Mark 16:16~"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

[Adherent]

We have more content readily available to us today than previous generations could have ever dreamed possible. We’re not lacking information, but we’re always in need of greater discernment. And that’s never more important than when it concerns our faith.

As you desire to grow in your faith, you need to be discerning about who you listen to. Whose books will you read for teaching and encouragement? Whose blogs and podcasts will you subscribe to? Whose Bible study material will you use in your small group? Whose preaching will you sit under?

Beloved, do not believe every spirit… for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

John’s first point is simple: don’t believe everything you hear. There are people in this world claiming to teach truth—to speak by the power of the Spirit of God—who are actually teaching lies. Actually, there are many. Believe it or not some of them are on online Christian forums,

 

[Truther]

Even that is not scriptural. Jesus gave the body of Christ pastors and teachers, so we need to glean truth from their teaching, if indeed they are truly gifted by God to teach. A true teacher will present not only his opinion, but will present other opinions as well, and then explain and show why the other positions are not Biblical. If a "teacher" is not willing to do that, then he's not really called by God to teach. He just wants to present his own opinion, as if that is the true gospel, without mentioning other opinions, much less showing how the other opinions are not scriptural.

Just yesterday, I heard Jack Hibbs say more than once that Ezekiel prophesies that the Jewish people would return to their land IN UNBELIEF. So he says that is what happened in 1948. But HE GAVE NO SPECIFIC VERSE TO PROVE HIS POINT. That's not a true teacher. He couldn't even back up what he said. He had two other men with him, and the three of them were denouncing anti-dispensationalists, i.e. amillennalists, saying they were heretics and blasphemers. Then later one of the men said that those who disagree with them are really nice people and good Christians.
So which is it? Are we nice people and good Christians or are we heretics and blasphemers? Another example of someone who should not be teaching at all.

What you see today in modern day Christendom is nothing like the first century teachings. We have all kinds of commentary and extra biblical literature presented at churches. Why do you think there are thousands of denominations that all say they’re the truth?

 

[Truther]

God uses men to teach His word all the time. Jesus set the example with his 12 apostles.

Little children…you have an anointing from the Holy One, and…the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you – 1 John 2:18-27
Spirit-filled teachers of god's word are necessary to keep people from falling into false doctrine.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus taught (Matthew 4:23; 9:35), and he called his apostles to teach (Matthew 28:19–20). The apostles taught (Acts 5:28; 28:31), and they equipped local pastors to teach (1 Timothy 3:2; 4:13). Now, pastors teach (2 Timothy 4:2), and they raise up faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2), as well as all the saints (Colossians 3:16), to continue the teaching task. Through teaching, God lights up the darkness and lifts up his Christ, he frees Satan’s captives and makes them his sons.

Today's modern teachers go to biblical colleges and seminaries and become Masters of Divinity. They hold the title of doctor.

These modern men today are not the apostles. Keep that in mind. They have split Christianity like a bomb hit it.

If the apostles were alive today and tried to intervene, they would run them out on a rail.

 

[Believe]

These modern men today are not the apostles. Keep that in mind. They have split Christianity like a bomb hit it.

If the apostles were alive today and tried to intervene, they would run them out on a rail.

God uses men to teach His word all the time. Jesus set the example with his 12 apostles.

When Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus and teaching them concerning the Church as the Body of Christ, he wrote of those who were gifts to the Church and said that the risen and exalted Christ had given “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” Eph 4:11

The word “apostle” is from two Greek words meaning “to send away from.” Interestingly, the word “disciple” refers to a learner and follower. Every apostle was a disciple.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

 

[Adherent]

Teachers of the Word feed the sheep.

There can be no true shepherding without the Word and someone qualified to teach it. Study the two words the Lord Jesus used in His charge to Peter concerning the sheep in John 21:15-17:

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’

He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ and he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep’” John 21:15-17

 

[Truther]

God uses men to teach His word all the time. Jesus set the example with his 12 apostles.

When Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus and teaching them concerning the Church as the Body of Christ, he wrote of those who were gifts to the Church and said that the risen and exalted Christ had given “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers” Eph 4:11

The word “apostle” is from two Greek words meaning “to send away from.” Interestingly, the word “disciple” refers to a learner and follower. Every apostle was a disciple.

In Matthew 16:24, Jesus told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

These modern ministers do not celebrate the apostles doctrine. They have their own doctrine. They even fly rainbow flags in June in front of their churches. You know that’s the truth. None of them resemble the church in the book of Acts.
Nearly all of them skip Acts 2:38 and disobey Peter at every turn.

 

[Believe]

@Truther
False statement. You have no way of knowing that much less proving it.

 

[Truther]

@Truther
False statement. You have no way of knowing that much less proving it.

I know it. I see it daily

 

[Believe]

So you're omnipresent and can see what flag the church is flying In the next days over? How could you possibly know that Nearly all of them skip Acts 2:38 and disobey Peter at every turn?

There are 2.18 billion Christian Churches in the whole world today and you know what they are all doing? And you're the only one doing it right?

 

[Truther]

So you're omnipresent and can see what flag the church is flying In the next days over? How could you possibly know that Nearly all of them skip Acts 2:38 and disobey Peter at every turn?

There are 2.18 billion Christian Churches in the whole world today and you know what they are all doing? And you're the only one doing it right?

This is super easy to answer. Just google their denominations or churches and hit the button that says what we believe.

Those that skip Acts 2:38 include the Catholics, the Mormons, the seventh day Adventist, the Jehovah witnesses, the Baptist, the Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, AG etc etc…. must I go on? Nearly all large denominations or non-denominational churches.

 

[Johann]

This is super easy to answer. Just google their denominations or churches and hit the button that says what we believe.

