The conversion of the Philippian Jailer in Acts 16.
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1 John 3:23-24
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as
He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that
He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Do your commandments match the new covenant commandments shown above?
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as
He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that
He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Do your commandments match the new covenant commandments shown above?
please consider the fact that the baptism of fire is hell, final destruction. It is not to be confused with the “tongues” of fire that sat upon the apostles in Acts 2. That was called the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not a baptism of fire. They are two different baptisms. One is salvation and the other is destruction..verse 12 clarifies this. He gathers his “wheat” (saved)into his barn, but the “chaff”(unsaved) he throws into the fire. This whole passage is saying that God has the power and authority to save and destroy. Being baptized with fire is not a good thing!
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
1Jo 4:8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.
1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because/that (hoti) God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that (hina: with the intention that) we might live through him.
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that (hoti) we loved God, but that (hoti) he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that (hoti) we dwell in him, and he in us, because (hoti) he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jo 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, so that (hina: with the consequence that) we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because (hoti) as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because (hoti) fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
1Jo 4:19 We love him, because (hoti) he first loved us.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
1Jo 5:2 In this we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God whenever (hotan) we are loving God, and are keeping his commandments.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, so that (hina: with the intention that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
There is a tendency for Christians to read Bible verses as if they are aphorism that stand alone as propositional truths. However, the New Testament is a collection of narratives and letter where verses are parts of sentences and paragraphs, and need to be nuanced according to the how they fit into the flow of the paragraphs and topics the writer is discussing. "This" in 1 John 5:3 refers to something somewhere. What it refers to must be determined by the wider context.
John begins in 4:7 with a command 1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
This is the recurring refrain of 1 John 4: to love one another, if we claim to love God.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
To be continued....
1Jo 4:8 He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.
1Jo 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because/that (hoti) God sent his only begotten Son into the world, so that (hina: with the intention that) we might live through him.
1Jo 4:10 Herein is love, not that (hoti) we loved God, but that (hoti) he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:12 No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jo 4:13 Hereby know we that (hoti) we dwell in him, and he in us, because (hoti) he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jo 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jo 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, so that (hina: with the consequence that) we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because (hoti) as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because (hoti) fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
1Jo 4:19 We love him, because (hoti) he first loved us.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
1Jo 5:2 In this we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God whenever (hotan) we are loving God, and are keeping his commandments.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, so that (hina: with the intention that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
There is a tendency for Christians to read Bible verses as if they are aphorism that stand alone as propositional truths. However, the New Testament is a collection of narratives and letter where verses are parts of sentences and paragraphs, and need to be nuanced according to the how they fit into the flow of the paragraphs and topics the writer is discussing. "This" in 1 John 5:3 refers to something somewhere. What it refers to must be determined by the wider context.
John begins in 4:7 with a command 1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
This is the recurring refrain of 1 John 4: to love one another, if we claim to love God.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
To be continued....
So, let's look at the few verses preceding 1 John 5:3.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And THIS COMMANDMENT have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
1Jo 5:2 In this we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God whenever (hotan) we are loving God, and are keeping his commandments.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, so that (hina: with the intention that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In 1 John 4:21, to what COMMANDMENT is John referring as "this commandment" ? I believe it is the commandment to love one another: the commandment that is woven into and throughout the fabric of 1 John.
1Jo 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1Jo 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jo 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
So, why does John say 1Jo 4:21 And THIS COMMANDMENT have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
If God had not commanded us to love one another, we would feel justified in reactively mistreating our brothers and sisters even though we were convinced that we love God. That is why John says :We have this commandment so that we who love God will also in practice, in deed and truth, love our brother and sister.
Now, moving on to 1 John 5:1-3,.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
In 5:1, John affirms that the way we are regenerated is by believing in Jesus. And he also affirms that the person who is truly loving God genuinely values those who are God's children, It would offend God for us to devalue His children. And if we love God, we don't want to offend Him.
v. 2 In [loving God and keeping His commandments] we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God, whenever we are loving God and keeping His commandments.
In 5:2, John is telling us that when we are showing our love for God by treating our brothers and sisters according to God's commandments, we are truly loving God's children.
1Jo 5:3 For this [loving both God and the children of God] is the love of God, so that (hina: with the result that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In 5:3 John tells us that the love of God is not just loving God, but loving both God and the children of God. And He tells us that we are commanded to love both God and the children of God in order that we may enthusiastically obey God and not find doing so difficult and depressing. To be obeying God out of a genuine love for Him and His people is far easier and more rewarding than obeying God out of fear of retribution or out of mere duty.
So, I would say that reading hina in 1 John 5:3 as "so that/with the result that or in order that/with the intention that" makes perfect sense, at least to me.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And THIS COMMANDMENT have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
1Jo 5:2 In this we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God whenever (hotan) we are loving God, and are keeping his commandments.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, so that (hina: with the intention that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In 1 John 4:21, to what COMMANDMENT is John referring as "this commandment" ? I believe it is the commandment to love one another: the commandment that is woven into and throughout the fabric of 1 John.
1Jo 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jo 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jo 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1Jo 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1Jo 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jo 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.
1Jo 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jo 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwell in love dwells in God, and God in him.
1Jo 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1Jo 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
So, why does John say 1Jo 4:21 And THIS COMMANDMENT have we from him, so that (hina: with the intention that) he who loves God should love his brother also.
