Do All Religions Lead To God?

[OMC]

As I explained, I agree that water itself cannot cleanse sin. The question is when Scripture says God remits sins. When the crowd asked Peter what to do, he answered, “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 2:37–38). Luke says those who received Peter’s word were baptized (Acts 2:41); he does not say their sins had already been remitted before baptism. Peter’s answer also follows Jesus’ commission that repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name (Luke 24:47).

Ananias likewise told Saul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Calling on Jesus’ name is central to the water baptism command; it does not make “be baptized” disappear. And again, Peter’s words, “baptism doth also now save us,” are followed by his clarification that he means an appeal to God through Jesus Christ’s resurrection, not washing dirt from the body (1 Peter 3:21). The saving power is of Jesus, yet Peter still speaks of baptism.

Cornelius received the Spirit before water, and Peter still commanded him to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44–48). That account shows God can act before baptism; it does not erase Peter’s command or change what he said about remission in Acts 2:38.

When Peter was asked what they must do, he joined repentance and baptism in Jesus Christ’s name with the remission of sins. Why then tell someone that remission has already occurred at an earlier point when Peter did not say that?

The world‑system operating in your reading is works‑conditioned grace, because you’re treating the sequence of commands in Acts 2:38 as the sequence of when God remits sin, instead of letting Scripture interpret Scripture; but the text itself never says “your sins are not yet remitted until after baptism,” it simply gives the repentant crowd the full package of what God gives to those who respond to the gospel—repentance, baptism, remission, Spirit—without assigning temporal delay between them, and the rest of Scripture is explicit that remission is tied to repentance/faith, not to the moment of water: “through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43), “your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12), “repent…that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19), and Peter himself proves the timing in the Cornelius event because the Spirit fell before baptism (Acts 10:44–48), showing that remission and regeneration were already granted; so Acts 2:38 is not giving a mechanical timeline but the covenant bundle God gives to repentant believers, and Luke’s note that “they were baptized” (Acts 2:41) simply records obedience, not the moment remission occurred.

 

[bytheblood]

Please consider the following in regards to Paul's comment about water baptism:

What did Paul mean by his comment that he was not sent to baptize? (1Cor. 1:17) Paul’s statement must be read in context. The Corinthian believers were dividing themselves into groups according to the leaders they followed. Paul reminded them that they had been baptized in Jesus' name, not his own. His calling was to preach the gospel; he was not seeking a following based on who had personally performed their baptisms (1 Corinthians 1:10–17).

Scripture informs us that Paul preached the need to be water baptized but rarely performed the actual water baptisms himself. Consider Paul mentions Crispus by name as one of those that he did personally baptize (! Cor. 1:14). A look at the circumstances around the baptism of Crispus provides 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 water baptized. So on that occasion, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, was the only one that Paul actually baptized himself (1 Cor. 1:14). It is clear that someone else was with Paul and 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
“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.
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.

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.)

"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.”

Further evidence that confirms NT water baptism is essential is found in Acts 2:38-41, 8:12-18, 8:35-40, 10:44-48, 16:14-15, 16:28-33, 18:6-10, 19:1-6, 22:16. And before Paul began his own ministry Ananias commanded he be baptized to wash away his sins calling upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Furthermore, Paul re-baptized men in the name of Jesus who had formerly been baptized by John the Baptist. This account reveals the absolute necessary for people to obey the NT command of water baptism in the name of Jesus as it relates to His death, burial and resurrection (Acts 19:1-7). We know the referenced baptism is water baptism because it was afterward at the laying on of hands that they received the Holy Ghost. Also of great significance is the fact that the message that began a Pentecost was still being preached 20+ years later; everyone is to be baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin (Acts 2:38).

The recorded events reveal Paul understood water baptism was part of the gospel message. As such, Paul’s comment then could not have been intended to mean what some mistakenly believe.

