Acts 22:16 Paul's salvation

[dwight92070]

Regarding Doug's post #4:

You still don't get it, do you? When Paul first had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he literally saw and heard the gospel in the person and words of Jesus Himself- and he believed in Him and he was saved by Him and he received the indwelling of the Spirit from Him(When Ananias came to him, he was FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit, which is a separate experience, even though they can happen at the same time like Cornelius and his family) and he received forgiveness of sins from Him - "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 10:43

Jesus IS THE GOSPEL! To meet Him, to see Him, to hear His words IS IN FACT HEARING AND SEEING THE GOSPEL of salvation. That all happened in less than a minute or two. It does NOT require "three years in Arabia" to be born again - it happens in a moment of time.

By the way, Galatians 1:16-18 DOES NOT say that he spent three years in Arabia. It says:
" ... I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, AND RETURNED ONCE MORE TO DAMASCUS. THEN (after returning to Damacus) three years later I went up to Jerusalem."

We are NOT told how long he was in Arabia.

You yourself said that Paul's "eyes were opened to who Jesus really is". You are correct. He suddenly knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and Jesus told him that He was sending him to the Gentiles "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:18
By telling Paul these things, He was telling him all the things that were happening to him AT THAT VERY MOMENT - Paul was transformed, he was born again, he knew Jesus personally, his sins were forgiven, the Holy Spirit entered into him.

To say that he had to wait 3 days for his sins to be forgiven is ludicrous. Baptism in water or water itself cannot wash away anyone's sins - only the blood of Jesus washes away sins. Nobody who becomes born again has to wait 3 days or 2 days or even 1 day to receive forgiveness of sins. They receive all the things that Jesus speaks of in Acts 26:18 INSTANTLY AT THE TIME THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS.

Baptism in water is only a figure or a picture of that, by SYMBOLICALLY being buried and raised. You are misinterpreting Acts 22:16. If Paul had not already received forgiveness of sins and all the other things mentioned in Acts 26:18, then Ananias WOULD NOT have called him BROTHER Saul. A BROTHER in Christ is someone who already has his sins forgiven. Remember Ananias knew Saul before as a murderer and persecutor of believers, so there's absolutely no way he would call him a BROTHER, unless he knew that Paul was born again.

 

[dwight92070]

Regarding Doug's post #4

No, what proves Saul or Paul was already saved when Ananias came to him was the fact that Ananias called him "BROTHER Saul". Acts 9:17 In case you missed it the first time, Paul repeats the story in Acts 22:13 "BROTHER Saul, receive your sight." You really can't explain that away although I'm sure you'll try.

You'll say something like, Well, Ananias was just addressing him as a fellow Jew, or some such made up foolishness. In fact, I'm quite interested in exactly how you explain this truth away.

Also, Saul received ALL five of the gifts mentioned in Acts 26:18, not just one. It's sheer folly to claim that his eyes were opened as to who Jesus was, but somehow he didn't get the other four gifts until later. Three days later he did receive the 2nd of the five gifts - forgiveness of sins. So what about the other three? When did he receive those? I'm sure you'll make up something that sounds possible. The truth is, as I said before, Jesus never sent people out to preach the gospel, if they themselves were not yet saved. The five things in Acts 26:18 perfectly describe a born again believer. Saul had all of that. There's no evidence that Jesus gave the gift of salvation in increments - today you'll have your eyes opened, three days from now, you'll get your sins forgiven, then later you will turn from the dominion of Satan to God, etc. That's a ridiculous understanding of salvation - no wonder though, because it's not true.

 

[dwight92070]

Regarding Doug's post #4

To say that Jesus allowed Saul to experience the glory and power of Jesus, to hear His voice, called him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles - but for some reason He left him in his sins for three days is unthinkable. Saul was converted all right, but right then on the road to Damacus, not three days later.

