This subject has confused bibical students from the time it was first written and many have their opinion about it,but if we allow the bible to explain itself it becomes so clear..
The first �key� to spiritual victory, breakthrough, and overcoming is simple, godly faith. But what kind of faith? Just what IS �faith�?
The apostle Paul explained, �Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. . . Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God . . . But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him� (Heb.11:1-6).
Abraham set us all an example of faith. We read of him: �[Abraham] being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He STAGGEERED NOT at the promise of God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God; and being FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform� (Rom.4:19-21).
Faith ALONE Is Not Enough!
But faith alone, is dead and worthless. We must also do our own part!
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The apostle James said, �What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?� (James 2:14). James continues, �If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone� (James 2:15-17).
Now don't blame me -- I didn't say that. James did! And GOD inspired him to do it! Those who teach that there are �NO WORKS� required for salvation can eat their hat -- their words -- or eat straw! They are DEAD WRONG! In order for our faith to be effective, we must have good works -- that is, we must OBEY God's commandments, keep His laws, and follow the example set by Yeshua our High Priest and the Captain of our salvation!
James adds, �But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is DEAD?� (v.20). James mentions the example of Abraham, �Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?� (v.21-22). James concluded, �For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also� (James 2:26).
We need faith AND WORKS in order to become OVERCOMERS! What �kind� of works? The works of OBEDIENCE to the laws and commandments of GOD!
The apostle Peter declared, �And we are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that OBEY him� Acts 5:32). Faith in God must be combined with obedience to the LAWS of God! The apostle Paul wrote, �Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! [God forbid!] On the contrary, we ESTABLISH the law� (Rom.3:31, NKJV).
The apostle Paul wrote: �Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have NO PLEASURE in him. But we are NOT of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul� (Hebrews 10:38-39).
This wonderful attribute of faith is not something we must work up ourselves, by our own human efforts. Not at all. But as Paul tells us, �For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it [the very FAITH itself!] is the GIFT OF GOD; not of works, lest any man should boast� (Eph.2:8-9).
This faith is the very faith of Christ put within us by the Spirit of God. It is the very same faith Jesus had.
"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." (Acts 2:38)
The above verse of scripture is a favorite among many religious groups. One can hear it several times on Sunday morning radio programs, as well as from the pulpits of numerous groups, and it can be found in much religious literature. The verse is a favorite because, on the surface, it seemingly states that one must be baptized in order to be saved, and without baptism one is not saved. So, those who believe that water baptism is essential for salvation make it a regular habit of using Acts 2:38 as scriptural support.
The problem is that Acts 2:38 isn't the only verse in the Bible which deals with salvation. While many claim to "speak where the scriptures speak and remain silent where the scriptures are silent," they practically ignore most of the New Testament teaching on salvation. The only verses that such false teachers quote and reference are the ones they feel they can use to promote their "water gospel." The fact is that most of what the New Testament says about salvation doesn't include baptism at all! (John 5:24, John 11:25-26, John 14:6, Romans 4:5, Romans 10:9-13, Eph. 2:8-9, etc.), and the few places that do mention water baptism do not include it as part of one's salvation. Water baptism follows salvation as one of the first steps of obedience for the new believer.
In spite of this obvious truth, the cultists remain steadfast in their heresy, insisting that Acts 2:38 sets forth water baptism as a requirement for salvation. Thus, this verse of scripture has become Satan's favorite Bible verse. In fact, many are trusting water baptism alone for the salvation of their souls! Indeed, Satan has deceived multitudes by his perversion of Acts 2:38.
Rather than ignore Acts 2:38 by quoting "our favorite verses" instead, it is more appropriate to facethis popular verse of scripture and see if the cultists are right in what they claim it teaches.
The Truth about Acts 2:38
First, please notice that verse 38 isn't the only verse in Acts 2. In Peter's message, a great deal was said before verse 38 came out of his mouth. In fact, he even told his listeners how to be saved before verse 38! In Acts 2:21, Peter quotes from Joel 2 and says, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." His words preceding verse 38 were so convicting that his listeners were "pricked in their heart" in verse 37. So, to use verse 38 out of its context causes a misrepresentation of God's word. The verse does not stand alone, and, in fact, a totally different meaning is conveyed when one makes it stand alone.
Another error that many make with Acts 2:38 is the error of assumption. It is assumed that the word "for" must mean "in order to get." That is, being baptized "for" the remission of sins supposedly means to be baptized "in order to get" remission of sins. However, a closer look at the scriptures will reveal that this isn't the case at all.