So what are you saying, that in Acts 19 those who were baptized in the name of Jesus were saved when they were water baptized or when they, afterward, received the Holy Spirit? Don't you have to believe FIRST then be baptized? When does the Holy Spirit baptize one into the body of Christ, at their belief in the heart and confession with the mouth ( Rom. 10:9-10) or when one is water baptized?

 

[bytheblood]

To be born of "water and spirit" you have to believe in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and trust Him as your Lord and Savior. Once you believe on the Lord and repent, you're technically already baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and He'll give you His Holy Spirit.

Water = Jesus
Spirit = Holy Spirit

Only Jesus can cleanse you from your sins, it's not actual baptism water that really cleanses you.

1 Peter 3:21 - The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Here is an even more detailed explanation from A.I. to describe what "like figure" or "that water" means within the verse:

In 1 Peter 3:21, "that water" (or "this water" or "like figure") refers to the water of Noah's flood mentioned in the immediately preceding verse 20:



Peter is drawing a typological parallel: the flood water is the type (the Old Testament model), and Christian baptism is the antitype (the New Testament reality that corresponds to it). Just as the flood waters carried Noah and his family safely through God's judgment (the ark kept them afloat above the deluge), so baptism now carries believers through the judgment that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

The key clarification Peter adds is that the saving power is not in the water itself — "not the removal of dirt from the body" — but in what the water points to: "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power.

I believe that, since the scripture speaks of being " born AGAIN ", that when the scripture speaks of being " born of water and of the Spirit " are two different occurrences, born of water speaks of a when a woman's " water breaks " after which a child is born NATURALLY and " born again " when, after believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and the God has raised Him from the dead, you are "born again " SPIRITUALLY, two births, hence " AGAIN "

 

[Wansvic]

To be born of "water and spirit" you have to believe in God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and trust Him as your Lord and Savior. Once you believe on the Lord and repent, you're technically already baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sin and He'll give you His Holy Spirit.

Water = Jesus
Spirit = Holy Spirit

Only Jesus can cleanse you from your sins, it's not actual baptism water that really cleanses you.

1 Peter 3:21 - The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Here is an even more detailed explanation from A.I. to describe what "like figure" or "that water" means within the verse:

In 1 Peter 3:21, "that water" (or "this water" or "like figure") refers to the water of Noah's flood mentioned in the immediately preceding verse 20:



Peter is drawing a typological parallel: the flood water is the type (the Old Testament model), and Christian baptism is the antitype (the New Testament reality that corresponds to it). Just as the flood waters carried Noah and his family safely through God's judgment (the ark kept them afloat above the deluge), so baptism now carries believers through the judgment that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

The key clarification Peter adds is that the saving power is not in the water itself — "not the removal of dirt from the body" — but in what the water points to: "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power.

Every instance of the term baptism in the name of Jesus is a reference to water baptism. The account in Acts 10 confirms this truth:
"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." Acts 10:47-48
This account also reveals the inaccurancy of the belief that people who believe in Jesus and repent are already baptized in the name of Jesus.

The AI explanation you noted actually states water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power. And this is the case. God chose to use obedience to water baptism in the name of Jesus as the means necessary to receive what Jesus died to provide.

Someone shared the following concept that really made the point hit home:
God commanded the nation of Israel to march around the city of Jericho so that the walls would fall down and they could take the city.
1. Did their marching knock the walls down? No, therefore the marching was not the cause of the walls falling.
2. Did they march after the walls fell? No, therefore the marching was not a result of the walls falling.
3. Would the walls have fallen if they had not marched? No, therefore the marching was a condition of God that had to be met before HE knocked down the walls.

Similarly, God commanded Naaman to dip seven times in Jordan in order for his leprosy to be healed.
1. Did the water of Jordan cleanse his leprosy? No, therefore neither the dipping nor the water was the cause of his healing.
2. Did he dip after he was cleansed? No, therefore the dipping was not a result of his being cleansed.
3. Would he have been cleansed if he had not dipped the seventh time? No, therefore the dipping was a condition of God that had to be met before HE removed the leprosy.