 

[dwight92070]

Regarding Doug's post #4

So now we know how you view anyone who obeys the Lord in water baptism, but doesn't believe what you do - he's just getting baptized "for the fun of it". Is that how you see those of us who were baptized in water, but not with your beliefs? We were just obeying the Lord "for the fun of it"??
It's amazing how low you will go to defend false teaching.

You said that Ananias instructed Saul to "wash away his sins" by being baptized, and that his baptism is what saved him and washed away his sins. But Joel 2:32 says " ... whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Peter quotes that in Acts 2:21. Calling on the name of the Lord is what washed away his sins and saved him, according to this verse, not water baptism. Apparently Ananias did not know that Saul had already called on the name of the Lord, three days earlier. Once He heard who it was who was speaking to him, he immediately obeyed Him. Acts 26:19 You don't obey Jesus, unless you have first called on His name.

 

[TomL]

Sins are not removed literally or figuratively because of faith alone. We are not justified by faith alone (James 2:24). Sins are removed during baptism (Rom 6:1-7, Col 2:11-14, 1 Pet 3:21). Baptism is not a figurative depiction of what has already happened. It is a figurative demonstration of what is occurring spiritually at the same moment. At the same time as we are submerged beneath the water, the Spirit unites us with Jesus' death and resurrection and removes our sins.

Acts 10:43 (NASB 2020) — 43 All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

what part of everyone is not understood

Romans 3:25–26 (KJV 1900) — 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.


How many works must you perform before justified

Romans 4:1–6 (NASB 2020) — 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Galatians 2:15–16 (NASB 2020) — 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

 

[Doug Brents]

Regarding Doug's post #4:

You still don't get it, do you? When Paul first had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, he literally saw and heard the gospel in the person and words of Jesus Himself- and he believed in Him and he was saved by Him and he received the indwelling of the Spirit from Him(When Ananias came to him, he was FILLED WITH the Holy Spirit, which is a separate experience, even though they can happen at the same time like Cornelius and his family) and he received forgiveness of sins from Him - "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 10:43

Jesus IS THE GOSPEL! To meet Him, to see Him, to hear His words IS IN FACT HEARING AND SEEING THE GOSPEL of salvation. That all happened in less than a minute or two. It does NOT require "three years in Arabia" to be born again - it happens in a moment of time.

Saul did see Jesus on the Road, and he did hear Jesus on the Road, and he did believe that Jesus is God on the Road. But seeing Jesus, and hearing Jesus, and believing that Jesus is God does not bring salvation. If it did, then his sins would have been cleansed on the Road, but they were not. He was still in sin three days later when Ananias came to him in the house.

By the way, Galatians 1:16-18 DOES NOT say that he spent three years in Arabia. It says:
" ... I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, AND RETURNED ONCE MORE TO DAMASCUS. THEN (after returning to Damacus) three years later I went up to Jerusalem."

We are NOT told how long he was in Arabia.

I did not say that he was in Arabia for three years. I said he was in Arabia and Damascus for three years. During that time he learned from God the full and complete Gospel, and how Jesus fulfilled and completed the Old Covenant that Saul knew so well. No, it did not take these three years for him to be saved. But it did take these three years for him to be educated by God to the extent that he needed to be, and to change his reputation from a killer of the Church to a builder of the Church.

You yourself said that Paul's "eyes were opened to who Jesus really is". You are correct. He suddenly knew that Jesus was the Messiah, and Jesus told him that He was sending him to the Gentiles "to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:18

Read carefully the verse you just quoted. Eyes are opened SO THAT one may turn from darkness to light. And one turns from darkness to light SO THAT one may receive forgiveness of sins. Each one leads to the next. Salvation is received when sins are forgiven, not when one turns from darkness to light (repentance), or when their eyes are opened.

By telling Paul these things, He was telling him all the things that were happening to him AT THAT VERY MOMENT - Paul was transformed, he was born again, he knew Jesus personally, his sins were forgiven, the Holy Spirit entered into him.

