Quote:
Originally Posted by onefaith2
That is true, thats exactly what Peter told them to do. No amount of theology can get past the fact that acts 2:38 is the person's response that they believe the gospel. What Abraham did is embodied in that, when one believes Christ, they repent. Thats part of it!
Jesus said except ye repent, ye will perish. He Himself included this requirement.
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Believing/Repenting is almost inseparable. It's a heart turn toward God/Jesus.
Unless you turn to God, you will perish. Of course!!! We repent by believing in the work He did on the Cross, give up this quest at trying to save ourselves, live for ourselves, and rest solely in His promises.
I find it amazing that out of the entire New Testament, Apos find
Acts 2:38 as their preeminent proof text. A narrative describing how the Church began, grew and flourished... and this is their proof text. A situation where people responded to a heavy indictment that they were responsible for the Messiah being rejected and put to death. They were commended to turn to God, to be baptized as disciples of Jesus and told them about the promised Holy Spirit. None of that is a formula to "get to God" -- even as you said, it's a response to what God has already done. This amazing God did all this, believe Him, and be baptized....
It takes MUCH theologizing to pull this out of the Bible against the backdrop of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians and many other Pauline writings. It takes much to do that even in the context of the Gospels.
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