The same is true of God's command for NT believers to receive remission of sin. Being immersed in the waters of baptism in the name of Jesus is the condition of God that has to be met before HE remits sin.

 

[Revelation1v8]

The AI explanation you noted actually states water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power. And this is the case. God chose to use obedience to water baptism in the name of Jesus as the means necessary to receive what Jesus died to provide.

That explanation also notes:

In 1 Peter 3:21...

Peter is drawing a typological parallel: the flood water is the type (the Old Testament model), and Christian baptism is the antitype (the New Testament reality that corresponds to it). Just as the flood waters carried Noah and his family safely through God's judgment (the ark kept them afloat above the deluge), so baptism now carries believers through the judgment that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

The key clarification Peter adds is that the saving power is not in the water itself — "not the removal of dirt from the body" — but in what the water points to: "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power.

Now, does that mean that actual water baptism will automatically provide you with a good conscience towards God/Christ? For some, the answer is a big NO. And for others, it will only last a time until they backslide. That's when we need to consciously make ourselves aware to go back to being obedient in order to retain that good conscience again.

 

[Wansvic]

The world‑system operating in your reading is works‑conditioned grace, because you’re treating the sequence of commands in Acts 2:38 as the sequence of when God remits sin, instead of letting Scripture interpret Scripture; but the text itself never says “your sins are not yet remitted until after baptism,” it simply gives the repentant crowd the full package of what God gives to those who respond to the gospel—repentance, baptism, remission, Spirit—without assigning temporal delay between them, and the rest of Scripture is explicit that remission is tied to repentance/faith, not to the moment of water: “through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43), “your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake” (1 John 2:12), “repent…that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19), and Peter himself proves the timing in the Cornelius event because the Spirit fell before baptism (Acts 10:44–48), showing that remission and regeneration were already granted; so Acts 2:38 is not giving a mechanical timeline but the covenant bundle God gives to repentant believers, and Luke’s note that “they were baptized” (Acts 2:41) simply records obedience, not the moment remission occurred.

Peter commanded repentance and baptism in Jesus Christ’s name “for the remission of sins.” The passage does not describe baptism as a human achievement that earns grace. Calling it a work does not remove Peter’s stated connection between baptism and remission.

“The full package” you reference leaves out Peter’s actual wording. You list repentance, baptism, remission, and the Spirit as though Peter merely placed four related ideas together. Peter instead gave commands and attached “for the remission of sins” to his baptism instruction.

As to Acts 10:43, it parallels what Peter stated in Acts 2:38. Peter says believers receive remission upon baptism in the name of Jesus. And after Cornelius and the household receive the Holy Ghost, Peter commands they be baptized. How? In the name of the Lord. Also, revealed in the Acts 10 account reveals is that the sequence in which the Holy Ghost is received in relation to water baptism can certainly differ, but it does not make baptism optional or merely ceremonial. Peter still commanded baptism indicating that receiving the Holy Ghost and submitting to water baptism are both required which points to the fact that they serve different purposes.

You shorten Acts 3:19 in a way that affects the argument. Peter says, “Repent ye therefore, AND be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” This verse calls for a response to God; it does not specify that baptism in Jesus’ name has no place in that response.

Lastly, your comment overlooks another direct connection between baptism and sins. Ananias told Paul to arise, be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling on the Lord’s name (Acts 22:16). Any claim that the New Testament only associates remission with an earlier act of faith must account for that language as well as Acts 2:38. Scripture never changes the role Peter and Ananias explicitly give baptism. Faith is essential—and so is obedience to God's command that everyone be baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin.

 

[Wansvic]

So what are you saying, that in Acts 19 those who were baptized in the name of Jesus were saved when they were water baptized or when they, afterward, received the Holy Spirit? Don't you have to believe FIRST then be baptized? When does the Holy Spirit baptize one into the body of Christ, at their belief in the heart and confession with the mouth ( Rom. 10:9-10) or when one is water baptized?

