I am surprised you would advocate for any works done to be saved.
Choosing to believe the gospel is not a work that merits salvation. Through believing the gospel we are trusting in Another's work (Christ's death, burial and resurrection). Jesus Christ still gets 100% credit for our salvation.
I belive that Jesus died for my sins, and that He was raised from the dead three days later.
You believe that it "happened," but you don't believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of your salvation.
I believe that by turning from sin and getting water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, my old sins were washed away.
So, no mention of believing in Him/believing the gospel/faith? Acts 10:43 - Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who
believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. Acts 15:7 - And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should
hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made
no distinction between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 2:38 must be read alongside verses like (
Luke 24:47;
Acts 3:19;
5:31;
10:43-47;
11:17,
18;
13:38-39;
15:7-9;
16:31;
26:18) and consider the fact that forgiveness is explicitly tied to
repentance/belief/faith and not water baptism.
Luke 24:47 - and that
repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. *What happened to baptism?
Acts 3:19 -
Repent therefore and
be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. *What happened to baptism?
Acts 5:31 - Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give
repentance to Israel and
forgiveness of sins. *What happened to baptism?
Repentance and faith in Christ are two sides to the same coin. Acts 20:21 - testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of
repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The only logical and Biblical conclusion
when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in 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; 13:38-39; 15:7-9; 16:31; 26:18) *Perfect Harmony*
Salvation by sinless perfection and water baptism is a "different" gospel that culminates in salvation by works.
I believe that at my baptims, I was immersed into Jesus, into His death, burial, and resurrection; from whence I was raised with Him to walk in newness of life...a new creature reborn from God's seed and incapable of bringing forth the devil's fruit.
Spirit baptism is the reality, and water baptism is the picture of the reality. A symbol is not the reality but is a picture of the reality. You are trying to turn a symbol into a savior.
It means we must obey Jesus and His Father.
Must or will? Obedience is not forced or legalistic for those who are born of God. (1 John 3:7-10)
Yes, it does mean we are as righteous as Jesus is righteous.
Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but
believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom
God imputes righteousness apart from works:
Philippians 3:9 - and be found in Him,
not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.
It is written..."Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous." (1 John 3:6-7)
And..."If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:29)
In regard to 1 John 3:6, in Greek, the verb tense for "sinning" is in the present continuous tense, which means to keep on or practicing sin an ongoing lifestyle of sin and not mere occasional acts of sin. This does not mean that Christians achieve sinless perfection as John earlier notes in 1 John 1:8-10. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us and if we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 3:6 (AMP) - No one who abides in Him [who remains united in fellowship with Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin. No one who habitually sins has seen Him or known Him.
In regard to 1 John 3:7, those who practice righteousness do so BECAUSE they are righteous and not in order to become righteous. This is not our own personal righteousness but the righteousness which is of God by faith/imputed righteousness. Practicing righteousness is the demonstrative evidence that we are children of God. (1 John 3:10)
Everyone that is righteous is born of Him.
Everyone that is not righteous has not been reborn of God's seed.
1 John 3:7-10.
The only works written against are the works of the Mosaic Law.
The Mosaic Law also covers the
moral aspect of the law which includes good works. (Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-40; James 2:15-16) So, not saved by works is not exclusive only to specific works of the law but also
includes works in general. Abraham was before the law and the work of offering up his son on the altar did not cause him to be accounted as righteous. (Romans 4:2-3) Paul also said we are
not saved by works of righteousness (literally works done in righteousness)
which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us.. and in 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul said that He saved us and called us with a holy calling
not according to our works.. Sorry to burst your bubble but there will be no boasting for you.
The works Christians do, are impossible without the grace of God!
When a ,am/woman is lying or stealing, do they have any of God's grace in them?
NO!
Salvation and good works are impossible without the grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Romans 11:6 - But if it is
by grace, it is no
longer on the basis of works, otherwise
grace is no longer grace.
2 Timothy 1:9 - who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and
grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.