The Holy Spirit did not enter Saul on the Road, nor were his sins forgiven on the Road. Saul knew OF Jesus on the Road, but he did not know him personally until he was clothed with Him in baptism (Gal 3:26-27) three days later.

To say that he had to wait 3 days for his sins to be forgiven is ludicrous. Baptism in water or water itself cannot wash away anyone's sins - only the blood of Jesus washes away sins. Nobody who becomes born again has to wait 3 days or 2 days or even 1 day to receive forgiveness of sins. They receive all the things that Jesus speaks of in Acts 26:18 INSTANTLY AT THE TIME THEY BELIEVE IN JESUS.

If they really believe then they will really obey. Saul believed that Jesus is God, but he did not yet believe in Jesus. He did not yet know Jesus. For three days Saul prayed, fasted, and (I suspect) thought about all the prophecies he knew that spoke of the Messiah, reordering in his mind those prophecies with his new knowledge that Jesus was the fulfillment of those prophecies. He was not yet saved, but he came to realize and believe that Jesus was the One Israel had been waiting on for so long. Then when Ananias came to him, he was ready to obey Jesus. And being baptized into Him, he received forgiveness of his sins (they were washed away by the Holy Spirit (not by the water) during baptism).

Baptism in water is only a figure or a picture of that, by SYMBOLICALLY being buried and raised. You are misinterpreting Acts 22:16. If Paul had not already received forgiveness of sins and all the other things mentioned in Acts 26:18, then Ananias WOULD NOT have called him BROTHER Saul. A BROTHER in Christ is someone who already has his sins forgiven. Remember Ananias knew Saul before as a murderer and persecutor of believers, so there's absolutely no way he would call him a BROTHER, unless he knew that Paul was born again.

He was not a brother IN CHRIST yet. But he was a brother JEW, and Jesus had told Ananias that Saul would become a messenger for God to the Gentiles. Saul became a brother in Christ when he was baptized into Christ.

 

[Doug Brents]

Regarding Doug's post #4

So now we know how you view anyone who obeys the Lord in water baptism, but doesn't believe what you do - he's just getting baptized "for the fun of it". Is that how you see those of us who were baptized in water, but not with your beliefs? We were just obeying the Lord "for the fun of it"??
It's amazing how low you will go to defend false teaching.

Yes, I have seen many who are baptized not for forgiveness of sins but because a friend or sibling was being baptized and they had the "me too" syndrome. The "me too" people only get wet, they do not receive forgiveness of their sins.

You said that Ananias instructed Saul to "wash away his sins" by being baptized, and that his baptism is what saved him and washed away his sins. But Joel 2:32 says " ... whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Peter quotes that in Acts 2:21. Calling on the name of the Lord is what washed away his sins and saved him, according to this verse, not water baptism. Apparently Ananias did not know that Saul had already called on the name of the Lord, three days earlier. Once He heard who it was who was speaking to him, he immediately obeyed Him. Acts 26:19 You don't obey Jesus, unless you have first called on His name.

Just calling on the name of the Lord does not save (Matt 7:21-23). Calling on the name of the Lord is not just saying His name; it is not just giving lip service to His deity; it is not even doing good, or even great, works in His name. Calling on the name requires full surrender to Him and His will. Calling on Jesus' name on the Road did not save Saul. It did not wash his sins away on the Road. He was still in sin three days later.

 

[Doug Brents]

Acts 10:43 (NASB 2020) — 43 All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

what part of everyone is not understood

"Believes" in this verse comes from the Greek "pistis" which means "faith". Everyone who has faith in Him receives forgiveness of sins. If you don't obey the one in whom you claim to have faith, you don't really have faith in Him.

Romans 3:25–26 (KJV 1900) — 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

How many works must you perform before justified

Again, "believeth" comes from "pistis" and means "has faith". Jesus is the justifier of everyone who has faith in Him; everyone who obeys Him (Heb 5:9). How many works must you perform before you are justified? Only as many as He commanded that "LEAD TO/RESULT IN" receiving salvation.

