One passage is Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. "
Back up to Ephesians 1:13 :....... Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteering our inheritance...."
Paul's "believers" had already turned from sin and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of their past sins.
Just because it isn't mentioned here doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Back up to #75 -- Jesus Christ -- was God incarnate -- while on this earth for those 33 yrs. And, yes, He was human experiencing everything just like we did. He was born of a virgin so He could be both 100 man and 100 deity. When He was tempted by satan -- He responded back with Scripture. He chose to be like Us -- we can't be entire like Him because we're Not deity.
The reborn are reborn from Whose seed?
God's seed.
"...and He is not ashamed to call them brethren". (Heb 2:11)
Our new Father id=s the same Father Jesus had.
The Spirit given to the repentant is the same Spirit Jesus manifested.
He prayed, we pray.
He studied, we study.
What is different between Jesus and you is that you commit sin!
If you would quit that, you could partake in everything God made available to Jesus.
The fruits of the Spirit -- Galatians 5:22 "....love,joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
A person doesn't loose fruit when a sin is committed. Maybe your last comment Should be '"whose fruit is exhibited WHEN one commits a sin."'.
Whose fruit does the sinner manifest? (1 John 3:8, 10)
The verse you included in Acts 2 -- it suggests that a person's salvation is reliant upon their being repentant and then baptised and then the Holy Spirit will come to indwell them."
Suggests?
I find all the commandments of the apostles more than suggestions.
Well -- repentance Is needed. But since the theif on the cross didn't have a chance To be baptized and he was told by Jesus Christ that that very day He would be in Paradise with Him.
If you would kindly look at Romans 6:3-6, you will see that the thief's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection parallel our baptism exactly.
He was the first to illustrate Rom 6:3-6.
It would appear that baptizm is Not required as part Of salvation. And what about people who do accept Christ -- maybe on their death bed and can't be baptized. Or any number of other circumstances where a person Does accept Christ as personal Savior, but can't be baptized for a while.
Tell that to Philip, of the seven; and the Ethiopian eunuch.
I know of a young lady -- a Jr. higher who was saved at VBS during her visits with her grandparents. She wanted to be baptized -- her parents were of another belief system that believed in infant sprinkling. They said No to her wish to be baptized as a believer. Shortly after that they moved away from the influence of the grandparents. She was told that when she turned 18 -- if she still wanted to be baptized it would be her decision. So -- is not completely saved until she turns 18?
Did she manifest the reality of a true "turn from" sin while she waited to be baptized?
Or did she continue to play the part of an enemy of God?
1 Corinthians 15: 1-3 or so ".....By this Gospel you are saved..... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that H was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures......."
Praise be to God.
Romans 10:9 - 10 "That if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
This is done at our baptism...like Paul's.
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16)
Nothing in those verses saying that baptism is part of salvation.
Nothing in your kindly provided verse said anything about loving God above all things either.
Does that mean that loving God is optional?
And, yes, baptism Is important. It is meant to be a public event -- baptism by immersion. Showing by that activity what has already taken place in your heart. That which you truly believe.
Being cleansed from past sins by the blood of Christ, yes. But the negative consequences of past sins have to be lived with. If you've been out driving drunk and have a wreck and loose a limb or possibly kill another person. Your limb will still be gone even when you're a believer and the person killed won't come back to life. And you'll still be service jail or prison time for the life you were responsible for Because of your past drunk driving.
That is called a "derail".
Some years ago there was a middle-aged couple who were not believers. The wife was reached by some women and accepted Christ -- the husband had been a drunk -- a mean one -- she was urged to leave him for her personal safety. She refused to. She felt her place was to stay with him. Well -- one day he came back home drunk and got angry at her for something. He ended up killing her. He was arrested, in jail and finally sobered up. Pastor came to talk with him. The man was horrified to learn what he'd done in his drunkness. The pastor was able to lead him to the Lord. He actually became active in a prison ministry. Realized that eventually he would be reunited with his wife in heaven.
I can only imagine the difference in their lives had they BOTH turned from sin and adhered to the doctrine which is according to Goliness. (1 Tim 6:3)