Those that skip Acts 2:38 include the Catholics, the Mormons, the seventh day Adventist, the Jehovah witnesses, the Baptist, the Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, AG etc etc…. must I go on? Nearly all large denominations or non-denominational churches.

1. Matthew 3:11
   • "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
2. Mark 1:8
   • "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
3. Luke 3:16
   • "John answered them all, saying, 'I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'"
4. John 1:33
   • "I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’"
5. Acts 1:5
   • "For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6. Acts 2:1-4
   • "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
7. Acts 2:38
   • "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
8. Acts 8:14-17
   • "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
9. Acts 10:44-48
   • "While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 'Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days."
10. Acts 11:15-16
    • "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’"
11. Acts 19:1-6
    • "And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' They said, 'Into John's baptism.' And Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."
12. 1 Corinthians 12:13
    • "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

These passages collectively describe the baptism of the Holy Spirit, indicating both the promise and the fulfillment of this baptism in the early church. They emphasize the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

I'm not going into a debate as to should a believer be baptized in water or not. I was water baptized.

 

[Believe]

This is super easy to answer. Just google their denominations or churches and hit the button that says what we believe.

Those that skip Acts 2:38 include the Catholics, the Mormons, the seventh day Adventist, the Jehovah witnesses, the Baptist, the Presbyterians, the Episcopalians, AG etc etc…. must I go on? Nearly all large denominations or non-denominational churches.

So you're going to do that 2.18 billion times? It has to be done with individual churches because denominations have different statements of faith depending on the particular church. So actually you don't know you're just assuming because it goes along with your opinion.

 

[Truther]

1. Matthew 3:11
   • "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
2. Mark 1:8
   • "I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
3. Luke 3:16
   • "John answered them all, saying, 'I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'"
4. John 1:33
   • "I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’"
5. Acts 1:5
   • "For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6. Acts 2:1-4
   • "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
7. Acts 2:38
   • "And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
8. Acts 8:14-17
   • "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."
9. Acts 10:44-48
   • "While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 'Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?' And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days."
10. Acts 11:15-16
    • "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’"
11. Acts 19:1-6
    • "And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said, 'No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' They said, 'Into John's baptism.' And Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.' On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."
12. 1 Corinthians 12:13
    • "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

These passages collectively describe the baptism of the Holy Spirit, indicating both the promise and the fulfillment of this baptism in the early church. They emphasize the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.

I'm not going into a debate as to should a believer be baptized in water or not. I was water baptized.

No, they speak of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. You can’t read into things and read out of things. Trying to have half the experience is not enough. I would call that not even lukewarm. You must obey Acts 2:38 in its entirety. Not partially.

 

[Truther]

So you're going to do that 2.18 billion times? It has to be done with individual churches because denominations have different statements of faith depending on the particular church. So actually you don't know you're just assuming because it goes along with your opinion.

Only a couple of people on this entire forum have obeyed Acts 2:38. That is just a microcosm of what it’s like in Christendom today. Maybe, 1 out of 100 of Christendom are obeying the apostles doctrine in Acts.
The rest are protest-ants of Peter.

 

[TomL]

Another thing, why do you need eight years of college to read or teach your Bible? It is a first century article written to first century believers. Nobody had a Bible school in the first century. I can teach you the entire Bible on picture charts in 10, one hour lessons. All they are doing is learning commentary and teaching people extra biblical literature along with their slanted view of scripture.

It's not quite so simple. You neither speak their language or experience their culture

 

[Truther]

It's not quite so simple. You neither speak their language or experience their culture

All I need to do is enjoy and learn the first century, churches’ doctrine, and experience from scripture . I don’t need to study their culture from carvings on a wall or broken pottery . Or statues in Rome. Or books written by Josephus, etc.
The only literature I even trust is the scripture. Even Josephus has some fake news. It was influenced by his Roman bosses.

 

[TomL]

All I need to do is enjoy and learn the first century, churches’ doctrine, and experience from scripture . I don’t need to study their culture from carvings on a wall or broken pottery . Or statues in Rome. Or books written by Josephus, etc.
The only literature I even trust is the scripture. Even Josephus has some fake news. It was influenced by his Roman bosses.

You cannot learn the greek language on your own.

Aside from which God gave the gift of teacher to the church

Ephesians 4:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

You need to be like the Bereans

Acts 17:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

 

[Truther]

You cannot learn the greek language on your own.

Aside from which God gave the gift of teacher to the church

Ephesians 4:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

You need to be like the Bereans

Acts 17:11 (KJV 1900) — 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

The singular reason that I would want to learn Greek language is so I could redefine scripture and twist it for myself. Maybe start my own translation. Something I could finally agree with. No thanks. My king James version of the Bible already translated it into my language for me.
I don’t need any more opinion based commentary at scripture.

 

[Aeliana]

Only a couple of people on this entire forum have obeyed Acts 2:38. That is just a microcosm of what it’s like in Christendom today. Maybe, 1 out of 100 of Christendom are obeying the apostles doctrine in Acts.
The rest are protest-ants of Peter.

I would imagine that most people on this forum have repented and been baptized. Repentance means that you turn away from your old life that was dominated by sins. You can only do that once you are saved. So repentance does not save you, neither does baptism.

The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8-9

So, any interpretation which comes to the conclusion that baptism, or any other act, is necessary for salvation, is a faulty interpretation.

 

[Truther]

I would imagine that most people on this forum have repented and been baptized. Repentance means that you turn away from your old life that was dominated by sins. You can only do that once you are saved. So repentance does not save you, neither does baptism.

The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8-9

So, any interpretation which comes to the conclusion that baptism, or any other act, is necessary for salvation, is a faulty interpretation.

Have you obeyed Acts 2:38?