"What must I do to be saved?"

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Evmur

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Clearly Paul’s statement points to his primary anointing being to preach the gospel. Paul expressed the necessity of proper baptism as recorded in Acts 19:1-6; he baptized the twelve in the name of the Lord Jesus AND afterward God filled the group with His Spirit. As such, Paul’s comment then could not have been intended to mean what some mistakenly believe. Scripture does indicate that Paul preached the need to be baptized but rarely performed the actual water baptisms himself.

Paul mentions Crispus by name as one of those that he did personally baptize. (1 Cor. 1:14) A look at the circumstances around the baptism of Crispus gives insight. The scripture reference is Acts 18:6-10. The record shows that Crispus and all of those of his household and MANY Corinthians believed Paul's message and were baptized. (verse 8) This verse alone confirms Paul’s message included the need to be baptized. Of the entire group, the chief ruler of the synagogue (Crispus) was the only one that Paul actually baptized himself. (see 1 Cor. 1:14) Clearly, someone else with Paul performed the other water baptisms. Further it should be noted that on that very night the Lord gave Paul a vision. He told him to continue speaking/sharing the message without fear. (Acts 18:9-10)

Acts 18:6-10
6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
(Paul’s comments in 1 Cor. 1:14 establish that this was water baptism.)
we are not arguing against baptism

we are arguing that it is not a sacrament and it is of no effect in the cleansing of sin.
 

Wansvic

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Oh ye of little faith
Interesting comment, since everything I listed comes directly from the word of God. And, according to Jesus all will be judged by the word not manmade traditions. (John 12:48, Mark 7:13)
 

Wansvic

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we are not arguing against baptism

we are arguing that it is not a sacrament and it is of no effect in the cleansing of sin.
If so, why did Ananias tell Paul to wash away his sins by being baptized? (Acts 22:16)
 

Evmur

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If so, why did Ananias tell Paul to wash away his sins by being baptized? (Acts 22:16)
Here is your problem

You are up against centuries of Christian experience

By experience I mean that the washing away of sins and the new birth are not just doctrines which we learn but it is something that really happens inside us which we feel and are aware of, We EXPERIENCE the wonderful peace of Christ, our hearts are made exceedingly glad by the Holy Spirit. We know that our sins have been washed away, a change has happened to us. We are saved.

I was saved 6 weeks before I was baptised, I was not more saved after I was baptised, nothing was imparted to me by baptism except perhaps the satisfaction of having obeyed the Lord and testifying my death to the world and life from God.

So say MILLIONS of Christians down the centuries of time.

What you are preaching must make us wonder whether YOU have truly experienced salvation and the new birth. If you say you have I am happy to take your word for it but I guarantee you never experienced salvation through baptism.

The Salvation Army which in it's glory days was a mighty movement for the salvation of souls have never baptised. General Booth did not want any to trust themselves to external devices in the matter of salvation.
 

Wansvic

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Nov 27, 2018
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Here is your problem

You are up against centuries of Christian experience

By experience I mean that the washing away of sins and the new birth are not just doctrines which we learn but it is something that really happens inside us which we feel and are aware of, We EXPERIENCE the wonderful peace of Christ, our hearts are made exceedingly glad by the Holy Spirit. We know that our sins have been washed away, a change has happened to us. We are saved.

I was saved 6 weeks before I was baptised, I was not more saved after I was baptised, nothing was imparted to me by baptism except perhaps the satisfaction of having obeyed the Lord and testifying my death to the world and life from God.

So say MILLIONS of Christians down the centuries of time.

What you are preaching must make us wonder whether YOU have truly experienced salvation and the new birth. If you say you have I am happy to take your word for it but I guarantee you never experienced salvation through baptism.

The Salvation Army which in it's glory days was a mighty movement for the salvation of souls have never baptised. General Booth did not want any to trust themselves to external devices in the matter of salvation.
Thank you for explaining your position. What saddens me is that so many refuse to accept what is written. And that is the experience of having one's sins remitted occurs at the point of obedience to water baptism. For, it is written, that obedience to water baptism is when sins are remitted; it is the counsel of God. And without exception, none can enter heaven without first having their sins washed away and being indwelt with the Holy Spirit just as they did in Acts 2:4. (a separate experience from water baptism)

Again, remember it is written, "...be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord." According to these words, our sins are washed away when we get baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus.

May God Bless.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Isaiah 55:1
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
The "everyone" has reference to the church (Isaiah 54:5).
 

ForestGreenCook

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Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

The verses following Joshua 24:15 tells you who Joshua is speaking to, and it is to those of Israel, that do not forsake the Lord .
 

