I have heard this argument before, it goes like this:
a. The gentiles of the household of Cornelius believed the message of Peter.
b. These gentiles began to speak in tongues by way of the Holy Spirit.
c. Hence the gentiles are clearly saved.
d. The gentiles were not baptized, therefore baptism is not required.
There are a number of problems with this assumption. One glaring problem is the scriptures never state they were saved before baptism, QUOTE]
Scripture is clear about the Holy Spirit is proof of salvation
Salvation is a finished transaction, as seen by the fact that it is always being described with "past tense" verbs. (Also see Jn 1:12, Eph. 1:13)
Eph 4:30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed" unto the day of redemption
(NOTE: Believers are SEALED with God's Holy Spirit. It a pomise & a guard the soon Christ will come for us. When we are fully redeened & our corruptible bodies are changed to the incorruptible)
Eph 1:13 salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were "sealed" with that holy Spirit of promise,
(NOTE: As soon as we believed. God sealed us with a promise = His Holy Spirit).
Eph1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(NOTE: God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the earnest/pledge. A down payment on our final redemption. When the Lord himself shall decend from heaven, meet us in the air. And in an instantious transformation he will change our corruptible bodies into the incorruptible. And so shall we forever be with the Lord Also see iThess 4:16-17)
2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Is God's deposit & guards us until the day of redemption)
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(NOTE: God has placed His Holy Spirit in the believers heart. As a pledge & a SEAL until the soon coming day of our redemption)
2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(NOTE: God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the earnest. Earnest translated from the Greek word: arrabon. Also means a pledge)
1 John 5:13 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(NOTE: John writes: that you may know ""PRESENT TENSE"" that you have eternal life)
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(NOTE: God doesn't go back on His Word)
Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(NOTE: John preached to whom? All the people of """ISRAEL"""!)
DJ2, You keep claiming Water Baptism removes sin & those who partake receive the Holy Spirit. Read the next 3 verses:
Acts 19:2 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.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(NOTE: They had been Baptized into John's repentance message & NONE received the Holy Spirit, nor could they)
Acts 19:4 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.
(NOTE: John's baptism didn't, saved anyone, nor did it, removed 1 single sin. Go back & read the earlier posts. Water Baptism is: a symbol, a figure, an emblem. Of the Baptizm of the Holy Spirit, that Christ performs)
John 3:36 (A) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: (B) and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
(NOTE: (A) He that BELIEVES = Has FAITH in the Son already HAS eternal life. This DOESN'T say he that BELIEVES = Has FAITH in the Son & gets water baptized)
(B) He that doesn't BELIEVE in the Son will not see life eternal, but, already has the wrath of God on hin. This doesn't say: Whoever isn't water baptized will experience God's wrath)
Romans 10:9 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.
(NOTE: If you confess Jesus as Lord & believe God raised him from the dead. YOU WILL BE SAVED! This DOESN'T say: If you confess Jesus as Lord & believe God raised him from the dead & and get water baptised)
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(NOTE: Faith leads to righteousness (not water baptism) Confession leads to salvation (not water baptism)
a. The gentiles of the household of Cornelius believed the message of Peter.
b. These gentiles began to speak in tongues by way of the Holy Spirit.
c. Hence the gentiles are clearly saved.
d. The gentiles were not baptized, therefore baptism is not required.
There are a number of problems with this assumption. One glaring problem is the scriptures never state they were saved before baptism, QUOTE]
Scripture is clear about the Holy Spirit is proof of salvation
Salvation is a finished transaction, as seen by the fact that it is always being described with "past tense" verbs. (Also see Jn 1:12, Eph. 1:13)
Eph 4:30 grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed" unto the day of redemption
(NOTE: Believers are SEALED with God's Holy Spirit. It a pomise & a guard the soon Christ will come for us. When we are fully redeened & our corruptible bodies are changed to the incorruptible)
Eph 1:13 salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were "sealed" with that holy Spirit of promise,
(NOTE: As soon as we believed. God sealed us with a promise = His Holy Spirit).
Eph1:14 Which is the "earnest" of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
(NOTE: God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the earnest/pledge. A down payment on our final redemption. When the Lord himself shall decend from heaven, meet us in the air. And in an instantious transformation he will change our corruptible bodies into the incorruptible. And so shall we forever be with the Lord Also see iThess 4:16-17)
2 Tim 1:14 The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you
(NOTE: The Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Is God's deposit & guards us until the day of redemption)
2 Cor 1:22 Who hath also "sealed us" & "given the earnest" of the Holy Spirit in our hearts
(NOTE: God has placed His Holy Spirit in the believers heart. As a pledge & a SEAL until the soon coming day of our redemption)
2 Cor 5:5 God, who also hath given unto us the "earnest" of the Spirit
(NOTE: God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the earnest. Earnest translated from the Greek word: arrabon. Also means a pledge)
1 John 5:13 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
(NOTE: John writes: that you may know ""PRESENT TENSE"" that you have eternal life)
Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
(NOTE: God doesn't go back on His Word)
Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
(NOTE: John preached to whom? All the people of """ISRAEL"""!)
DJ2, You keep claiming Water Baptism removes sin & those who partake receive the Holy Spirit. Read the next 3 verses:
Acts 19:2 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.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(NOTE: They had been Baptized into John's repentance message & NONE received the Holy Spirit, nor could they)
Acts 19:4 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.
(NOTE: John's baptism didn't, saved anyone, nor did it, removed 1 single sin. Go back & read the earlier posts. Water Baptism is: a symbol, a figure, an emblem. Of the Baptizm of the Holy Spirit, that Christ performs)
John 3:36 (A) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: (B) and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
(NOTE: (A) He that BELIEVES = Has FAITH in the Son already HAS eternal life. This DOESN'T say he that BELIEVES = Has FAITH in the Son & gets water baptized)
(B) He that doesn't BELIEVE in the Son will not see life eternal, but, already has the wrath of God on hin. This doesn't say: Whoever isn't water baptized will experience God's wrath)
Romans 10:9 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.
(NOTE: If you confess Jesus as Lord & believe God raised him from the dead. YOU WILL BE SAVED! This DOESN'T say: If you confess Jesus as Lord & believe God raised him from the dead & and get water baptised)
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(NOTE: Faith leads to righteousness (not water baptism) Confession leads to salvation (not water baptism)