Numerical Growth Is Not A Sign Of Revival...

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by shazeep

The question was actually subtly different;

“Brothers, what shall we do?”

and the "saved" part comes later:

40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

So one could ask why, if Acts 2:38 was sufficient, have any more words?
(ignoring for now that both repent and be baptized surely have different meanings for you now; demonstrably so)

Not sure if I understand your point.

[shazeep]

i would say that if you read the rest of Scripture without a blindfold, commitment to the Kingdom is all that matters! We certainly have an abundance of Passages that indicate this.

Originally Posted by allstate1

Not sure if I understand your point.

well, i edited at the bottom there, which may explain, but a central point is that Acts 2:38 never mentions salvation, and, like tacking on with the evidence of speaking in tongues, it may be demonstrated that one's understanding must be subtly manipulated in order to accept that Acts 2:38 is all one needs to attain heaven. What did you "repent" of? Surely not what they repented of; the description for them is

41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

So i guess my point might be that if Acts 2:38 is all one needs, then was Constantine "saved," with his deathbed pronouncement and baptism? Why not just wait until one is old and dying?

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by shazeep

i would say that if you read the rest of Scripture without a blindfold, commitment to the Kingdom is all that matters! We certainly have an abundance of Passages that indicate this.
well, i edited at the bottom there, which may explain, but a central point is that Acts 2:38 never mentions salvation, and, like tacking on with the evidence of speaking in tongues, it may be demonstrated that one's understanding must be subtly manipulated in order to accept that Acts 2:38 is all one needs to attain heaven. What did you "repent" of? Surely not what they repented of; the description for them is

41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Well if verse 42 to 47 is commitment to the Kingdom and such commitment is what one needs for salvation we are all doomed! However who are the people mentioned in the last part of 47?

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by allstate1

Well if verse 42 to 47 is commitment to the Kingdom and such commitment is what one needs for salvation we are all doomed! However who are the people mentioned in the last part of 47?

Well, i don't know that we would have to exactly duplicate that passage, i think that was for then, but the passage indicates the frame of mind of the new believers, and more importantly, perhaps, the community that existed for them to be nurtured in at repentance (which is not salvation).

Also, you do not know if there are not believers exhibiting this type of community today! So while i might agree that surely most of those who believe their ticket has somehow been punched--in defiance of much other Scripture that would indicate otherwise--are doomed, with God all things are possible. Such commitment is what one needs for salvation; thus "Count the cost."

Let's be honest; if "doing" Acts 2:38 will "save" you, then you can do it on your deathbed, right?

As to those "people," I'm not getting the point? I'd say the citizens of the town, but I'm guessing.

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by shazeep

Well, i don't know that we would have to exactly duplicate that passage, i think that was for then, but the passage indicates the frame of mind of the new believers, and more importantly, perhaps, the community that existed for them to be nurtured in at repentance (which is not salvation).

Also, you do not know if there are not believers exhibiting this type of community today! So while i might agree that surely most of those who believe their ticket has somehow been punched--in defiance of much other Scripture that would indicate otherwise--are doomed, with God all things are possible. Such commitment is what one needs for salvation; thus "Count the cost."

Let's be honest; if "doing" Acts 2:38 will "save" you, then you can do it on your deathbed, right?

As to those "people," I'm not getting the point? I'd say the citizens of the town, but I'm guessing.

Verse 47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. How were these being saved??

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by allstate1

Verse 47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. How were these being saved??

well, we obviously differ there, but even more to the point might be why they were still called "being saved," and not considered "those who had been saved," or "who were saved." And i suggest that you cannot find a passage that describes salvation in the manner that is presented by the church, as having happened at a certain, past time; not anywhere in the Bible. Yes, you can find some phrasings that can be read that way, but i suggest that this is wishful thinking, and not supported by the body of Scripture.

So my reply is that they had a more evident example of commitment to the Kingdom, and what that entailed in the way of changing their minds. They left Jewish society completely. And it should be noted that they did not have Acts 2:38 yet. Constantine did Acts 2:38, egotistically, without changing his mind.

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by shazeep

well, we obviously differ there, but even more to the point might be why they were still called "being saved," and not considered "those who had been saved," or "who were saved." And i suggest that you cannot find a passage that describes salvation in the manner that is presented by the church, as having happened at a certain, past time; not anywhere in the Bible. Yes, you can find some phrasings that can be read that way, but i suggest that this is wishful thinking, and not supported by the body of Scripture.

So my reply is that they had a more evident example of commitment to the Kingdom, and what that entailed in the way of changing their minds. They left Jewish society completely. And it should be noted that they did not have Acts 2:38 yet. Constantine did Acts 2:38, egotistically, without changing his mind.

SO if one passes away in your idea of a process of being saved what happens to them?