Why would internal changes need baptism? If you've changed people should see it. Why is baptism done if the changes can be seen?
FOUNDATION, the 12 apostles or Pauls?
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Why would internal changes need baptism? If you've changed people should see it. Why is baptism done if the changes can be seen?
FOUNDATION, the 12 apostles or Pauls?
Eternity is a long time, we better make sure we are following JESUS and HIS word, going down the straight and narrow path.
Do we jump over the book of Acts because it's a transitional book as so so many claim, ignoring it and go right to Paul’s letters? Or, accept the book of Acts because it is the FOUNDATION and not a transitional book?
The foundation of the book of Acts is believe in JESUS, repent, water baptism in JESUS name and need to receive the Holy Ghost to be reborn. Acts 2:38.
Following the same path that JESUS and HIS disciple took along with Paul before he started his ministry.
OR, is the book of Acts a transitional book and we are saved by grace and or faith ALONE?
Below you will see GOD'S words not anyone's opinion or personal interpretation of HIS word.
Why didn't Paul mention the need to be water baptized or receive the Holy Ghost to be saved?
Many do not understand and the outcome is going to be devastating.
Nowhere after the book of Acts will you see specific instructions on the how to be reborn or saved, NO WHERE why?
ALL OF Paul's letters WERE NOT written to the unsaved, but to the saved or reborn.
After the book of Acts in Paul's letters he was giving instructions about how to live, what to do as Christians to reach the lost, what happens in water baptism, and things about the Holy Ghost. Off the milk and on the MEAT.
Through Paul’s travels he heard different problems in the churches and was addressing the problems in each of his letters.
His letters included both CORRECTION and PRAISE.
If you were there to hear the instructions Paul gave that birthed churches it would be the same message as the rest of JESUS disciples. See Acts 19 it shows what Paul told the people to do.
Paul did NOT have his own gospel. Notice how he introduces himself PAUL AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST.
Look who the letters are addressed to,
1 Corinthians,
1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
2 Corinthians,
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
Romans,
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians,
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Ephesians,
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Philippians,
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Colossians,
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians,
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians,
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
All letters after the book of Thessalonians had nothing to with Paul’s ministry to churches.
Back to Paul
Proof Paul followed JESUS along with the rest of JESUS disciples is seen in what happened in the beginning stages of when he started the church of Ephesus Acts 19. For some reason Paul questioned whether the 12 disciples had the Holy Ghost yet. He found out the men did not know what happened at Pentecost. He told them about JESUS and they got baptized. And after Paul laid hands on them they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19,
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
After Paul baptized those folk, and they received the Holy Ghost he stayed there for 2-3 years building the church of Jews and Gentiles.
If anyone debates Paul preached a different message, it's HIS word your debating not with me.
I bet there will be a lot of people who share Paul's letters trying to prove Paul said we are saved by grace or faith alone using Paul letters and debate HIS word.
BEFORE you do, read from the top with an open heart and look , Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ and each and every letter is to a church, not the unsaved.
We CAN'T debate HIS word, it says what it say and means what it means.
A better question to ask is how we are saved.
What is the specific reason and event that enabled our salvation.
Because this cuts through the tradition, theology, philosophy, church teaching.
I asked AI this question and restricted AI to the scripture only.
1. The sole reason for salvation
God’s love and grace, according to His will
Ephesians 2:8–9
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…”
Ephesians 1:5
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”
2. The specific event that enabled reconciliation
The death (blood), burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ — especially His death
Romans 5:10
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…”
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…”
Colossians 1:20
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself…”
“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself…”
2 Corinthians 5:18–19
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ…
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…”
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ…
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them…”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
3. The cause of being transferred from darkness to the kingdom of the Son
Redemption through His blood and faith in Christ
Colossians 1:13–14
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 26:18
“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.”
“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.”
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Ephesians 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
“But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
You have just read the specific event that granted us salvation.
Christ crucified is the atonement and the forgiveness of our sin.
Put simply; if you call on the name of the crucified Christ you are saved.
Everything else is secondary to the crucified Christ.
So you need to call on the name of the crucified Christ to be saved. If it was just his dying on the cross everyone would be saved by that action.
WHY reject the instructions of the Lord to get baptized?