ForestGreenCook

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

Paul is instructing these men of Athens, who are born again, that the unknown God that they worship (Acts 17:23) is not far from every one of us, for in him we live, and move, and have our being, (Act s 17:28) of certain also of your own poets have said, for we also are his offspring (Acts 17:28).

Paul tells them at the times of their ignorance God winked at, but now commands all of the born again men everywhere who are ignorant of this knowledge to repent.
 

cv5

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Nov 20, 2018
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The "everyone" has reference to the church (Isaiah 54:5).
No, I don't think so. Jesus has never "forsaken" the Church and subsequently "gathered" us in "mercy".
These passages can only be speaking to Israel the nation.

Isa 54:5
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6
For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
 

oyster67

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May 24, 2014
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The verses following Joshua 24:15 tells you who Joshua is speaking to, and it is to those of Israel, that do not forsake the Lord .
It applies to all of us. That is why it is in our Bible. God has preserved His Word so that it might be passed down for all to see. The Bible is more that some ancient antiquated historical manuscript.
 

oyster67

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May 24, 2014
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Paul is instructing these men of Athens, who are born again, that the unknown God that they worship (Acts 17:23) is not far from every one of us, for in him we live, and move, and have our being, (Act s 17:28) of certain also of your own poets have said, for we also are his offspring (Acts 17:28).

Paul tells them at the times of their ignorance God winked at, but now commands all of the born again men everywhere who are ignorant of this knowledge to repent.
These pagan men of Athens were not born again.
 

ForestGreenCook

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No, I don't think so. Jesus has never "forsaken" the Church and subsequently "gathered" us in "mercy".
These passages can only be speaking to Israel the nation.

Isa 54:5
For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Isa 54:6
For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isa 54:7
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Isa 54:8
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Spiritual Israel is not the same as the nation of Israel. Spiritual Israel is comprised of people of all nations (Rev 5:9)

Zeph 3:11-13 - Most of spiritual Israel turned away from God, and began worshiping idols, (children of the desolate that bears no fruit) but God will restore them all. God left in the midst of them a remnant that shall trust in the name of the Lord (children that bears fruit of the married wife )

I have brought to your attention previously that the wide gate (spiritual Israel who have gone astray ) and the straight gate (the remnant of Israel) in Matt 7, and Ezk 10:10, the outer wheel, harmonizing with the wide gate, and the inner wheel harmonizing with the straight gate.

These are all God's children who have the promise of an eternal inheritance. As I have also stated, the inspired scriptures were written as instructions for God's people in how God wants them to live their lives as they sojourn here on earth.
 

ForestGreenCook

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It applies to all of us. That is why it is in our Bible. God has preserved His Word so that it might be passed down for all to see. The Bible is more that some ancient antiquated historical manuscript.

The bible is true happenings of examples and instructions to guide his elect people as they sojourn here on earth. It is also part of our history beginning at the creation of God.
 

ForestGreenCook

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These pagan men of Athens were not born again.

The saints of the old testament have been born again, in the same manner as the new testament saints, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:11)
 
Dec 21, 2020
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The saints of the old testament have been born again, in the same manner as the new testament saints, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:11)
That's simply not true, Forest. Nobody was born again until the day of Pentecost. It simply was not available.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
 

ForestGreenCook

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That's simply not true, Forest. Nobody was born again until the day of Pentecost. It simply was not available.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

If you are right, then give me your explanation of Isaiah 63:11? I am interested in harmonizing all of the scriptures.
 
Dec 21, 2020
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If you are right, then give me your explanation of Isaiah 63:11? I am interested in harmonizing all of the scriptures.
In the OT, God gave some people the gift of the Holy Spirit. It could be taken away (Ps 51:11; 1 Sam 16:14). Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is born in people, and cannot be revoked.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The way we have the Holy Spirit today is different than the way the OT believers did.

They were not born again.

If you want to harmonize all the scriptures, you'll have to abandon Calvinism... :)
 

ForestGreenCook

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In the OT, God gave some people the gift of the Holy Spirit. It could be taken away (Ps 51:11; 1 Sam 16:14). Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is born in people, and cannot be revoked.

John 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The way we have the Holy Spirit today is different than the way the OT believers did.

They were not born again.

If you want to harmonize all the scriptures, you'll have to abandon Calvinism... :)

John 3:3, says except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Does this mean that the old testament saints will not see heaven?

Your theology implies that Christ died on the cross, as an offer, to redeem all mankind to heaven, but in order to get to heaven, they have to accept that offer. How do those, from creation to the cross, get saved eternally? Scripture back up please.