Friday, August 1, 2008

CASES OF CONVERSIONS in Acts, part 5


Cases of Conversions in Acts

part 5


><)))> Jesus said, the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. Jesus forgave the paralytic, woman taken in adultery, thief on the cross, and many others' sins, upon their faith.


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After Jesus' resurrection, He wants repentant believers to join His death, burial, resurrection spiritually and physically in the baptism watergrave.
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Rom 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Many quote this as the complete requirement for salvation. Since repentance is not mentioned, and is surely required, might not baptism be required also? This study of Acts shows that baptism is required for salvation.


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If we (fleshly and sinful) have been: co-crucified Rom 6:5, in the baptism, Col 2:12, we shall be also of the Resurrection, Rom 6:5.

We have been co-quickened (spiritually made alive) and co-raised with Christ, Col 2:12-13, from the watergrave/baptism, our body yet to be regenerated at the great Resurrection,

if we are faithful.


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At age 99, Abraham and all his household males entered covenant with God by being circumcised, Gen 17. From then on, including the Mosaic law, any male child not being circumcised was not in the covenant, and was to be cut off from his people.


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The old flesh circumcision covenant ended with Christ's death, as did the Mosaic covenant which had been ratified by animal blood sacrifice. Now, circumcision is of the heart, in spirit (by the Spirit) Rom 2:29, as one is baptized in water and joined with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; read Col 2:11-13. It must be concluded that if one is not spiritually circumcised in water baptism, he does not enter God's new covenant. Eph 2:8-10 For, to the grace/charis you are having been saved thru faith/trust, and this (salvation) not from you, God's gift, not from works (not earned) that no one should boast.

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For we are the product/thing made, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works... (literal version) What is it about Eph 2:8-10 that causes men to insist that water baptism is a work which cannot be required for salvation? Since it is evident that Jesus and the apostles commanded water baptism for salvation, and He said, If you keep My commands you will abide/continue in My love, John 15:10, what kind of judgment awaits those who persist in doing/teaching contrariwise?

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Mt 7:21-23 Not everyone saying to Me (Jesus) “Lord, Lord,” will enter into the kingdom of heaven but the one doing the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many powerful works in your name?” Then I will declare to them “I never knew you; depart from Me you workers of lawlessness!”—never born again of water and the Spirit into the family/Kingdom of God? Not in submission to the Law of Christ?


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