Notice Luke 5:12-14: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Jesus made this man clean in verse 13, yet in the next verse, verse 14, Jesus tells him to go offer a sacrifice "for thy cleansing" as a "testimony." Here the word "for" cannot mean "in order to get" because he had already gotten his cleansing in verse 13! It obviously meant "because of" his cleansing. If a man goes to jail "for stealing," then he goes there "because of" the stealing that he's already done, not "in order to get" a chance to steal again.
Some like to argue that the Greek word "eis" means "in order to," but this isn't always the case. Jesus said in Matthew 12:41, "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at (eis) the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here." The Greek word for "at" is "eis." Does this mean that the men of Nineveh repented "in order to get" the preaching of Jonah? No, they repented "because of" the preaching of Jonah. So, even "the Greek" doesn't demand the popular interpretation of Acts 2:38. The word "for" can be used different ways, not just one, so it is wrong to assume that it must mean "in order to get" in Acts 2:38.
Another factor which is commonly ignored is the JEWISH factor. Every person in Acts 2 is a Mosaic law observing Old Testament Jew. In fact, they are all gathered together to observe a JEWISH FEAST called Pentecost (verse 1). A fair reading of the whole chapter (especially verses 4, 14, and 36) will clearly reveal that no Gentiles (non Jews) are present. Since this involves Jews, it involves a NATION (verse 36!!), not individuals. No one asked, "What must I do to be saved?" The question asked concerned the NATION of Israel: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (verse 37) Not, "What shall I do," but rather, "What shall WE do?" Acts 2 presents a NATION of people who come to realize that they have murdered their blessed Messiah and they're asking what THEY must do. It's a question concerning NATIONAL salvation. Isaiah 66:8 says, ". . . shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." The "nation" is Israel! Romans 11:26 says, "And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob." Acts 2:38 is dealing with NATIONAL salvation. The Messianic Kingdom is still available to the Jews (until Acts 7:60 when they kill Stephen), so national salvation remains an issue until then.
This is clear from what follows Acts 7. In Acts 8, an individual from Africa is saved (before baptism). In Acts 9, an individual from Asia is saved (before baptism). In Acts 10, an individual from Europe is saved (before baptism). Why didn't these individual conversions occur before Acts 7? Because the first seven chapter of Acts deal with Israel (1:6-8; 2:36; 3:12; 4:8-10; 5:31; 6:7-14; 7:1-60). The question of INDIVIDUAL salvation is asked and answered in Acts 16:30-31: ". . . Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Those who fail to make this distinction are guilty of violating II Timothy 2:15 where we are told to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the word of truth.
The Bible says the gospel is to go to the Jew FIRST (Rom. 1:16), so they are the FIRST to receive the gospel in the book of Acts (chapter 2), but they are not the last to receive it. Acts doesn't end with chapter 2, so we should be cautious of anyone who develops their doctrine in Acts 2 while practically ignoring the next 26 chapters! If God didn't stop in Acts 2, then why does anyone else? Could it be that the later chapters in Acts contain information which the cultists want hidden from us? Could it be that there are other scriptures in Acts which do not agree with the wording of Acts 2:38? Could it be that Peter himself, the one preaching in Acts 2:38, says something different when speaking to individual Gentiles like you and me? One only has to read Acts chapter 10 to get the answer. Peter is preaching again in Acts 10, except only to individual Gentiles, and something very interesting occurs. In Acts 2:38, the Holy Ghost was promised to be given to the converts AFTER they were baptized, yet in Acts 10:44 the Holy Ghost falls upon the Gentiles BEFORE they are baptized! Now, Paul tells us in Romans 8:9, " . . .if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Having God's Spirit is synonymous with belonging to God or being saved (John 3:6-8), so the Gentiles in Acts 10 were saved BEFORE they were baptized in water. Why don't the Acts 2:38 cultists ever point this out? Answer: It destroys their perverted doctrine that water baptism is essential for salvation.
The fact is that Acts 2:38 is NOT the "model" plan of salvation, nor are any of the other "water verses" which the cultists use. Only by taking such verses out of their context can one teach such heresy. All of the Bible is true, not just the favorite "proof texts" of the cults. Baptism saves no one. It only serves as a testimonial picture of the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ AFTER one has believed on Christ (Acts 8:36-38). Paul said in I Corinthians 1:17 that ". . . Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect." This "gospel" is defined by Paul in I Corinthians 15:1-4, and it does NOT include water baptism. The dying thief was not baptized, yet Jesus saved him (Luke 23:42-43), and John wrote that we are washed in the BLOOD of Christ (Rev. 1:5), not in the water. In fact, the saints in Heaven claim to have gotten there by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 5:9), not by water. By faith in the blood of Jesus Christ one is saved (Rom. 3:25). Water baptism only follows this faith as an outward step of obedience.
