ACTS.2:38 Main Message Or Altar Call ?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Acts 2:38 and 39 was an answer to a question. An altar call, if you will. Peters sermon began with verse 14 and ends with verse 36.

I've always found it interesting that the Bible says And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Act 2:42 The Apostles Doctrine, as far as we know, consisted of two sermons. (Acts, 1:16-23 and Acts 2:14-36, 38-39). I'm sure there was other teaching and preaching going on during that period. Wouldn't it have been nice if someone would have written those messages down?

Question: Can we extropolate, from these two sermons, all the teachings we often refer to as the Apostoles Doctrine? (Oneness, Baptism, Holiness, etc.) In other words, can we base Apostolic teachings in their entirety on these two sermons?

Luke is writing much later - most likely around 30 years after Peter had preached that sermon. When he says, "Apostle's doctrine" in chapter 2, he has the whole 30 year time span in mind. We can "fill in the blanks" as it were, by reading what Paul and the others had written during that 30 year time period (and even after, as in the case of the "Prison Epistles").

[Sam]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Luke is writing much later - most likely around 30 years after Peter had preached that sermon. When he says, "Apostle's doctrine" in chapter 2, he has the whole 30 year time span in mind. We can "fill in the blanks" as it were, by reading what Paul and the others had written during that 30 year time period (and even after, as in the case of the "Prison Epistles").

The Book of Acts ends up with Paul in Rome. It was probably around the end of AD 61. During the time in prison there he had written Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. There are differences of opinion, but it is generally held that Paul was released and traveled for a few more years, was imprisoned again, and wrote 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The Gospel of Luke was written some time before the Book of Acts --possibly while Paul was under arrest in Jerusalem. Here Luke would have had ample time to interview people who had interacted with Jesus, maybe even His family members for material for what became the Book of Luke.

[El Predicador]

It was an answer to a question.

What must I do to be saved?

Hesitate to call it an altar call.

They asked him.

He didn't count to three, or ask for a show of hands,

Or even tell scary stories about kids being run over

by chariots on the way home.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by El Predicador

It was an answer to a question.

What must I do to be saved?

Hesitate to call it an altar call.

They asked him.

He didn't count to three, or ask for a show of hands,

Or even tell scary stories about kids being run over

by chariots on the way home.

The kids being run over by chariots might have been included in "and with many other words did he testify and exhort saying Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (verse 40) along with the bifurcated garments, hair touching the ears, etc.

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by El Predicador

It was an answer to a question.

What must I do to be saved?

Hesitate to call it an altar call.

They asked him.

He didn't count to three, or ask for a show of hands,

Or even tell scary stories about kids being run over

by chariots on the way home.

That was not the question asked in Acts 2:38

That question was actually asked in Acts 16:30-31 and here is the answer:
Acts 16
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

That was not the question asked in Acts 2:38

That question was actually asked in Acts 16:30-31 and here is the answer:
Acts 16
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

I am glad you posted this because I was going to correct our brother in Christ too.

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by TGBTG

That was not the question asked in Acts 2:38

That question was actually asked in Acts 16:30-31 and here is the answer:
Acts 16
30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

"shalt be saved"!
didnt say that by believing on Jesus one is automatically saved. Rather that if the jailor would believe on the Lord he "shalt be saved". In other words believing was the foundation of his salvation and would lead him to the rest. It's impossible to obey the gospel without first believing.

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

"shalt be saved"!
didnt say that by believing on Jesus one is automatically saved. Rather that if the jailor would believe on the Lord he "shalt be saved". In other words believing was the foundation of his salvation and would lead him to the rest. It's impossible to obey the gospel without first believing.

Okay, I don't why you posted the emboldened part. All I did was correct was El Predicador. He quoted Acts 2:38 wrong and I said what he quoted was actually in Acts 16:31. Moreover, the emboldened is your interpretation of that scripture. As for me, I'd rather just take the scripture without trying to add any "in other words..."

Also, you said believing on the Lord Jesus does not automatically you.

The jailer asked "What MUST I do to be saved"

Simple answer was "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." It really simple. Let's not make it complicated.

If I may ask you, what is the gospel?

[noeticknight]

Originally Posted by kclee4jc

"shalt be saved"!
didnt say that by believing on Jesus one is automatically saved. Rather that if the jailor would believe on the Lord he "shalt be saved". In other words believing was the foundation of his salvation and would lead him to the rest. It's impossible to obey the gospel without first believing.

Note, the above post is indicative of similar claims made by religious zealots who have not yet fully grasped the force of God’s grace. In other words, “it is not good enough to rely on the work and record of Jesus Christ, but you must perform certain rituals to seal the deal.”

The concept of grace however, causes one to understand that we cannot leverage salvation through performance (obedience if you want to call it that). Salvation is given freely to those who believe and endure. To believe the Gospel is to accept His record as enough. To obey is to reciprocate love towards the Savior, not earn salvation. Think love relationship, not religious initiation (John 14:23).

[kclee4jc]

Originally Posted by noeticknight

Note, the above post is indicative of similar claims made by religious zealots who have not yet fully grasped the force of God’s grace. In other words, “it is not good enough to rely on the work and record of Jesus Christ, but you must perform certain rituals to seal the deal.”

The concept of grace however, causes one to understand that we cannot leverage salvation through performance (obedience if you want to call it that). Salvation is given freely to those who believe and endure. To believe the Gospel is to accept His record as enough. To obey is to reciprocate love towards the Savior, not earn salvation. Think love relationship, not religious initiation (John 14:23).

Very Good! Keeping his words = loving him. Did you notice that it is then that he makes his abode with us? If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. Not yet anyway..

The blood must be applied for grace to be received. I obeyed the Gospel because I loved him. Not to escape Hell. If i didnt love Him i would not have obeyed, would not have received the grace that was freely offered on the cross...and would not have escaped Hell.