You have as much arrogance as another I know here posting. You also imply that you are a god, claiming 100% knowledge in knowing that I have not repented. I find this fascinating.
I implied nothing of the sort. I just came to that conclusion from what scriptures says.
Sadly you lack the knowledge in what the Greek word "repent" means when, let's say, we bring up Acts 2:38.
μετανοέω metanoéō, met-an-o-eh'-o = to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins (Thayer's Greek Lexicon)
This is indeed part of salvation and I'll show you an example later in this post.
I was going to respond to this, but another poster already did.
Sure we are human, and Christians will continue to sin. But this is why we need the help of those who are righteous (oops, I believe these verses begin to crack your theory) James 5:16; Galatians 6:1; 1 Peter 3:12, so that when a Christian does transgress, a godly sorrow to repentance restores them. Can even throw in 1 John 1:9 also.
I never said that having the help of other Christians wasn't necessary... that is part of the purpose of assembling together (other than to bring the gospel to the world). A Christian that has been washed in the blood of Christ ought not to continue living a life devoted to the desires of the flesh, but rather a life of pleasing the Father. To walk spiritually means to daily put off self, picking up your cross. This is Christian discipline and discipleship, not salvation. When a Christian backslides and falls into sin, it is necessary that those which are spiritual restore him from that sin. A Christian that confesses and forsakes his sin shall obtain mercy according to Proverbs 28:13-14.
However, Jesus Christ himself testified in John 3:16-18 that a person is given everlasting life when they believe in him. Faith alone is all that is required for salvation. Everything else ought to come after our salvation as a result of our salvation, otherwise a disobedient Christian will be chastened by the Lord as a son.
I would agree with this statement. The very well known verse Romans 3:23 would state such. But your missing information that throws you out of whack leading you to false conclusions. (see answers above and below)
What information? This is the exact verse I was referring to which proves you haven't repented of your sins... and yet you falsely accuse me of arrogance and godhead.
Luke 13:3 "I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Comparing these verses proves that true biblical repentance is coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Except ye repent... perish" and "whosoever believeth... should not perish." The same phraseology lets the reader know what Christ means by "except ye repent."
Luke 13:5 "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Then consider the following verse in comparison.
Those that perish are those that are unsaved as proven by 1 Corinthians 1:18 which says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." Note here that Paul says the
preaching of the cross is the power of God for those that are saved. And what did Jesus preach in John 3? That the Son of Man must be lifted up (preaching of the cross) that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish (John 3:13-18).
Therefore, it is obvious that the scripture shows those that are unsaved are those that did not believe in Christ. It's all about faith, faith, faith. If you don't believe the preaching of the cross, that is, that Jesus died for your sins and rose again from the dead, you are condemned already (John 3:18, John 3:36).
Acts 2:38 is referring to the baptism of repentance which has nothing to do with works and everything to do with faith. I can show you how I come to that conclusion using scripture if you'd like me to.
Acts 11:18 is a retelling of what happened in Acts 10:43-48. In that story, Peter preaches the word of God unto them, telling them in Acts 10:43 that all who believe on Christ will receive remission of sins. The very NEXT verse shows those who heard the word (that is, believed according to Acts 10:43) received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This verse actually helps my case and disproves your position.
This defines itself: "Repentance toward God" = "Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Repentance = faith.
2 Corinthians 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
Repentance to salvation is coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Mark 1:15 proves. "Salvation not to be repented of" simply means salvation that will never be changed. This is another way of saying "everlasing life."
Oh, I already used this verse to prove my point earlier, so I'll skip this one.
2 Timothy 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"
The same word used in this verse to translate "acknowledging" is the same word used for "confess" in Romans 10:9. To acknowledge the truth is to confess that Christ is Lord which requires faith. This is also summed up as "calling upon the name of the Lord" in Romans 10:13.
Lastly, if baptism was not necessary, why is everyone in the book of Acts dunking in water?
Because Christ said to baptize in Matthew 28:19. Baptism is indeed a command of Christ, but baptism is not required for salvation. If baptism is required for salvation, why did Paul say, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect," (1 Corinthians 1:17)?
Paul was sent to preach the cross of Christ because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18). It is the gospel in which we stand, which is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-5); we cannot be justified by being washed in water. This is the exact reason why Philip required the Ethiopian eunuch to receive Christ before becoming baptized.
Acts 8:36-38 "And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water;
what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said,
If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said,
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
In this passage, Philip said that the only hindering him from being baptized was his lack of belief. Since the eunuch believed and confess Christ, thus fulfilling Romans 10:9-13, Philip was able to baptize him signifying the eunuch's conversion.
Furthermore, if baptism is not necessary, why did the Ethiopian eunuch rejoice AFTER being baptized than before being baptized?
I just addressed this. He rejoiced because baptism was the commandment given by Christ that he fulfilled subsequent to receiving salvation that signified his conversion.
If baptism is required for salvation... why was Jesus baptized? Jesus committed no sin, yet Jesus was baptized by John. Jesus didn't need salvation, so why did he get baptized? "To fulfill all righteousness," as the verse goes. He performed a work of righteousness - baptism is a work of righteousness we are commanded to fulfill after getting saved. This work of righteousness is a like figure, that is symbolic, of the baptism of the Holy Spirit which Christ gives to every believer after they receive the word of truth according to Ephesians 1:13.
Why does the Titus letter speak of the "washing and regeneration"?
We are washed and regenerated by the Holy Ghost, which baptism is symbolic of. Titus 3:5 even says it's regeneration of the Holy Ghost...
The Peter epistle speaking of "eight souls saved by water... baptism now saves you"?
The key phrase in that verse is "
the like figure." The verse is not at all saying that water baptism saves us; it is saying that water baptism is symbolic of the salvation given to us by the resurrection of Christ in the same way Noah was saved from the flood by the ark.
Why did Paul get baptized, washing away his stripes?
He fulfilled the commandment for every new convert - water baptism subsequent to coming to faith in Christ.
Why did Peter still command Cornelius to be baptized into water?
Cornelius received the preaching of the word of Christ in Acts 10. Assuming Cornelius was devote to God but unsaved (which proves works do nothing), Cornelius received salvation and ought to have fulfilled the commandment to be baptized.
Look, no one is denying that baptism is a commandment of Christ; but there are so many verses that prove a person's salvation is dependent entirely upon where their faith is, and not upon their works. And baptism is a work of righteousness as proven by Jesus' own baptism.