Friend, if you have fallen for the water gospel, why not repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ alone? Acts 10:43 says, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Why not believe on Christ 100% right now and quit trusting something you DO for salvation? "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Romans 10:9-13 says,"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Why not right now?
Your commentary is just AWESOME! AWESOME!:applause: Sure can tell you are a student of John Mac , and sounds like possibly Chuch Swindall as well.
If salvation is not by faith alone, then I would suppose Abraham messed up when he believed God and took Him at His word. And God messed up when He counted Abraham righteous because of his faith ALONE without works.
How can there be a discussion about Faith and works, without including Abraham and Romans chapters 3-4? or Romans chapter 6 & 10 ... For even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference...
Baptism is a public show of ones faith, in other words it confirms and settles the matter, and identifies us with Christ by our faith as in the case of the eunuch in Acts 8:35-38. Baptism is the first step of proving our faith, it is a testimony to the public tha one has experience conversion, and in no way equated to ones salvation. Otherwise, the thief on the cross did'nt make it into heaven as Jesus promised. It asymbolic act which represents our death, burial and hopeful resurrection n Jesus Christ. We are jutified by faith and not by water baptism or the law.
Paul also points out in Romans chapter 7, "the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good." And it is by grace and faith in Christ, and the law points us to Jesus Christ with or without water baptism. We are now under the law of the Holy Spirit of God, and in obedience to our Lord, new believers should be baptized, but it must be the choice a person makes.
�For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.� John 1:17. There is only one law, which is given through Moses. Either you accept it all or you don't accept it at all. What are you doing now is that you selective pick those you can observe than disregard those you can't.
And Jesus the Law is forever even the smallest. Read Luke 16:17, Matthew 5:17-19
God said the Law is forever (every single word of it). Read Jeremiah 31:33 & Hebrews 8:1
DHTM: Paul tells the gentiles that they have no command to keep the "law"...
Daniel: Again you are quoting out of context. The issue here (in Acts 15) is that whether physical circumcision is necessary for salvation. And it is not. It is not about the Law. The Law is given through Moses. You should have notice circumcision is given not by Moses but the fathers. Therefore it is not the Law. The Jews do not understand this and thought it is the Law (physical circumcision). The Law requires us to be circumcised as according to Romans (spiritual circumcision). And therefore we still practice circumcision.
Romans 2:28-29
"28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."
James 4:11
"11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. "
James ask us to keep the law (every single one of it).
DHTM: Every time Paul talks about the sacrifices and feast days and food laws, he says that they no longer apply.
Daniel: Food law still applies. You never study the Law and make numerous false claim on the law.
The Law: �22 Eat them as you would gazelle or deer. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat. 23 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.� Deuteronomy 12. Note: strangled animal retain blood in its meat.
NT: "29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell." Acts 15
You see, no difference.
Feast days are for the Jews to remember God. Not for non Jews. Feast days are not laws.
DHTM: he says we don't have to make animal sacrifices
Daniel: Again what is really written is that we still need to make animal sacrifice but since Jesus had sacrifice for us once and for all for His sacrifice taken away all the sins. Therefore he is the sacrificial lamb. We made sacrifice because of sin, since the sin had already taken away, why is there a need for sacrifice? The law of sacrifice still applies (that is we sin, we sacrifice) just differently administered (sacrifice of Jesus is forever) and in the OT it had pointed out already, the physical sacrifice as practiced then is only temporary as God dislike it, it is just a shadow pointing to Jesus. Again there is no contradiction. This problem is being addressed in Hebrews.
Don't have to rest the ground? Yes we do. or we need to have fertilizer, chemical and many other things to regenerate the ground. That is one of the main point of having Sabbath year (Exodus 23:12, 31:15).
men don't have to have beard? Do you really understand why God ask the Jews to keep beard? Why God sometimes ask them to shaved in the OT? It is to prevent them to be identified with other religion! Read Colossians 2:22-23
don't have to make guard rails around flat roofs? When Paul said this?
Yes. Keep the Sabbath, but which day is the 7th day? Mine is Sunday.
Looking from your reply, I strongly urge your to read the scripture to understand the Law before making numerous untrue claim. The Law is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.
Um...the feast days are in the law...God even says stuff like "don't work on this feast day", "don't make a command to refrain from work on this feast day", "make certain sacrifices on this feast day".
