiration, but because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were true (Acts 17:11 KJV).

Salvation by grace through faith isn’t a “system,” it’s the gospel itself — the same message preached by the apostles long before there were denominations to argue over it.

I’m always willing to go back to Scripture — respectfully, line by line. But if the conversation can’t stay there, it’s no longer about truth.

Grace and peace.

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

@studier, @ChristRoseFromTheDead Isn’t it amazing that the 3k on Pentecost didn’t squabble or look for loopholes (like the massive majority do) about being baptized for the remission of sins? They didn’t ask Peter what he meant. They simply obeyed. It’s no different than when people squabble and look for loopholes over every other verse about baptism. No one in the New Testament who got saved never made any fuss or griped about baptism. When one wants to be saved, they will take Jesus at His word. And when someone loves Jesus, they will be willing to repent of any sinful act or lifestyle that they find themselves in.

I would think that a child of God would want to do eveything possible to please their father. But it's like folks are trying hard to do as little as possible. "What's the least I can do to be saved?"

 

[studier]

@studier, @ChristRoseFromTheDead Isn’t it amazing that the 3k on Pentecost didn’t squabble or look for loopholes (like the massive majority do) about being baptized for the remission of sins? They didn’t ask Peter what he meant. They simply obeyed. It’s no different than when people squabble and look for loopholes over every other verse about baptism. No one in the New Testament who got saved never made any fuss or griped about baptism. When one wants to be saved, they will take Jesus at His word. And when someone loves Jesus, they will be willing to repent of any sinful act or lifestyle that they find themselves in.

I was trained in a very strict faith-alone system with statements like "if you add anything to faith, then you're not saved!" With this as your base, faith absolutely must be divorced from anything and everything else.

I was also involved in assisting with and compiling a quarterly (as I recall) theological journal and thus read every article that was slated to be included in it. The trend was to make faith absolutely passive where it just kind of happened to us through absolutely no action of our own and this was from a group that was strictly against Calvinistic concepts.

With this foundation every bit of detail that made baptism clouded to any degree was focused on. Acts which can be seen as transitional coupled with things like Paul's comments about being glad he hadn't baptized many and not being sent to baptize, fits well within the system.

Honestly, at this point, for me it's simply what does the Scripture say and I don't really deal with it in English anymore especially when we're getting into things like we've been dealing with in Acts2:38 on this thread. There are a few of us who can see what this verse says and there are at least a couple who have a system to support. I gave up the system mentality and allegiance many years ago for several reasons, one being I came to see the effect of the presuppositions on strict exegesis of the grammar.

In direct answer to you, I think it's fair to conclude that the 3k saw repentance and baptism as part of their believing and did what they were commanded to do by God's representative - Christ's Apostle. And I don't think they were "saved" when they were more literally "stabbed in the heart" by what Peter had told them. Faith-Alone theology essentially has to see it there.

 

[Ouch]

Poisoning the well fallacy.

That's a fact, any time you don't follow JESUS but man could be DEADLY.

Eternity is a LONG TIME.

 

[Lamar]

Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works

No, that is my theology.

Your theology is salvation by faith alone.

 

[Ouch]

Just to clarify — I never mentioned the CEO of Logos; that was something you brought up.
My post only explained what Logos Bible Software and Typinator actually are — simple research and typing tools, not sources of doctrine or AI. My faith and study are centered on Christ and His Word alone.
Using a research library doesn’t mean following a person; it means being diligent to handle Scripture accurately.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Logos and Olive Tree are both Bible study apps — they let you keep your Bibles, commentaries, and other books in digital format. You can highlight, search, and read right from your phone, tablet, or computer.

They’re just modern ways to study Scripture — like having your bookshelf and Bible in one app. Nothing more.

Have you ever used one?

Grace and Peace

So what's the difference between the man who made the software and the man?

If you want to study to shew thyself approved unto God, you may want to look at how to get rid of your sins, AND what do you have to do for JESUS to fill you with HIS SPIRIT.

I don't need one I have the Holy Ghost.

Where would JESUS disciples like Paul and Peter get there info from?

Do you think they were lacking with knowledge?

 

[LightBearer316]

I was trained in a very strict faith-alone system with statements like "if you add anything to faith, then you're not saved!" With this as your base, faith absolutely must be divorced from anything and everything else.

I was also involved in assisting with and compiling a quarterly (as I recall) theological journal and thus read every article that was slated to be included in it. The trend was to make faith absolutely passive where it just kind of happened to us through absolutely no action of our own and this was from a group that was strictly against Calvinistic concepts.

With this foundation every bit of detail that made baptism clouded to any degree was focused on. Acts which can be seen as transitional coupled with things like Paul's comments about being glad he hadn't baptized many and not being sent to baptize, fits well within the system.

Honestly, at this point, for me it's simply what does the Scripture say and I don't really deal with it in English anymore especially when we're getting into things like we've been dealing with in Acts2:38 on this thread. There are a few of us who can see what this verse says and there are at least a couple who have a system to support. I gave up the system mentality and allegiance many years ago for several reasons, one being I came to see the effect of the presuppositions on strict exegesis of the grammar.

In direct answer to you, I think it's fair to conclude that the 3k saw repentance and baptism as part of their believing and did what they were commanded to do by God's representative - Christ's Apostle. And I don't think they were "saved" when they were more literally "stabbed in the heart" by what Peter had told them. Faith-Alone theology essentially has to see it there.

