Response:
All mankind, who believe and obey the gospel, receive the Spirit of God (Acts 2: 17) and we are all without distinction purified by faith.
All mankind, who obey the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17; 15:8,9; Ephesians 1:13). Not to be confused with Acts 2:17. Romans 10:16 - But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our report?" We "obey the gospel" by "choosing to believe the gospel." Paul
did not say believe
and obey the gospel as if they are two separate acts of obedience (Romans 1:16; 10:16).
The gospel is not a set of rituals to perform, a code of laws to be obeyed or a check list of good works to accomplish as a prerequisite for salvation. The gospel simply sets forth Christ crucified, buried and risen (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the Savior of all who BELIEVE/trust in His finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. Are you ready to repent and BELIEVE the gospel?
Cornelius and his household were purified by faith as we all are, only the order of events were changed.
Nothing was changed. You are simply trying to force Acts 10:43-47; 11:17 to "conform" to your biased church doctrine.
Acts 2: 38, 39- we all receive forgiveness of sins by faith through repentance and baptism in the name of Christ.
In Acts 2:38, "for the remission of sins" does not refer back to both clauses, "you all repent" and "each one of you be baptized," but refers only to the first. Peter is saying "repent unto the remission of your sins," the same as in Acts 3:19. The clause "each one of you be baptized" is parenthetical. This is exactly what Acts 3:19 teaches except that Peter omits the parenthesis.
Acts 10: 43- those that believe receive forgiveness of sins
Those that believe BEFORE water baptism (Acts 10:43-47).
Acts 3: 19- our sins are blotted out through repentance.
F
aith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; 26:18). *Perfect Harmony*
Acts 22: 16- Paul’s sins were washed away at his baptism.
Baptism here pictures the washing away of sins by the blood of Christ, but it does not literally wash away our sins, contrary to your conclusion. In Acts 10:43, receiving remission of sins is connected with
"believes in Him" and not with baptism (Acts 10:43-47). *Hermeneutics. Go back and read post #315.
Romans 6: 7- we are freed from sin when we die to the old self when baptized into Christ and His death.
Romans 6: 17, 18- we are freed from sin when we obey that form of teaching.
Ephesians 1: 3- all spiritual blessings, including redemption, are in Christ and we are baptized into Christ.
Ephesians 1: 7- redemption, the forgiveness if sin is in Christ and we are baptized into Christ.
Ephesians 5: 26- we are cleansed by the washing of water by the word.
Colossians 1: 14- redemption, the forgiveness of sin, is in Christ and we are baptized into Christ.
Hebrews 9: 14- the blood of Christ cleanses our conscience.
Hebrews 10: 22- as our hearts are sprinkled clean, our bodies are washed with pure water.
1 Peter 1: 2- we are sprinkled with the blood of Christ when we obey.
1 Peter 1: 22- we are purified by obedience.
Sorry, water baptism is the PICTURE, but not the reality of dying to the old self and rising with Him in newness of life. We
obey the gospel/obey that form of teaching from the heart when we choose to
believe the gospel:
*Romans 10:16 - But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has
believed our report?"
*Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the
heart one
believes unto righteousness.. *Unto righteousness = saved.
*Compare 1 Peter 1:22 -
"purified your souls in obeying the truth" with Acts 15:9 -
"purified their hearts by faith."
Go back and read post #325 in regards to Hebrews 10:22 and 1 Peter 1:2.
1 John 3: 3- we are purified by hope.
Faith is the substance of things
hoped for.. (Hebrews 11:1). Go back and read post #268.
Faith is our introduction into the grace of God (Rom. 5: 2) and it is impossible to be pleasing to God without it (Heb. 11: 6), therefore the Scriptures affirm that we are forgiven and purified by faith,
Amen! But then you pervert the gospel by "adding" works to salvation through faith in Christ. Jesus is not enough for you so you turn to supplements.
however there is more to purification than faith. Abraham’s faith was authenticated before God when he obeyed (Gen. 22: 12, 18; Heb. 11: 8) When we obey our Lord we are sprinkled with the blood of Christ (1Peter 1: 2) The ultimate reality is the washing by the blood of Christ.
Hearts are purified by faith. Not by works. Abraham was accounted as righteous because of his faith when he BELIEVED God in Genesis 15:6 (also see Romans 4:2-3) many years before Genesis 22.
Faith, hope and love now abide (1 Cor. 13: 13), that is they co-exist; faith is our introduction to the grace of God, but it is not the end-all, both hope and love also provide access to grace, faith is not alone, in fact it is not the greatest virtue, that distinction belongs to love (1 Cor. 13: 13) Faith without love is meaningless (1 Cor. 13: 2);
Paul uses hyperbole (obvious and intentional exaggeration) about understanding ALL mysteries and ALL knowledge and having faith that can move mountains yet having NO love. Paul is not exaggerating about the importance of love though. Faith works through love (Galatians 5:6), but we are saved through faith, not faith plus love. Love is the greater quality of the three because God is love and it outlasts them all. Long after faith and hope are no longer necessary, love will still be the governing principle that controls all that God and his redeemed people are and do. We won't need faith and hope in heaven. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul is not teaching that even if our faith is genuine that our faith cannot save us without producing "enough" love. Paul is stressing the importance of love, not teaching that faith is insufficient to save us without our best efforts to love. All genuine BELIEVERS love Christ. Why? Because we have received the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5) when we believed the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
faith is perfected or completed by the obedience of faith (faith working with works of faith which God has given) (James 2: 20- 24) Faith alone, without works of faith is dead and useless. (James 2: 17, 20) but this is precisely the type of faith that is advocated by so many.
God bless.
As I already explained, but the truth continues to go right over your head:
Faith perfected or completed by works means bring to maturity, carry to the end, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on his works many years later. When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he
fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6.
Faith that TRUSTS IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION saves (Ephesians 2:8,9) and not an empty profession of faith that remains alone - "barren of works" (James 2:14). That type of faith does not save because it's a dead faith and not genuine living faith in Christ. Empty profession of faith/dead faith is NOT precisely the type of faith that is advocated by genuine believers. LEARN THE DIFFERENCE.