Romans 4:1–6 (NASB 2020) — 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, the wages are not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

What does verse 5 say is credited as righteousness? "His faith". What is faith? It is not just intellectual assent as you seem to believe. No, it requires action in response to that intellectual assent demonstrating that belief. If there is no action, then the belief is not real.

Galatians 2:15–16 (NASB 2020) — 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Not justified by what? "Works OF THE LAW". The object of his discussion is not just any works, but works of the Law. And again, we are justified BY FAITH in Christ, not by WORKS OF THE LAW.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

Yes, I have seen many who are baptized not for forgiveness of sins but because a friend or sibling was being baptized and they had the "me too" syndrome. The "me too" people only get wet, they do not receive forgiveness of their sins.

Just calling on the name of the Lord does not save (Matt 7:21-23). Calling on the name of the Lord is not just saying His name; it is not just giving lip service to His deity; it is not even doing good, or even great, works in His name. Calling on the name requires full surrender to Him and His will. Calling on Jesus' name on the Road did not save Saul. It did not wash his sins away on the Road. He was still in sin three days later.

Paul would be in sin inasmuch as he continued to persecute Christians. That would be disobedience.
Obeying Jesus was to stop persecuting his followers.
I believe that in the moment Paul lost his self-righteousness and decided to obey Christ by stopping doing evil, he was forgiven. Baptism came later as an external confirmation of that obedience.

I agree very much with you in that obeying Christ is the only way to prove faith in Him. No obedience = no faith.
I agree 100% and rejoice in your brave position in this Forum regard this.

Where I disagree is in the position you give to baptism within Christ's commandments.
Jesus explained several times and several ways and unequivocal terms how God forgives sins.
The belief that God puts "on hold" the sinner until he is baptized has no roots on the Scripture nor in reason.

You do accept, my brother, that it is the Spirit, and not the water, which washes away sins. I rejoice in such acceptance.
If it is the Spirit which does it, you can't schedule an appointment for the Spirit to come on a precise day, hour and minute that matches the time of submersion in water. The spirit could have come months ago, or has still not come and will come years ahead the moment of baptism.

 

[TomL]

"Believes" in this verse comes from the Greek "pistis" which means "faith". Everyone who has faith in Him receives forgiveness of sins. If you don't obey the one in whom you claim to have faith, you don't really have faith in Him.

Misses the point. Faith comes before one can act on it

 

[mailmandan]

Misses the point. Faith comes before one can act on it

Amen! We are saved by faith at its origin and not after we act on it by accomplishing a list of works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

 

[Doug Brents]

Paul would be in sin inasmuch as he continued to persecute Christians. That would be disobedience.
Obeying Jesus was to stop persecuting his followers.
I believe that in the moment Paul lost his self-righteousness and decided to obey Christ by stopping doing evil, he was forgiven. Baptism came later as an external confirmation of that obedience.

Again, repenting does not remove the stain of sin already committed. Just turning away from walking in a tar pit does not remove the tar with which you are already coated. You must have the tar cut from you, which can only be done by God in the way He has prescribed that it be removed.

I agree very much with you in that obeying Christ is the only way to prove faith in Him. No obedience = no faith.
I agree 100% and rejoice in your brave position in this Forum regard this.

Where I disagree is in the position you give to baptism within Christ's commandments.
Jesus explained several times and several ways and unequivocal terms how God forgives sins.
The belief that God puts "on hold" the sinner until he is baptized has no roots on the Scripture nor in reason.