What Acts 19:1-7 reveals, that incidentally was first presented at Pentecost, (Acts 2:38) then to the Samaritans (Acts 8:12-18) and to the Gentiles (Acts 10:43-48) is both water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin AND receiving the Holy Ghost are essential elements of the NT rebirth experience.

As to Paul's comment in Romans 10:9-10 please note the following:
"Consider Saul/Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Jesus appeared to him.
Paul asked Jesus, “What shall I do?” Jesus said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:4-6; 22:10). Paul demonstrating his belief in Jesus proceeded to Damascus where he fasted for three days and was “praying” (Acts 9:8-11), awaiting further instructions.

God used a man named Ananias, who said to Paul: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Notice carefully that Ananias, God’s specially chosen messenger to Paul, did not tell Paul that his sins were washed away when Paul spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-6), or when he fasted for three days (9:9), or when he prayed (9:11). Even though Paul had seen Jesus, talked to Jesus, and sincerely fasted and prayed, he had not yet “called upon the Lord.” Acts 22:16 indicates that he “called upon the Lord” and had his sins washed away by the blood of Jesus when he took the final step on his way to becoming a Christian—when he was “baptized into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3-4).

Paul’s “calling on the name of the Lord” harmonizes perfectly with what Peter instructed the thousands of people to do in Acts 2. Peter quoted from the prophecy of Joel and told those in Jerusalem on Pentecost that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). The people in Acts 2 did not understand Peter’s quotation of Joel to mean that a sinner must pray to God for salvation. ... Furthermore, when Peter responded to their question and told them what to do to be saved, he did not say, “I’ve already told you what to do. You can be saved by petitioning God for salvation through prayer. Just call on His name.” On the contrary, Peter had to explain to them what it meant to “call on the name of the Lord.” Instead of repeating this statement when the crowd sought further guidance from the apostles, Peter commanded them, saying, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

In Romans 10:13, Paul (like Peter in Acts 2) quoted from Joel 2:32: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” When we allow “the Bible to explain the Bible,” we will not come to the erroneous conclusion that Paul is commanding the unbelieving Jews in Romans 10 to merely “cry out to the Lord” (Matthew 7:21) or to “pray the sinner’s prayer.” Rather, with Paul’s own conversion in mind (his “calling on the name of the Lord”—Acts 22:16), as well as those on Pentecost (Acts 2), we realize that in Romans 10 Paul is telling those who “have not all obeyed the gospel” (Romans 10:16) to “call on the name of the Lord”—that is, to “obey the gospel.” And to “obey the Gospel” is to hear and believe the Gospel (Romans 10:17), to repent of sins (Romans 6:2,6; Acts 2:38), to make the good confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and to be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 22:16). This is what it means for sinners to “call upon the name of the Lord.” AP excerpt.

 

[Wansvic]

I believe that, since the scripture speaks of being " born AGAIN ", that when the scripture speaks of being " born of water and of the Spirit " are two different occurrences, born of water speaks of a when a woman's " water breaks " after which a child is born NATURALLY and " born again " when, after believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and the God has raised Him from the dead, you are "born again " SPIRITUALLY, two births, hence " AGAIN "

Think about it. Why would it be necessary to tell a person who has already been born that being born is one of the conditions for gaining entrance into the kingdom of God? Jesus said, "Unless a man is born of water and of Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5.

Note that every detailed NT conversion account includes both water and Spirit experiences. The accounts record believers submitting to water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin, as well as receiving the Holy Ghost/Spirit. (Acts 2:4-42, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7).

 

[Wansvic]

That explanation also notes:

In 1 Peter 3:21...

Peter is drawing a typological parallel: the flood water is the type (the Old Testament model), and Christian baptism is the antitype (the New Testament reality that corresponds to it). Just as the flood waters carried Noah and his family safely through God's judgment (the ark kept them afloat above the deluge), so baptism now carries believers through the judgment that comes through the resurrection of Christ.

The key clarification Peter adds is that the saving power is not in the water itself — "not the removal of dirt from the body" — but in what the water points to: "an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." The water is the means/occasion, but Christ's resurrection is the actual saving power.