I appreciate you sharing a bit of your background — many of us have come through different theological systems. But the question always comes down to what Scripture actually says, not what system we left or joined.

In Acts 2:38 KJV, repentance and baptism are linked because baptism follows repentance as its outward expression — not because baptism causes forgiveness. Peter himself clarified later in Acts 10:43–47 KJV that forgiveness comes through faith before baptism.
Faith-alone theology isn’t a “system,” it’s simply what Scripture teaches:

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5 KJV​

Faith produces obedience, but obedience doesn’t produce justification. The 3,000 were baptized because they believed, not in order to be forgiven.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

[Ouch]

So by that logic, if someone uses SwordSearcher Bible Software, does that make them a follower of Brandon Staggs, the programmer and owner of it — or a follower of Jesus Christ?


Obviously, using a Bible study program doesn’t mean you follow the person who coded it. It’s just a tool to help study God’s Word more efficiently.


My faith isn’t in software developers — it’s in the Savior the software points to.



https://www.swordsearcher.com/features.html. Watch the videos

As long as it lines up with GODS word I don't care where you get it from.

People like you say things like people were saved in Acts 10 before they got the Holy Ghost is not following JESUS.

JESUS said in John 3:5 can't enter without what followed after they believed.

So you tell me what men to follow.

 

[LightBearer316]

LightBearer316 said:
Salvation by grace through faith, apart from works

No, that is my theology.

Your theology is salvation by faith alone.

Lamar, you are trying to create a false distinction between “salvation by grace through faith apart from works” and “salvation by faith alone.”

But biblically, those phrases describe the same doctrine. Paul’s words in Romans 3:28 KJV make it unmistakable:

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” — Romans 3:28 KJV​

They’re not different at all.

“Faith alone” simply restates what Paul taught — “by grace through faith… not of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV).

Works follow genuine faith, but they don’t contribute to justification. If salvation isn’t by faith alone, then grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6 KJV).

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

 

[NightTwister]

That's a fact, any time you don't follow JESUS but man could be DEADLY.

Eternity is a LONG TIME.

And clearly you don't understand what that is.

 

[studier]

Gee Thanks! That response from you is another attempt to shift the discussion from Scripture to me personally — accusing me of “ignoring errors,” “lacking integrity,” and “misrepresenting Christ.” It’s condescending rhetoric designed to provoke, not genuine dialogue. Didn't you take any debating classes in college?
You keep claiming I’ve “misrepresented” Christ and Scripture, but I’ve consistently quoted the text itself — not a system or tradition.

The reality is, everyone says their view comes from Scripture; the real question is whether it aligns with the full counsel of God’s Word. That’s why the Bereans were called “noble” — not because they claimed inspiration, but because they searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were true (Acts 17:11 KJV).

Salvation by grace through faith isn’t a “system,” it’s the gospel itself — the same message preached by the apostles long before there were denominations to argue over it.

I’m always willing to go back to Scripture — respectfully, line by line. But if the conversation can’t stay there, it’s no longer about truth.

Grace and peace.

Listen, you're just yakking and ignoring what I reasonably asked of you at least twice and I finally did for you. You've yet to even go back and interact with it at all. You at this point have zero credibility with me, which I know won't change your life, so please move on.

Your rhetoric is empty claiming. The real Bereans here have checked you against Scripture and found you wanting. I've checked your claims to resources and found you to be wrong and that those resources clearly oppose you - not support you. So, you've either made a mistake, or you've intentionally mislead us while purporting to be a noble and serious student of the Word.

Faith-Alone is a theological system and tradition. You sound like a Roman Catholic taking a stand that they are not a denomination or worse in the eyes of some but the one true universal church. And the more you get off this empty self-aggrandizing rhetoric and back to Scripture, the more the Bereans will be poking holes in your presuppositional infused interpretations of it. Maybe we'll even find some points of agreement.

 

[studier]

I appreciate you sharing a bit of your background — many of us have come through different theological systems. But the question always comes down to what Scripture actually says, not what system we left or joined.

In Acts 2:38 KJV, repentance and baptism are linked because baptism follows repentance as its outward expression — not because baptism causes forgiveness. Peter himself clarified later in Acts 10:43–47 KJV that forgiveness comes through faith before baptism.
Faith-alone theology isn’t a “system,” it’s simply what Scripture teaches:

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5 KJV​

Faith produces obedience, but obedience doesn’t produce justification. The 3,000 were baptized because they believed, not in order to be forgiven.

Grace and Peace
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

What a mess.

 

[Blue155]

I was trained in a very strict faith-alone system with statements like "if you add anything to faith, then you're not saved!" With this as your base, faith absolutely must be divorced from anything and everything else.

Right, it’s as if one has to do anything else then it’s somehow working or earning heaven.

 

[studier]

Right, it’s as if one has to do anything else then it’s somehow working or earning heaven.

That's one of the main problems. It's taken a phrase that once had a specific purpose and turned it into an extreme that causes the retranslation and misinterpretation of Scripture to keep it afloat. There are plenty here who can identify and articulate when they see it happening. It's nice to see the correcting being done. It's typical to see it being rejected and ignored and the tactics are not unusual.

 

[studier]

I would think that a child of God would want to do eveything possible to please their father. But it's like folks are trying hard to do as little as possible. "What's the least I can do to be saved?"

In line with this I read a brief article yesterday that went through some research (forget by whom) that said only 13% of Christians and 37% of pastors in the US have a biblical worldview.

IMO the E-Ticket to Heaven mentality plays some part in this.