If God had not commanded us to love one another, we would feel justified in reactively mistreating our brothers and sisters even though we were convinced that we love God. That is why John says :We have this commandment so that we who love God will also in practice, in deed and truth, love our brother and sister.
Now, moving on to 1 John 5:1-3,.
1Jo 5:1 Whosoever is believing that (hoti) Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one loving him having begat loves him also having been begotten of him.
In 5:1, John affirms that the way we are regenerated is by believing in Jesus. And he also affirms that the person who is truly loving God genuinely values those who are God's children, It would offend God for us to devalue His children. And if we love God, we don't want to offend Him.
v. 2 In [loving God and keeping His commandments] we know that (hoti) we are loving the children of God, whenever we are loving God and keeping His commandments.
In 5:2, John is telling us that when we are showing our love for God by treating our brothers and sisters according to God's commandments, we are truly loving God's children.
1Jo 5:3 For this [loving both God and the children of God] is the love of God, so that (hina: with the result that) we may keep on keeping his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In 5:3 John tells us that the love of God is not just loving God, but loving both God and the children of God. And He tells us that we are commanded to love both God and the children of God in order that we may enthusiastically obey God and not find doing so difficult and depressing. To be obeying God out of a genuine love for Him and His people is far easier and more rewarding than obeying God out of fear of retribution or out of mere duty.
So, I would say that reading hina in 1 John 5:3 as "so that/with the result that or in order that/with the intention that" makes perfect sense, at least to me.
1Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1Jo 3:17 But whoso has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?
1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jo 3:19 And hereby we know that (hoti) we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
1Jo 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because (hoti) we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, so that (hina: in order that) we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, AND love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jo 3:24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit [of love for one another] which he has given us.
According to 1 John 3:23, the reason God gave the commandment to love one another, was so that we would believe in Jesus and love one another. We cannot love one another as God commands without putting faith in Jesus to empower us to do so. So the command to love one another, and our aversion to doing so, drives us to accept the mercy of God in Christ and to yoke ourselves to Christ by faith to be discipled into loving others as He loves others.
1Jo 3:23 And [to love the brethren in deed and in truth] is his commandment, so that (hina: in order that) we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, AND love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jo 3:17 But whoso has this world's good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him?
1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1Jo 3:19 And hereby we know that (hoti) we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
1Jo 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
1Jo 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
1Jo 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because (hoti) we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1Jo 3:23 And this is his commandment, so that (hina: in order that) we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, AND love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1Jo 3:24 And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit [of love for one another] which he has given us.
According to 1 John 3:23, the reason God gave the commandment to love one another, was so that we would believe in Jesus and love one another. We cannot love one another as God commands without putting faith in Jesus to empower us to do so. So the command to love one another, and our aversion to doing so, drives us to accept the mercy of God in Christ and to yoke ourselves to Christ by faith to be discipled into loving others as He loves others.
1Jo 3:23 And [to love the brethren in deed and in truth] is his commandment, so that (hina: in order that) we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, AND love one another, as he gave us commandment.
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We even see this in Jesus' words in (Matthew 22:37-40)
By pointing out love as the central theme or subject in regard to keeping His commandments, I was not playing down love but highlighting it.
Romans 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:19 - We love Him because He first loved us.
Romans 5:5 - Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1 John 3:10 - In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:7 - Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:19 - We love Him because He first loved us.
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It would be highly unlikely that the apostles would not have been baptized in water when their master and Savior was baptized in water and 1 Peter 2:21 says that Jesus left us an example that we should FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. There is absolutely no evidence for us to suppose the apostles were never baptized in water and much evidence to suggest that they were. (1) Peter preached baptism for the remission of sins Actsc2:38. (2( Jesus their master was baptised in water and Peter said He left us an example that we should follow. (3) 3000 people obeyed Peter’s preaching and were baptized in water. Wouldn’t Peter have been a hypocrite to preach one thing to others, but not practicing it himself? That’s the definition of a hypocrite. And I know SOMEONE would have brought an accusation against Peter for not “practicing what he preached! No, I don’t believe it is reasonable to suggest that the disciples did not follow Jesus in water baptism.
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1 Peter 3:21
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God
for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God
for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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I think we can agree that disobedience to Jesus is not an automatic disqualifier of the salvation that comes by grace through faith in Christ as Saviour. So, in that sense, one does not need to be baptised to be saved or remain saved.
However, the question I would ask is, "Is it disobedience to Jesus to refuse to be baptised after reading scriptures where Jesus commands His disciples to baptise believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16); Jesus baptised people (John 3:22, 4:1-2); and where Jesus disciples command believers to be baptised (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48, Acts 22:16); and Paul assumes all believers have been baptised (1 Cor. 1:13-17)?
So, my question is, "Is it disobedience not to get baptised after one reads these texts"?
However, the question I would ask is, "Is it disobedience to Jesus to refuse to be baptised after reading scriptures where Jesus commands His disciples to baptise believers in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:16); Jesus baptised people (John 3:22, 4:1-2); and where Jesus disciples command believers to be baptised (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48, Acts 22:16); and Paul assumes all believers have been baptised (1 Cor. 1:13-17)?
So, my question is, "Is it disobedience not to get baptised after one reads these texts"?