God does not put "on hold" anything.
He has said that those who believe the Gospel and are baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).
He has said that baptism saves us (1 Pet 3:21)
He has said that it is in baptism that we die to sin and are united to Christ's death and resurrection (Rom 6:1-7).
He has said that it is in baptism that our sin is cut from us by the Holy Spirit and we are united to Christ's death and resurrection (Col 2:11-14).
He has said that it is in baptism that only those reborn through water and the Spirit will enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:5).
He has said that it is in baptism that we are sanctified and made pure, spotless, and without blemish by the washing of water by the Word (Eph 5:26-27).
He has said that it is in baptism that we are made sons and daughters and are clothed with Christ through baptism (Gal 3:26-27).

You do accept, my brother, that it is the Spirit, and not the water, which washes away sins. I rejoice in such acceptance.
If it is the Spirit which does it, you can't schedule an appointment for the Spirit to come on a precise day, hour and minute that matches the time of submersion in water. The spirit could have come months ago, or has still not come and will come years ahead the moment of baptism.

You are correct that man cannot command the Spirit and force Him remove someone's sin. But we do not have to. God has promised that if we obey Him He will fulfill His promise to do so. So if we really trust in God, if we really have faith that He will keep His word, then we will follow through on our part of the Covenant in the belief, trust, and faith that He will follow through on His part. He has given us the OT to demonstrate His faithfulness to fulfill His part of every covenant He has made with anyone, for good or ill (both rewards and punishments).

 

[Doug Brents]

Misses the point. Faith comes before one can act on it

Amen! We are saved by faith at its origin and not after we act on it by accomplishing a list of works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

As James says, faith is not real until it is completed and made perfect through action. Nothing at all happens just because of the mental aspects of faith without the physical actions of faith that complete it.

The other day a friend of mine made a "cheesecake" for her mother's birthday. It was beautiful, with fruit on top and a perfectly smooth top. But she forgot to put the sugar in it when she blended the cream cheese, so she didn't really have a "cheesecake". She only had cream cheese with fruit on top. It is the same with faith. If there is no action then the faith is not real; it is not complete. And incomplete faith cannot save; it does not bring justification.

 

[Studyman]

Acts 22:16 "Acts 22:16 — The New King James Version (NKJV) 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Paul tells us that he did not receive or hear the gospel from Ananias, but rather he heard it directly from Christ:

Gal. 1:11-12 " ... the gospel ... I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."

In the Bible, the Jesus defined in the Bible is said to be the "Word of God" which became flesh.

John 6: 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up "where he was before"? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Therefore, the Word of God, who created all things, is Spirit and Life. So Paul didn't receive the Gospel from Gamaliel, or Wesley, or Calvin or the Pope or from any man, even though they might call Jesus Lord, Lord. The Gospel of Christ was revealed to him by the Word of God which became flesh, as he teaches both Jew and Gentiles.

Acts 24: 13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

Acts 26: 19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

2 Tim. 3: 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith "which is in Christ Jesus". 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The "Word of God" AKA, the "Holy Scriptures" are "Directly from Christ".

 

[mailmandan]

As James says, faith is not real until it is completed and made perfect through action. Nothing at all happens just because of the mental aspects of faith without the physical actions of faith that complete it.

The other day a friend of mine made a "cheesecake" for her mother's birthday. It was beautiful, with fruit on top and a perfectly smooth top. But she forgot to put the sugar in it when she blended the cream cheese, so she didn't really have a "cheesecake". She only had cream cheese with fruit on top. It is the same with faith. If there is no action then the faith is not real; it is not complete. And incomplete faith cannot save; it does not bring justification.

No, faith demonstrates that it's real through action. (James 2:14-18) In James 2:22, faith made perfect or complete by works means bring to maturity, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on the merits of his works after he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22, many years after he believed God and his faith was accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:2-3) When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6.

 

[Doug Brents]

No, faith demonstrates that it's real through action. (James 2:14-18) In James 2:22, faith made perfect or complete by works means bring to maturity, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on the merits of his works after he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22, many years after he believed God and his faith was accounted for righteousness. (Romans 4:2-3) When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6.

