Talk about balanced shopping. Just bought Velvet Elvis along with the book Baptism In the First 5 Centuries by Everett Ferguson and Into The Name by Lars Hartman. July is dialed in.
Velvet Elvis is interesting. Bell makes some good points but seems to be dealing with the symptoms of dead churches and attributing those to the church as a whole.
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Mark 16:16,17.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
John 3:18,
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Acts 10:44-46,
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Talk about balanced shopping. Just bought Velvet Elvis along with the book Baptism In the First 5 Centuries by Everett Ferguson and Into The Name by Lars Hartman. July is dialed in.
Excellent book a must have! Read the conlcusion on Jesus name baptism LOL! Talking about a witness of truth! I also recommend... Baptism in the NT by G.R. Beasley-Murray. He was paid by the Baptist assembly to do the book. Least to say it went against everything they believed but what can you say. The truth is the truth and it can set you free if you allow it.
Last edited by TheLegalist; 07-07-2009 at 08:45 AM.
NOTE: most seem to think this says "what must I do to be saved" which would change some of the mechanics of Acts 2:38.
If Acts 2:38 were specifically addressing the most critical question, given to the Apostle with the keys, then this would be the biblical standard text for salvation. If, however, it's one of many passages on salvation, one could approach this text as more than just a step-by-step, play-by-play instruction for salvation, and more as a response in general: for example, if a drug addict asked me to what he needs to do to change, I may say: "give your life to God, sell out to Him, become a follower, allow the Word of God to grow like a seed in your life." It's all truth. Just not necessarily a step-by-step, comprehensive plan. So what the question answers is imperative.
Others have made a great point that the question was implied "what must I do about this guilt", which I think gives a merited point about this being applicable to even salvation. The discussion continues...
4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born
When I hear one speak in tongues I do not hear the tongue wherein I was born....
Timmy,
This is a good question that has been asked over and over again by many. Was not the original outpouring of the HG of such great significance that it fulfilled prophecy about other languages?
Notice even with the baptism of John the Baptist, that they first confessed their sins and then were baptized as a disciple of John (which is why later they say they were of the "Baptism of John" when the Apostle asked them). It seems John's baptism was repentance, with a symbol of that repentance in water.
John's baptism was of repentance, Christ's baptism would be of the Holy Ghost
Acts 2 "Those were accepted the message were baptized..." these were numbered among the 3,000 souls. Do we count these as souls today?
Yet, Acts 8 shows us that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is not automatic after water baptism (8:16)
Acts 10 shows the Holy Ghost separate of water baptism, and not automatic, for they received the Holy Ghost "just as we" and then were asked to be baptized.
Crispus was baptized
Paul was baptized
Lydia was baptized
The Philippian Jailer was baptized (and his family)
Household of Stephanas was baptized (later mentioned in 1 Cor 16)
... and as the brother already mentioned, 1 Pet 3:21 shows that baptism now also saves us, as the ark delivered Noah and his family.
Baptism is clear, and it was not my point to refute baptism in Acts 2:38. My point was how differently the text read to me, and that the point was not just baptism, the point was not just water, it was discipleship.
As it is, I am reading on this very subject and wish to report back any findings that I think you'd be interested in.
Timmy,
This is a good question that has been asked over and over again by many. Was not the original outpouring of the HG of such great significance that it fulfilled prophecy about other languages?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Excellent book a must have! Read the conlcusion on Jesus name baptism LOL! Talking about a witness of truth! I also recommend... Baptism in the NT by G.R. Beasley-Murray. He was paid by the Baptist assembly to do the book. Least to say it went against everything they believed but what can you say. The truth is the truth and it can set you free if you allow it.