Now, does that mean that actual water baptism will automatically provide you with a good conscience towards God/Christ? For some, the answer is a big NO. And for others, it will only last a time until they backslide. That's when we need to consciously make ourselves aware to go back to being obedient in order to retain that good conscience again.

Peter is explaining that immersing in the waters of baptism has nothing to do with the water's ability to wash off dirt from the outside of the body upon contact with the water. Those who believe what God says and obey His command receive remission of their sin as promised. It's all about believing and obeying what God says is necessary rather than what anyone else has to say about it. What results is a clear conscience.

 

[Revelation1v8]

As to Acts 10:43, it parallels what Peter stated in Acts 2:38. Peter says believers receive remission upon baptism in the name of Jesus. And after Cornelius and the household receive the Holy Ghost, Peter commands they be baptized. How? In the name of the Lord.

I took the liberty of bolding certain words from your statement above and compared them to below:

The phrase "whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" is found in Romans 10:13 in the New Testament and originates from Joel 2:32 in the Old Testament. It is also quoted in Acts 2:21 during Peter’s Pentecost sermon.

• Romans 10:13: The Apostle Paul cites this prophecy to declare that salvation is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, regardless of background.
• Joel 2:32: The original prophetic text stating that deliverance will come to those who call upon the name of the Lord.
• Acts 2:21: Peter references this verse to explain that salvation through Jesus is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

Also, revealed in the Acts 10 account reveals is that the sequence in which the Holy Ghost is received in relation to water baptism can certainly differ, but it does not make baptism optional or merely ceremonial. Peter still commanded baptism indicating that receiving the Holy Ghost and submitting to water baptism are both required which points to the fact that they serve different purposes.

While our water baptism is an act of obedience, it isn't a promise of salvation or the Holy Spirit unless we exhibit faith in God/Jesus or He cleanses us directly Himself.

• Ezekiel 16:9 — "Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil."
• Ezekiel 36:25 — "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you."
• Ezekiel 36:26 — "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
• Ezekiel 36:27 — "I will put my Spirit within you, and move you to follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances."
• Isaiah 44:3 — "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."
• Isaiah 55:1 — "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
• Psalm 51:2 — "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
• Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Why? Because Jesus is the Living Waters, the Living Fountain, and the River of Life.

"Living Water" — Jesus as the Giver​

• John 4:10 — "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'"
• John 4:14 — "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

"Rivers of Living Water" — Jesus as the Source​

• John 7:37 — "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.'"
• John 7:38 — "'Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."'"
• John 7:39 — "Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

"Springs of Living Water" — The Lamb as Shepherd​

• Revelation 7:16 — "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat."
• Revelation 7:17 — "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

"The Spring of the Water of Life" — Christ Speaking​

• Revelation 21:5 — "And he who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"
• Revelation 21:6 — "And he said to me, 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.'"

"The River of the Water of Life" — Flowing from the Lamb

• Revelation 22:1 — "Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,"
• Revelation 22:2 — "in the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

"The Water of Life" — The Final Invitation​

• Revelation 22:17 — "And the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; to the one who wants, let him take his fill of the water of life without cost."

OT — "The Fountain of Living Waters"​

• Jeremiah 2:13 — "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
• Jeremiah 17:13 — "O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame. Those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water."

OT — "Living Waters" Flowing

• Zechariah 14:8 — "On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter."
• Ezekiel 47:1 — "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar."

OT — Water as Spiritual Gift / Cleansing​

• Isaiah 44:3 — "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."
• Isaiah 55:1 — "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
• Psalm 51:2 — "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
• Psalm 51:4 — "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment."
• Psalm 51:7 — "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
• Psalm 51:9 — "Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities."
• Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

 

[rewriter]

And, all things written 2000 yrs ago do not necessarily have the same application today as they did then. Context is important in this regard relative to your Hebrews 6 comment.

