Forgiveness prior to baptism

[Truly Blessed]

[QUOTE=Apprehended;337743]

Of course. When all sin is rolled away at an altar in deep contrition for those sins, calling on the name of the Lord to deliver from both the presence and power of sin, one is truly "saved," from that burden of guilt. This is true by the very definiton of the word "saved." This is only the beginning of repentance..



Yes, indeed. After one is truly "saved" from sin, its guilt, power and presence, then of course there is the natural progression to water in the name of Jesus.



After one is saved from the burden of sin, one is promised through faith the baptism of Spirit.

Saved, then water and Spirit baptized seems to me to be the message of Acts 2:38. Indeed, that was what I was taught too. Seems right to me.

If sins guilt and stain is not removed until one is actually water baptized in the name of Jesus, then what good is the washing of water by the WORD? How is it possible that thousands and yea, millions are filled with the precious holy Ghost even before a TOE is baptized in water in the name of Jesus.

Millions of Trinitarians have been filled...my wife was one of them. She would consider someone a rank idiot that would try to tell her that she did not have the Holy Ghost before she went to the water in the name of Jesus...which she did when she saw the light of it.

The hard-core three steppers who insist on a "formula," standing strictly on their interpretation of Acts 2:38 cannot allow for someone to be filled with step three before step two. But the grace of God has proven them wrong millions of times as evidenced by the millions who have received step three before step two.

My bible speaks of those who form the formulas. First they will give you a three step formula. Next, they will give you a baptismal formula for the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Then they will give you a formula for the manner of living...most of which is debated within their own formula building ranks. My bible speaks of those who have a FORM(ula) of godliness...

But, even according to Acts 2:38, the first word in "the formula" is REPENT...step one according to them. Even this word is terribly misunderstood, thinking that it is a one time trip to the altar. Not so! Repentance is more than just a one time change of mind or direction in life. Many who have "repented" returned to their old lifestyle even after having received the Holy Ghost, proving that they had not repented in the beginning. Repentance is a PERMANENT turning toward God from the world...a lifestyle that must be practiced DAILY.

So, the hard-core "formula" as formulated in the minds of "form of godliness" folk have proven to be wrong due to their own interpretation of Acts 2:38. I've said it before and bears repeating. Acts 2:38 is neither the beginning of SALVATION nor is it the end.

As one who was baptized with the Holy Ghost before I was baptized, I too have a problem with someone who would want me to believe God gave the earnest of my inheritance before I even became His child or before my sins were even forgiven.