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Here's a video of a modern day Christian traveling back in time to help Jesus fix his teachings so that they coincide with modern Christianity. Not sure if he covered the Acts verse...
Ok, I have read this whole thread and in addition have read and reread the bible. I have also done alot of praying and meditation about this. I have come to the conclusion from the word and through lots of prayer that God has saved me on the simple fact that I have chose to accept him and believe his word. I also add that yes I believe baptism is important but not as a means to salvation.
I was baptized when I was younger ( a teen) and have been content in my salvation. I know it's not the baptism that saved me but my faith in Jesus. However recently I have met some COC members who have expressed to me that my baptism was in vain and that I am not saved because of it. Simply because I was baptized in a "Baptist" church. They say I am not saved because they (my baptist preacher) told me to pray the sinners prayer. They say also that since I believe my sins were forgiven "Before" my baptism took place that I am still unsaved. (Have you ever heard of an unsaved believer? I know I haven't.)
They think that I am blind to the truth and that the devil won't allow me to see it. Simply put I do not believe God lies and I do not believe that the bible contradicts itself. So someone is taking the bible out of context, is it me when I quote verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-11 or is it them when they quote verses like Acts 2:38 and so on and so forth. The debate can go on back and forth for ever and get us no where. My advice is read it for your self and come to your own conclusion. Just don't get caught up in this I'm right your wrong pitfall.
One last thing I would like to add is I get the impression of when will it be enough? If I do as they want and get rebaptized then what happens when someone else comes along and adds just one more prerequisite for salvation? when is enough, enough? Thank goodness that God is willing to accept me and knows my heart.
Ok, I have read this whole thread and in addition have read and reread the bible. I have also done alot of praying and meditation about this. I have come to the conclusion from the word and through lots of prayer that God has saved me on the simple fact that I have chose to accept him and believe his word. I also add that yes I believe baptism is important but not as a means to salvation.
I was baptized when I was younger ( a teen) and have been content in my salvation. I know it's not the baptism that saved me but my faith in Jesus. However recently I have met some COC members who have expressed to me that my baptism was in vain and that I am not saved because of it. Simply because I was baptized in a "Baptist" church. They say I am not saved because they (my baptist preacher) told me to pray the sinners prayer. They say also that since I believe my sins were forgiven "Before" my baptism took place that I am still unsaved. (Have you ever heard of an unsaved believer? I know I haven't.)
They think that I am blind to the truth and that the devil won't allow me to see it. Simply put I do not believe God lies and I do not believe that the bible contradicts itself. So someone is taking the bible out of context, is it me when I quote verses like John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-11 or is it them when they quote verses like Acts 2:38 and so on and so forth. The debate can go on back and forth for ever and get us no where. My advice is read it for your self and come to your own conclusion. Just don't get caught up in this I'm right your wrong pitfall.
One last thing I would like to add is I get the impression of when will it be enough? If I do as they want and get rebaptized then what happens when someone else comes along and adds just one more prerequisite for salvation? when is enough, enough? Thank goodness that God is willing to accept me and knows my heart.
It seems you have your mind made up, so all I'm going to say to you is this. No one is taking verses out of context. One must take all the verses of the Bible about salvation and put them together. They do not contradict one another, they work together. Each verse that says you must do something to be saved is just as important as the next.
You're right about studying and coming to your own conclusion.
Phil. 2:12... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
The key words in Acts 2:38 are "Peter said" not God said or Jesus said. Peter was just a man a follower. It was God speaking in John 3:16. That's the difference.
The key words in Acts 2:38 are "Peter said" not God said or Jesus said. Peter was just a man a follower. It was God speaking in John 3:16. That's the difference.
If you don't believe the whole Bible to be God inspired, then that's a whole different topic. God (Himself, not through someone else) also said he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
The key words in Acts 2:38 are "Peter said" not God said or Jesus said. Peter was just a man a follower. It was God speaking in John 3:16. That's the difference.
It was all written by men. Even the gospels are after-the-fact accounts supposedly written with an actual memory of Jesus in mind. Allegedly Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the gospels, although their names do not appear in the gospels at all and those names were attributed to them much later than they were written. However, they all were still written by people.
I was baptized, because that's what my parents wanted. I'm sure many atheists were.
Because your parents wanted it. Not because you did. Big difference.
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