Amen to the comment about context being important. How many people realize the context of many core Christian beliefs. The Great Ecumenical Councils were held to determine who was eligible for imperial funds and who should be left out. The first, Nicaea in 325 ended up largely being an active affirmation by the Church that Constantine was an excellent ruler and that the church appreciated his funding. The doctrine of the Trinity was another example, for a time it had the full authority of the Roman Empire behind it, preach something different and you could be fined, jailed or even put to death, that is how obviously scriptural it was seen as, who cares what argument one can raise from scripture, the emperor has decreed it so it must be upheld.

Now what was the context behind the writing of the NT? What events were assumed as common knowledge and thus not needed to be specifically described, just simply presented in such a way that virtually everyone would know what was being referenced in the day, even if today we have to really dig deep to uncover them.

 

[bytheblood]

What Acts 19:1-7 reveals, that incidentally was first presented at Pentecost, (Acts 2:38) then to the Samaritans (Acts 8:12-18) and to the Gentiles (Acts 10:43-48) is both water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin AND receiving the Holy Ghost are essential elements of the NT rebirth experience.

As to Paul's comment in Romans 10:9-10 please note the following:
"Consider Saul/Paul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians when Jesus appeared to him.
Paul asked Jesus, “What shall I do?” Jesus said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:4-6; 22:10). Paul demonstrating his belief in Jesus proceeded to Damascus where he fasted for three days and was “praying” (Acts 9:8-11), awaiting further instructions.

God used a man named Ananias, who said to Paul: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Notice carefully that Ananias, God’s specially chosen messenger to Paul, did not tell Paul that his sins were washed away when Paul spoke to Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-6), or when he fasted for three days (9:9), or when he prayed (9:11). Even though Paul had seen Jesus, talked to Jesus, and sincerely fasted and prayed, he had not yet “called upon the Lord.” Acts 22:16 indicates that he “called upon the Lord” and had his sins washed away by the blood of Jesus when he took the final step on his way to becoming a Christian—when he was “baptized into Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3-4).

Paul’s “calling on the name of the Lord” harmonizes perfectly with what Peter instructed the thousands of people to do in Acts 2. Peter quoted from the prophecy of Joel and told those in Jerusalem on Pentecost that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). The people in Acts 2 did not understand Peter’s quotation of Joel to mean that a sinner must pray to God for salvation. ... Furthermore, when Peter responded to their question and told them what to do to be saved, he did not say, “I’ve already told you what to do. You can be saved by petitioning God for salvation through prayer. Just call on His name.” On the contrary, Peter had to explain to them what it meant to “call on the name of the Lord.” Instead of repeating this statement when the crowd sought further guidance from the apostles, Peter commanded them, saying, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

In Romans 10:13, Paul (like Peter in Acts 2) quoted from Joel 2:32: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” When we allow “the Bible to explain the Bible,” we will not come to the erroneous conclusion that Paul is commanding the unbelieving Jews in Romans 10 to merely “cry out to the Lord” (Matthew 7:21) or to “pray the sinner’s prayer.” Rather, with Paul’s own conversion in mind (his “calling on the name of the Lord”—Acts 22:16), as well as those on Pentecost (Acts 2), we realize that in Romans 10 Paul is telling those who “have not all obeyed the gospel” (Romans 10:16) to “call on the name of the Lord”—that is, to “obey the gospel.” And to “obey the Gospel” is to hear and believe the Gospel (Romans 10:17), to repent of sins (Romans 6:2,6; Acts 2:38), to make the good confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10), and to be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; 22:16). This is what it means for sinners to “call upon the name of the Lord.” AP excerpt.

In Acts 9:5 Paul asks a question " Who art thou Lord? and THE LORD said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:...." . "Wherefore I give you to understand, that NO MAN speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that NO MAN can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:3. Paul believed, in his heart and confessed with his mouth, Jesus as Lord before he was blinded, before he fasted and before he ever met with Ananias.

 

[bytheblood]

Think about it. Why would it be necessary to tell a person who has already been born that being born is one of the conditions for gaining entrance into the kingdom of God? Jesus said, "Unless a man is born of water and of Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God." John 3:3-5.