Food laws? Paul mentions none of this. Just "no blood", "no strangled", "no idol food". Now, I think it's a really good idea to stick to this if you want to be healthy, but Paul makes no distinction.
Lev. 11:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Circumcision was required by law for every male newborn and for every non-jewish convert that wanted to be with the israelites under the covenant.
Lev. 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3And in the eighth day the flesh of his fore-skin shall be circumcised.
Exodus 12:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
"What are you doing now is that you selective pick those you can observe than disregard those you can't."
.....uh, don't think so. Are you saying nothing was nailed to the cross?
"Daniel: Again what is really written is that we still need to make animal sacrifice but since Jesus had sacrifice for us once and for all for His sacrifice taken away all the sins. Therefore he is the sacrificial lamb. We made sacrifice because of sin, since the sin had already taken away, why is there a need for sacrifice? The law of sacrifice still applies (that is we sin, we sacrifice) just differently administered (sacrifice of Jesus is forever) and in the OT it had pointed out already, the physical sacrifice as practiced then is only temporary as God dislike it, it is just a shadow pointing to Jesus. Again there is no contradiction. This problem is being addressed in Hebrews."
Are you saying Jesus's sacrifice happens more then once? Because the sacrifice of Jesus was once and for all. The sacrifice of animals was just a type, but it was still in the law and it is no longer applied. They HAD to sacrifice an actual sheep without blemish, or doves, or oxen, or goats. We don't.
"don't have to make guard rails around flat roofs? When Paul said this?"
Paul didn't, the law does. Thats kinda my point. There are many "laws" that don't fall under "blood/strangled/fornication/idol food".
Deuteronomy 22:8 When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.
I must admit that it was through the sound teachings of Chuck Swindall and John MacArthur, and Charles Stanley that I came into a clearer understanding of God and His divine Word from Genesis to Revelation. Praise God!:applause:
I always say, Chuck Swindall 's radio program kept me "In Touch" with God's; John Mac Arthur radio program "Grace To You", brought grace to me; Charles Stanley's radio program allowed me to keep "In Touch" with God.
These are really great men of God, and I praise God for their teachings.
Yes,we have a wonderful radio station,(Bott Radio)where they play all of those preachers,plus many more great teachers with solid theological programs that I listen to 9 hours at work,it has helped me in so many ways I cant even begin to tell you.Thank god for that!
First off one of the main problems that you an Ella espouse is how guys like John MacArthur have helped you in your theological understanding. Well sorry to inform you but he is not theologically sound in all his teachings. Calvinism is heresy. It is an insult to the character of God and His word. Just because he is popular, on TV or Radio and sells lots of books does not mean he is theologically sound as neither is Chuck Swindall and Charles Stanley.
Ella's comment...." I must admit that it was through the sound teachings of Chuck Swindall and John MacArthur, and Charles Stanley that I came into a clearer understanding of God and His divine Word from Genesis to Revelation. Praise God!
Your comment: ""Yes,we have a wonderful radio station,(Bott Radio)where they play all of those preachers,plus many more great teachers with solid theological programs that I listen to 9 hours at work,it has helped me in so many ways I cant even begin to tell you.Thank god for that!""
WALTER: Those comments are very telling Steven. It demonstrates that you and her, like so many other Christians have been heavily influenced by the philosophies and opinions of men and not through any sound exegesis of Scriptures. What a glaring admission. Out of her and your lips have you both revealed what and whom has influenced both your beliefs.
"If the blind follow the blind then both shall fall into the pit".
Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. NKJV
2Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. NKJV
Steven, you have to be a Berean and challenge what you have come to believe through all the Calvinistic influence you have had. Are you able to do that is the real question? I pray you can my Brother! The hardest thing for anyone to do is undue the damage of bad theological teachings. One must be willing to be wrong and willing to re-examine the scriptures from a fresh perspective through exegesis, sound expository studies with consistent application of the principles of Hermeneutics led by the Holy Spirit.
Back to Acts 2:38.
You have still not addressed the exegesis of this passage. You try to diminish it and explain it away but you do so at your peril and unbiblically. You cannot reconcile Acts 2:38 nor Mark 16:16 into your Calvinistic theology because your theology is in serious error. You cannot escape the grammar of the passage my Friend. "Baptism is FOR the remission of sins".
Mark 16:16 He who believes and IS BAPTIZED...will be SAVED.
Notice the grammatical location of salvation. It comes AFTER Baptism not before it.
How is one "Baptized into Christ" unless one is Baptized?
