To believe in God is to accept the truth of God and to place trust in that truth. How is that trust exercised?
And yet the NT is full of things to do and things not to do. Did Peter teach the gospel when he delivered that first sermon at Pentecost?
Most people who preach against "works righteousness" haven't a clue about the works that Paul spoke against with respect to salvation by works.
The NT is full of things to do and things not to do AFTER we believe the gospel and are saved. What do YOU believe the gospel IS and what do YOU believe it means to believe the gospel? Before you jump to conclusions with Acts 2:38, be sure to properly harmonize it with Acts 10:43-47.
Folks who promote salvation by works/works righteousness limit the works that Paul spoke against to merely specific works of the law (like circumcision) and end up teaching we are saved by "these" works (good works) and just not "those" works (works of the law) but that argument is bogus. Paul includes works in general. (Romans 4:2-6; 11:6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9)
First, I reject your interpretation of Acts 10:42-47.
Jesus said that believing in God was a work. Believing in God brings salvation. Is that salvation by works?
Why do you reject Acts 10:43-47? Because it proves these Gentiles were saved before water baptism. In James 2:19, we see that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God," but they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) and are not saved. Their trust and reliance are in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works. There is a difference between mere "mental assent" belief (as the demons have) and saving belief in Christ, which the demons do not have. Do you not understand that not all belief is the same and that there is a deeper belief that trusts in Jesus Christ for salvation?
In John 6:29, Jesus said - "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent," in response to the Jews (who were taking a legalistic approach) when they asked, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" So, by Jesus' play on words here, He was not implying that believing is just "another" work in a series of works in a quest to receive salvation by works, as you may assume. Also, through believing, we are completely trusting in "Another's work," (Christ's finished work of redemption - Romans 3:24-28). There is a distinction between faith AND works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
I don't reject Acts 10:43-47. I reject your interpretation of it. Why? Because you are wrong.
It proves no such thing, It says not one word about being saved before water baptism. It says that the gift that they received was the ability work the miracle to speak in tongues (v.46). Nowhere in all of the Bible does that equate to being saved.
It was not any play on words. It was a direct answer by Jesus to their question of what they needed to do. They only one attempting a play on words is you. You simply reject what Jesus said because you don't really understand what Paul said about works.
Absolutely false. You seem determined to accommodate your biased CoC doctrine. Acts 10:43 - Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. (spiritual gift that is only for the body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12) Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" Crystal clear.
Speaking in tongues does not save anyone. Working miracles doesn't save anyone. The gifts of the Spirit to work miracles doesn't save anyone.Absolutely false. You seem determined to accommodate your biased CoC doctrine. Acts 10:43 - Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. (spiritual gift that is only for the body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12) Then Peter answered, 47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" Crystal clear.
*Compare the fact that these Gentiles in Acts 10:45 received the gift of the Holy Spirit (compare with Acts 2:38 - the gift of the Holy Spirit) and this was BEFORE water baptism. (Acts 10:47) One cannot receive a gift from the Holy Spirit until they first receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 10:43 we read ..whoever believes in Him receives remission of sins. Again, these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit -Acts 10:45 - when they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ - Acts 11:17 - (compare with Acts 16:31 - Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved) BEFORE water baptism - Acts 10:47. This is referred to as repentance unto life - Acts 11:18.
*So, the only logical conclusion when properly harmonizing scripture with scripture is that faith in Jesus Christ "implied in genuine repentance" (rather than water baptism) brings the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 10:43-47; 11:17,18; 13:38-39; 15:7-9; 16:31; 26:18) *Perfect Harmony*
In John 6:28, the crowd misunderstood Jesus' prohibition and thought He was saying that God required them to do works as the basis or means of receiving eternal life, yet Jesus corrected them and said, "this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." This is what God requires and not that faith is just another work in a series of works in a quest to obtain salvation by works. I don't reject the words of Jesus at all, and Jesus repeatedly said that eternal life was received by believing in Him (John 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26) and not by believing in works. You reject salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) because you are trusting in works for salvation and not in Jesus Christ alone.
Believing in God is a work.