Note that every detailed NT conversion account includes both water and Spirit experiences. The accounts record believers submitting to water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin, as well as receiving the Holy Ghost/Spirit. (Acts 2:4-42, 8:12-18, 10:43-48, 19:1-7).

Wasn't Nicodemus born and didn't Jesus tell him he had to be born again???

 

[Wansvic]

I took the liberty of bolding certain words from your statement above and compared them to below:

The phrase "whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" is found in Romans 10:13 in the New Testament and originates from Joel 2:32 in the Old Testament. It is also quoted in Acts 2:21 during Peter’s Pentecost sermon.

• Romans 10:13: The Apostle Paul cites this prophecy to declare that salvation is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, regardless of background.
• Joel 2:32: The original prophetic text stating that deliverance will come to those who call upon the name of the Lord.
• Acts 2:21: Peter references this verse to explain that salvation through Jesus is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy.

While our water baptism is an act of obedience, it isn't a promise of salvation or the Holy Spirit unless we exhibit faith in God/Jesus or He cleanses us directly Himself.

• Ezekiel 16:9 — "Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil."
• Ezekiel 36:25 — "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you."
• Ezekiel 36:26 — "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
• Ezekiel 36:27 — "I will put my Spirit within you, and move you to follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances."
• Isaiah 44:3 — "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."
• Isaiah 55:1 — "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
• Psalm 51:2 — "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
• Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Why? Because Jesus is the Living Waters, the Living Fountain, and the River of Life.

"Living Water" — Jesus as the Giver​

• John 4:10 — "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'"
• John 4:14 — "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

"Rivers of Living Water" — Jesus as the Source​

• John 7:37 — "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.'"
• John 7:38 — "'Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."'"
• John 7:39 — "Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

"Springs of Living Water" — The Lamb as Shepherd​

• Revelation 7:16 — "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat."
• Revelation 7:17 — "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

"The Spring of the Water of Life" — Christ Speaking​

• Revelation 21:5 — "And he who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"
• Revelation 21:6 — "And he said to me, 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.'"

"The River of the Water of Life" — Flowing from the Lamb

• Revelation 22:1 — "Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb,"
• Revelation 22:2 — "in the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

"The Water of Life" — The Final Invitation​

• Revelation 22:17 — "And the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; to the one who wants, let him take his fill of the water of life without cost."

OT — "The Fountain of Living Waters"​

• Jeremiah 2:13 — "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."
• Jeremiah 17:13 — "O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame. Those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water."

OT — "Living Waters" Flowing

• Zechariah 14:8 — "On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter."
• Ezekiel 47:1 — "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar."

OT — Water as Spiritual Gift / Cleansing​

• Isaiah 44:3 — "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."
• Isaiah 55:1 — "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
• Psalm 51:2 — "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!"
• Psalm 51:4 — "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment."
• Psalm 51:7 — "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
• Psalm 51:9 — "Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities."
• Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin is a New Testament command.

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom which he presented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-42) Jesus prophesied this would occur. He said that repentance and remission of sin would be preached in His name in all nations beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). And as the biblical record reveals the same message spread: Acts 8:12-18, 8:35-40, 10:43-48, 16:14-15, 16:28-33, 18:6-10, 19:1-7, 22:16.

 

[Wansvic]

In Acts 9:5 Paul asks a question " Who art thou Lord? and THE LORD said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:...." . "Wherefore I give you to understand, that NO MAN speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that NO MAN can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:3. Paul believed, in his heart and confessed with his mouth, Jesus as Lord before he was blinded, before he fasted and before he ever met with Ananias.

Paul did not receive the Holy Ghost at the moment he believed in Jesus:

"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 what thou must do... 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 9).

 

[Revelation1v8]

Water baptism in the name of Jesus for remission of sin is a New Testament command.