You're trying to justify ignoring and rejection of what the Lord said to do which is an earmark of being led of devils.
Those being led by the Holy Spirit would get baptized after getting born again simply because the Lord Jesus said to.
You may misunderstand what was written.
The atonement alone is the sole reason for salvation.
That's the platform on which we stand.
To receive that atonement one must believe in the crucifixion (the atonement) and the resurrection.
In other words, the gospel (1 Corinthians 15) and the belief in that gospel generates salvation.
Anything else you do in your Christian life is based solely on that atonement.
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
God used this at the first to prove the Holy Spirit was given, the 120 spoke in a dozen known languages so those from other lands could understand and know something powerful was taking place, the 120 were speaking in understandable human words. Expounding on the things of God.
Today it is gibberish, does not glorify God, does not teach or reveal knowledge.
I have never been involved I have seen it on the web, not of God.
pure confusion.
Yep, you don't need to tell me anything.
You make statement like the KJV bible is wrong then can't back up what you say, did you lie?
You asked me questions and I answered them, you don't anwser mine.
Wouldn't you call that rude?
Paul asked questions in Acts 19, got answers diagnosed the problem and fixed it.
I was kinda being like Paul, but you do you.
Your walk is between YOU AND JESUS ALONE, keep this in mind JESUS SAYS, JESUS SAYS in John 3:5 CAN'T enter without being born of the spirit. Baptized in JESUS wonderful name and JESUS filling you with HIS spirit like he filled (HINT, HINT) HIS disciples in Acts 2:4.
I asked you if you were filled, I going to take it as a no.
According to JESUS you need to be, when you stand in front on HIM it will be you and HIM alone, with HIS rule book.
Funny man? This is not about me, its ALL about JESUS, best of luck.
So what mistakes did they make???
All of HIS word is good, do you also like the first part of the book of Acts?
So you use AI and not the Holy Ghost to get your wisdom?
Do you realize after the book of Acts was to church's?
It's recorded, everyone who was filled, acts 2,8,10 and 19 was filled and spoke in tongues.
JESUS said in Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
So did JESUS answer your question?
While I respect your determination, I can't respect your position because it is demonstrably wrong.
Jesus didn't "have His word translated" into the KJV; the king of England did. There were already several translations in English; the king just didn't like them. Much of the KJV is Tyndale's work from a century earlier.
The KJV has errors such as the conflicting age of Azariah when he became king of Judah, the use of "Easter" instead of "Passover" in Acts 12, and the conflation of three distinct Greek words into "hell". It echoes the "conjectural emendation" of Erasmus in Revelation 16:5.
By all means use the KJV if that is your preference, but please don't hold to indefensible ideas like your statement quoted above.
You think they made none? For one thing, Peter kept baptizing in water until he remembered what the Lord told them about baptism as pointed out in the verse I quoted.
Salvation by grace was not Paul's teaching alone.
I never said any of His word wasn't good, it's all for correction, reproof and instruction in righteousness 2Tim.3:16
The New Testament is a small collection of text documents, it is a very small book.
Sometimes I am amazed at how many different interpretations one small book
can generate.
Reading a multiple page letter is not a difficult task.
AI rips through these church letters very easily except for Revelation.
As for Acts which is not a letter from an apostle and has no authority.
Acts is an early church history lesson on how the early church attempted to navigate,
through persecution, legalism, evangelism, missionary journeys, etc.
The bottom line in all of this is the read the N.T as a series of literal letters. Until you
understand what the reason for each letter is. It is not too hard to read.
Your last part of your statement is not true, but you say it as it is???
SHOW me, were baptism is an outward show!!!!
SHOW me, were we are saved when you expressed your faith in Christ!!!
Question if you believe what JESUS says in John 3:16 why not what HE says in John 3:5?
Lets look at John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Another question, why does it say "SHOULD NOT PARRISH" ??
Because if you believe in HIM you will OBEY HIM and you "SHOULD NOT PARRISH"!!!
Other statement JESUS made, will you believe them?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Notice just before John 3:16 HE says we MUST BE born of WATER and of SPIRIT. Two separate things.
How do we get born of water?
Mark 16,
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
How do we get born of the Spirit?
