Is Acts 2:38 Really Supported by History?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Barb

Pela, I have been saying for the longest that I believe what Bro. A wrote above.

The rest of the book may have inaccuracies...don't know and am taking y'all's word for it. You and Adino have first hand knowledge and are brighter than I re this.

However, I am convinced without in my hand evidence that the Acts 2:38 message was preached through every age.

I cannot invision it ever dying out...what birthed it has kept it.

but convinced by what? The historical record does not exist to anyones knowledge

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by pelathais

No, it's just that we have no record of it. For someone to believe that such beliefs and practices have always existed is one thing, to say "I can PROVE IT!" is another. Our attempts to prove it have failed in embarassing fashion over the years.

Far better to say, "Here's the Bible, and here I am Oh Lord..." We have a Bible message, not so much an historical one. For though history is interesting, in the end we really are claiming that salvation is through the Jesus Christ revealed in the Bible.

Remember, His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100:5). But we are a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14).

But even more important.....what IF there was not a continuous line of "believers"? Would that mean we are wrong? WHy do we have to insist there was a continuous line?

Nobody has a continuous unbroken line. Not even the Trinitarians, though the Trinity "line" might be longer and more prominent. At some point Arianism replaced Trinitarianism as the Doctrine of the RE, but they soon too went by the way side. There was no real foundational "Trinitarian" theology until after Nicea. Where were the baptist or methodists or any protestants all this time up until Luther? And even Luther still retained baptismal regeneration.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

But even more important.....what IF there was not a continuous line of "believers"? Would that mean we are wrong? WHy do we have to insist there was a continuous line?

Nobody has a continuous unbroken line. Not even the Trinitarians, though the Trinity "line" might be longer and more prominent. At some point Arianism replaced Trinitarianism as the Doctrine of the RE, but they soon too went by the way side. There was no real foundational "Trinitarian" theology until after Nicea. Where were the baptist or methodists or any protestants all this time up until Luther? And even Luther still retained baptismal regeneration.

Good points. Constantine was never an enthusiastic Trinitarian. His two successors were, however enthusiastic Arians. The next emperor after that was Julian the Apostate who reestablished paganism as the official creed. Athanasius's party never won out until four generations later!

Revelation 13 describes "The Beast" as coming up out of "the sea." That roily and turbulent sea is contrasted to the "Sea of Glass" that surrounds the throne of God. The "sea" in chapter 13, is the world and its governments. It's turmoil and fraught with confusion and peril.

We are not doing ourselves any favors by trying to get anything up to the surface from that heaving and storm tossed sea. The only things that emerge are antagonistic to the Gospel of Peace!

Better that we go to the throne. There, we find a calm sea, mingled with the fire of battle. A sea governed by our God (Revelation 4:6 and Revelation 15:2).

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

but convinced by what? The historical record does not exist to anyones knowledge

Prax, that's the thing about it...I don't need hands on proof to know that I am right about this.

I can't explain it, and to the learned here, or to those who need to see it in black and white, it won't make sense.

But I just know...

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Barb

Prax, that's the thing about it...I don't need hands on proof to know that I am right about this.

I can't explain it, and to the learned here, or to those who need to see it in black and white, it won't make sense.

But I just know...

You're right Sister Barb, I don't but I do understand.

My burden is that when my children reach a point in their lives where they may despair and are tempted to lose faith I probably won't be able to be there for them. So today I must work at giving them tools to succeed and hope they remember - or even hope that they themselves grow and are even better equipped than I have ever been.

Books, sermons, Bible studies and the doctrines and principles of our faith are some of the important tools that they may need. I don't want them to be out some place where I can not help them and have them find that they have useless tools in their arsenal.