Abraham was not saved based on the merits of his works. He was saved based on his faith that was made complete by his works. The pronouncement of faith is meaningless unless it is accompanied by actions in keeping with that pronouncement. Abraham was accounted righteous because he obeyed God in faith by leaving his home, going where God told him to go, living where and how God told him to live, and ultimately sacrificed Isaac. Sacrificing Isaac was not a "good work", it was an act of faith, completing and making perfect his trust in God.

 

[mailmandan]

Abraham was not saved based on the merits of his works. He was saved based on his faith that was made complete by his works. The pronouncement of faith is meaningless unless it is accompanied by actions in keeping with that pronouncement. Abraham was accounted righteous because he obeyed God in faith by leaving his home, going where God told him to go, living where and how God told him to live, and ultimately sacrificed Isaac. Sacrificing Isaac was not a "good work", it was an act of faith, completing and making perfect his trust in God.

Genesis 15:5 - Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified (accounted as righteous) by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness.”

In James 2:23, the scripture was fulfilled in vindicating or demonstrating that Abraham believed God and was accounted as righteous. Yet Abraham was still accounted as righteous based on his faith (Genesis 15:6) not his works (Romans 4:2-3) long before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. An act of faith is a good work. You can't have it both ways.

 

[Doug Brents]

Genesis 15:5 - Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified (accounted as righteous) by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness.”

"Believed" here comes from "pistis" meaning faith. Faith is not real unless it is completed/made perfect through action. Faith without action is completely meaningless, dead, worthless, and ineffectual.

In James 2:23, the scripture was fulfilled in vindicating or demonstrating that Abraham believed God and was accounted as righteous. Yet Abraham was still accounted as righteous based on his faith (Genesis 15:6) not his works (Romans 4:2-3) long before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. An act of faith is a good work. You can't have it both ways.

An act of faith is part of what faith is. Without the act of faith, faith isn't real, it is dead. James 2:23 says that the Scripture was fulfilled. What does that mean? It means that Abraham was justified (accounted as, made righteous, declared not guilty) by God in Gen 15:5, and he was again justified in Gen 22. He continually demonstrated his faith through what he did, and what he did was credited to him as righteousness because he did it in trust that God would do what He said He would do, even if he killed the son through whom God said He would fulfill His promise (Rom 4:19-21).

 

[Titus]

"Believed" here comes from "pistis" meaning faith. Faith is not real unless it is completed/made perfect through action. Faith without action is completely meaningless, dead, worthless, and ineffectual.

An act of faith is part of what faith is. Without the act of faith, faith isn't real, it is dead. James 2:23 says that the Scripture was fulfilled. What does that mean? It means that Abraham was justified (accounted as, made righteous, declared not guilty) by God in Gen 15:5, and he was again justified in Gen 22. He continually demonstrated his faith through what he did, and what he did was credited to him as righteousness because he did it in trust that God would do what He said He would do, even if he killed the son through whom God said He would fulfill His promise (Rom 4:19-21).

Amen, this is new testament gospel folks.

James made it simple to understand that faith is dead without obedience,

James 2:20,
- but do you want to know O foolish man that faith without works is dead

Anyone who claims Abraham was justified without obedience is teaching Abraham was justified with a dead faith.

 

[Titus]

Paul was told by Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 that Ananias would teach him the gospel.
This is why Paul did not receive the Holy Spirit until Ananias came to him.

The faith onlyist always claim Paul was saved on the road to Damascus.
If that is true he was saved without receiving the Holy Spirit gift.

Acts 2:38,
- then Peter said to them, repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will recieve the gift of the Holy Spirit


Acts 22:16,
- and now why are you waiting, arise and baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Ananias preached the same water baptism to Paul as Peter's gospel in Acts 2.

Same gospel, same forgiveness of sins.

Notice Ananias said Arise be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord

Annaians knew Paul had not had his sins washed away on the road to Damascus.
Baptists and other faith onlyist need to accept what the Bible says not what their sect's theology teaches.