The Cross of Christ Alone Can Save

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Originally Posted by Jeffrey

Wow, Mike.

Your post assumed the reason why some don't get the Spirit baptism is because they have certain sins that you didn't have?

No it does not. lol. I already said I can only speak from experience, and that was my experience, so I cannot speak for other reasons.

Originally Posted by notofworks

I think Mike's post really illustrates the "other side" very well. If tongues really is a necessary element to salvation and IF God withholds the gift of the Holy Spirit until sin is eliminated from one's life, then clearly the position Mike supports is a system that requires man to get better before he is saved.

No, it means repentance is required to get saved. I had not truly repented.

And such a statement is really, really, really, really scary.

When misconstrued like you did with it, sure.

This is really where I'd hope we would eventually arrive...the place where it's clear that "Three Steppers" believe in a system of salvation by works, believe in a system where we earn our salvation.

You shock me. After all the statements I made that state baptism and Spirit infilling with tongues are no more a work than repentance, and you still say this! Wow. Brother, I thought you were more honest about this than that.

Several of you have parsed scripture and laid out quite an impressive exegetical argument...much better than I could. But the nuts and bolts of the whole thing? There is a large group of people here who believe they've earned their salvation.

You really shock me with your words today. I was hestitant to agree. but now agree with Leg. that you simply do not want to see another perspective. I am disappointed.

Again, baptism and Spirit infilling with tongues are no more a work than repentance is because repentance is reliance upon the work of the cross alone for forgiveness, and baptism likewise is useless without faith that the cross saves, and Spirit infilling shows God giving utterance for tongues taking away anything in our minds that might think we do not need the cross and God's power to effect anything. but I already said that, and to twist my words like you have here shows me you were not interested in what I actually believe after clearly stating it.