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom which he presented in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-42) Jesus prophesied this would occur. He said that repentance and remission of sin would be preached in His name in all nations beginning in Jerusalem (Luke 24:47). And as the biblical record reveals the same message spread: Acts 8:12-18, 8:35-40, 10:43-48, 16:14-15, 16:28-33, 18:6-10, 19:1-7, 22:16.

Repentance and remission of sin is preached in Jesus' name because ONLY HE can fulfill it.

Here is a more detailed explanation of my view using A.I.:

The Bible teaches that repentance and the remission of sins are secured through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial blood, rather than through the physical act of water baptism. While Acts 2:38 commands baptism, other scriptures demonstrate that forgiveness is granted directly to those who believe and repent, without mentioning water.

Salvation Through Faith, Not Water
The Apostle Peter explicitly states that belief in Jesus, not baptism, is the mechanism for receiving forgiveness. In Acts 10:43, Peter preaches, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." This declaration occurs before any mention of baptism, indicating that faith in Christ's name is the sufficient condition for remission. Similarly, Acts 3:19 commands, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out," omitting any requirement for water baptism in the process of being cleansed.

Forgiveness Through the Blood of Christ
The New Testament consistently attributes the cleansing from sin to the blood of Jesus, not the water of baptism. Colossians 1:14 states, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." 1 John 1:7 reinforces this, noting that "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." If water baptism were the means of remission, these passages would attribute cleansing to water rather than Christ's blood.

Baptism as Identification, Not Causation
Water baptism is presented as the symbolic identification with Christ and a public confession of faith, rather than the cause of forgiveness. In Acts 2:41, those who "gladly received his word were baptized," showing that baptism followed their acceptance of the gospel message (repentance/faith). 1 Peter 3:21 clarifies that baptism saves not by the removal of dirt from the body, but as "an appeal to God for a good conscience" through the resurrection of Jesus. Romans 10:9-10 further specifies that salvation comes from confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart, with no mention of water immersion.

 

[Revelation1v8]

Paul did not receive the Holy Ghost at the moment he believed in Jesus:

"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 what thou must do... 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 9).

Your own verse rejects that because it says that when Ananias put his hands on Saul, the scales "immediately" fell from his eyes. That's the sign of the Holy Spirit right there. Then he was baptized afterwards. Here are other verses showing that people received the Holy Spirit after the laying of hands:

• Acts 8:17 — "Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
• Acts 9:17 — "So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'"
• Acts 19:6 — "When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied."
• Deuteronomy 34:9 — "Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses."
• 1 Timothy 4:14 — "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you."
• 2 Timothy 1:6 — "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

 

[Wansvic]

Wasn't Nicodemus born and didn't Jesus tell him he had to be born again???

That is my point exactly. Why tell those who have already been born that UNLESS they are born they cannot enter the kingdom of God?

No, the water mentioned is not the water of the womb. What Jesus is referencing is what Peter said EVERYONE must do. And as scripture reveals believers did; they repented, AND were water baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin, and received the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in tongues.

 

[Revelation1v8]

That is my point exactly. Why tell those who have already been born that UNLESS they are born they cannot enter the kingdom of God?

No, the water mentioned is not the water of the womb. What Jesus is referencing is what Peter said EVERYONE must do. And as scripture reveals believers did; they repented, AND were water baptized in the name of Jesus for remission of sin, and received the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in tongues.

Jesus himself was born of water and spirit already when He came into the world. This is the reason you are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Verse 8 shows you how they bear witness on the earth working together to save people.

1 John 5:5-9

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

 

[bytheblood]

Paul did not receive the Holy Ghost at the moment he believed in Jesus:

"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 what thou must do... 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 9).

" ... and be FILLED with the Holy Spirit." When I received the Holy Spirit at my confession of Jesus the Christ as my Lord and Savior I was "indwelt" by the Holy Spirit but not yet filled. I was filled with the Holy Spirit when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit ( by Jesus ) AFTER receiving salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizing me into the Body of Christ. There is no hard and fast rule, but I'm only sharing my experience, just as there is no hard and fast rule regarding receiving salvation and water batism.