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
The first ones to be born of the spirit,
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Notice Peter says the same thing in the first message preached that was PROMISED.
Acts 2:38-39
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 ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Now the thief, SO MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT HIM AND ARE TRICKED.
We need to rightly divide the word.
When the thief on the cross died, he died OT laws. Where people had to take a sacrifice to the high priests ones a year to have their sins forgiven GOD RULES.
JESUS is our high priest and he became our sacrifice our lamb.
When JESUS was on this earth and forgave sins as he wished like the thief.
JESUS preach app 3 years, died on the cross, buried and rose again. Then he ascended to Heaven to put his blood on the mercy seat.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
He then returned to earth and was here app 40 days and ascended again commanding his disciples to wait because they will be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:3-4
He ascended the second time and this was the first message of how to be reborn.
Acts 2:38-39
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 ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Since then until he returns again, we live in NT laws and how to be saved we need to repent, get baptized in JESUS name to get rid of our sins and receive the Holy Ghost like JESUS gave his disciples in Acts 2:4.
While I respect your determination, I can't respect your position because it is demonstrably wrong.
Jesus didn't "have His word translated" into the KJV; the king of England did. There were already several translations in English; the king just didn't like them. Much of the KJV is Tyndale's work from a century earlier.
The KJV has errors such as the conflicting age of Azariah when he became king of Judah, the use of "Easter" instead of "Passover" in Acts 12, and the conflation of three distinct Greek words into "hell". It echoes the "conjectural emendation" of Erasmus in Revelation 16:5.
By all means use the KJV if that is your preference, but please don't hold to indefensible ideas like your statement quoted above.
Who do you think told the King of England to have it translated?
So you think when Peter saw something and it make him think of something of his past, that it was a mistake?
In your life, you never saw a picture or something that made you think of your past? Maybe a odor? Perfume?
I lived next to a ketchup factory over 55 years ago, when I smell ketchup for a long time in my adult life I could picture walking next to it as I am right now, I can see it like it was yesterday.
You said he made a MISTAKE PROVE IT.
We are saved be grace, but there are rules we have to OBEY and not just saying we are save be grace gets you saved.
I don't recall you ever saying HIS word was not good, BUT there is plenty of proof, YOU SURE WILL NOT ACCEPT IT.
I don't care where you get your information from, AI has a lot of benefits BUT IF IT DOES NOT LINE UP WITH HIS WORD, IT'S A LIE.
Example, I asked "what do I have to do to be reborn"
A COMPUTER MADE BY MEN told me this.
To be "reborn," which means a deep spiritual or personal transformation, different beliefs offer different paths, but commonly involve turning from past ways (repentance), believing in a higher power (like Jesus in Christianity), seeking inner change through practices like meditation or self-reflection, and committing to a new way of living. For Christians, it's about receiving Jesus as Savior; in Eastern traditions, it's about breaking karma's cycle through spiritual perfection.
Does that make you think of what JESUS said in John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
JESUS said we need to be born of WATER AND OF SPIRIT.
So always check HIS word, of course it's best to let the Holy Ghost lead you if you have it.
If you don't you could be anything, muslim, buddha anything, that is why there in ONLY ONE GOD and ONE truth and so many different denominations.
For instance WHY WOULD YOU SAY,
"As for Acts which is not a letter from an apostle and has no authority"
Personal opinion?
Did you find that in HIS word?
You are right, it's not hard to read so you should be able to explain yourself easily, using HIS word of course.
The only proof I can see is I don't agree with you regarding baptism. That is hardly any proof I do not accept the word of God.
The scripture is clear. Peter forgot the Lord told them they were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and Peter continued baptizing with water as was the custom following John's baptism, a baptism of repentance which was a preparatory baptism for the coming Messiah. It was not a baptism of salvation.
We don't "get ourselves saved". We are saved by God's gracious promise to save all who believe Christ died for sin and rose again. There are no "rules" to follow as if it is a medical procedure we must prepare for.
As far as proving Peter got it wrong, he admits it himself. The Lord told him they were to be baptized in the Spirit. He kept baptizing in water and it wasn't until he recalled Cornelius' baptism did he put two and two together.
Acts 1:5
for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 10:47
“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 11:16
Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
Peter baptized with water, realized he got it wrong and stopped.