"What must I do to be saved?"

The scriptures are written to the born again children of God instructing them as to how he wants them to live their lives, as they sojourn here on earth.

Eph 2 is pertaining to those he has quickened, as stated in Eph 2:1. This chapter does not tell the natural man how to get quickened, but it does tell those who are quickened, how, by God's sovereign grace, the natural man was quickened, while he was still spiritually dead, unable to respond to the things of the Spirit.

How you can misinterpret this to be an invitation for the natural man to get eternal salvation, is beyond me, and it does not harmonize with the other scriptures,

In Gal 1, Paul is repremaning the Galatian brethren for preaching a false gospel, which leads to destruction , and in Isaiah 54:1, are referred to as "the children of the desolate".

You are claiming that is me, and I am claiming that it is you. Just because you are teaching a false gospel, does not mean that you have lost your promise of an eternal inheritance, it just means that you are a disobedient child of God

Isaiah 54:1 -More are the children of the desolate, than the children that make up the visible church, that trust in the Lord, which are referred to as "the remnant" (Zeph 3:11-13).

This also harmonizes with the two gates in Matt 7, and also with Ezek 10:10, the wheel within a wheel.

Spirit in John 3:5 certainly means the Holy Spirit and as I showed you in verse #308, natural water is not the only water mentioned in scripture. Once again, Jesus mentions "living water" in John 4:10, 14; 7:37-39 and in John 7:38-39, we read - "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the source of living water and spiritual cleansing. Jesus connects living water with eternal life. Also "water" is used in scripture as an emblem of the word of God, and in such uses it is associated with cleansing or washing. (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26)

Acts 2:36-42, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7, 22:16 is not evidence for literal water in John 3:5 and you need to learn how to properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine. Your indoctrination runs deep.

Once again, Paul had already believed in Christ when Ananias came to pray for him to receive his sight (Acts 9:17) and it also should be noted that Paul at the time when Ananias prayed for him to receive his sight, he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17)--this was BEFORE he was water baptized (Acts 9:18). Verse 17 connects his being filled with the Spirit with the receiving of his sight. We know that he received his sight prior to his baptism.

In Acts 9, Jesus told Ananias that Paul "is a chosen vessel unto Me" (vs. 15), although the apostle had not yet been baptized. Before Paul was baptized, Christ had already commissioned him to "bear His name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15); such a commission is not God’s portion for one still lost and under wrath. Before Paul’s baptism, Christ had set him aside as one who would "suffer for His name’s sake" (9:16). Can one who is a child of the devil, as all the lost are (Ephesians 2:1-3, John 8:44), really suffer for Christ’s sake? NO.

Be sure to read this excellent article on Acts 22:16 - https://kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com/2015/03/acts-2216-baptism-essential-for.html

Suffering for the Lord's sake was what Paul must do. Acts 9:15 - But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Water baptism is not the cause of NT rebirth. The new birth is brought to pass through "incorruptible seed, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever" (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26; I Peter 1:23) and the Holy Spirit accomplishes the miracle of regeneration. (Titus 3:5) The natural man can only understand natural water.

Acts 17:30 KJV
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

“All men everywhere”

That would be all (of certain) men. Not the whole world of mankind, Some of which he said that he does not pray for.

John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

But how can God, judge and condemn, someone that he has not commanded to repent.

Calvinists’ response: Like gym class, just hope you’re picked to be on the winning team. 🙄

All of God's word is inspired yet if a verse "on the surface" appears to teach something that is in contradiction to other scripture, then your biased interpretation of that pet verse is wrong. You need to interpret scripture in context and properly harmonize scripture with scripture before reaching your conclusion on doctrine, as I already demonstrated in posts #295 and #297.

I heard something like this recently…..
You approach a doorway.
On the top of the door frame it says “Repent ye, and believe the gospel”
So, you choose to take that way, you repent and go through that door of repentance.
Once you’ve gone through, repented, then on the inside of the top door frame it says
…..”he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,…..
Ephesians 1:4 KJV
😊

Yet again, as I've said both receiving the Holy Ghost and being baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus for remission of sin are required per scripture.

A non-believer goes shopping and is approached by a stranger who shares the Gospel with him. While driving home the nonbeliever contemplates what he heard and for the first time ever begins to believe in Jesus. Then BOOM, he’s killed in a motor vehicle accident. Was the person saved or not saved?

Free will is beautiful 🙏❤️

Ananias was NOT sent to provide details regarding Paul's future suffering. Jesus said Paul would be TOLD what HE MUST DO. After receiving the Holy Ghost Ananias TOLD Paul to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16) This parallels the account in Acts 10 where Cornelius sent for Peter in order to be TOLD what HE MUST DO. Peter TOLD that group to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus after they received the Holy Ghost as well.

Acts 9:6
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be TOLD THEE WOULD THOU MUST DO.


Acts 22:14-16
And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
For thou shalt be his witness unto all men OF WHAT THOU HAS SEEN AND HEARD.
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 9:17-18
And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Acts 26:16
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister...
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.

Paul placed his trust in Jesus as seen in his willingness to believe and obey when told what he must do. It is through belief and obedience to what is revealed within in the word of God that results in a person being born again.

Scripture does interpret scripture; as is the case with water baptism. However, people are not willing to accept, or maybe seriously do not SEE, that obedience to water baptism is for remission of one's sin as made possible through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus as so many scriptures attest.

What I know is God's word is established. Jesus said the following:

"He that rejecteth me, AND receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." John 12:48

Because any suffering took place Paul was told what he must do to have his sins remitted. (Acts 22:16)

Doesn’t 1 John 5:1 show without doubt that everyone who believes has already been reborn?

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/1jn.5.1.ESV

The devils "Believe" (have mental assent) but aren't saved. "Belief" (Mental assent) isn't Biblical FAITH (Faith has "SUBSTANCE", and is an EVIDENCE - Heb 11:1).

"Belief" (Mental assent) has NO SUBSTANCE, and is EVIDENCE of nothing.