Again, the word "believed" is translated from the Greek "pistis" which means "faith". Abraham had faith in God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. This passage is quoted twice by NT authors. Once in Rom 4, and the other in James 2:23. James, sheds some new light on the quote however. James says that Abraham's actions completed his faith, and through his actions he was accounted as righteous.
Very good. If you do not take action on your belief then you don't really believe. That is the gist of what Scripture teaches. If you do not do what Jesus says, then He is not your Lord no matter how much you profess otherwise (Luke 6:46).
How many times do I have to go through this? The thief on the cross was promised paradise BEFORE Jesus died. Jesus had the power and authority to forgive sins while He was alive on Earth (Luke 5:24). So He was well within His rights and power to forgive the thief and promise him paradise. But after He died, His will (last will and testament) is locked and the path to salvation is also. Salvation only comes through doing what He said leads to salvation.
There is only one baptism of consequence in the NT (Eph 4:5-6). That baptism is something that man does (Matt 28:19), and it leads to salvation (Mark 16:16), and it requires water (1 Pet 3:21). Thus, the baptism in which we are saved (have our sins cut from us, and are united with Jesus' death and resurrection) is the baptism that is in water.
The baptism of the Spirit is not something man can accomplish, so it is not the baptism that Jesus commanded as leading to salvation (Matt 28:19, Mark 16:16). The baptism of the Holy Spirit has only occurred twice in all of history, and it was a sign to the people that God would accept them into the Church. It did not save them.
You left out believes
Seems all who believe receive salvation
John 20:31 (ESV) — 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
and it that baptism of the spirit which places one in the body
1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) — 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.
water cannot do that
sorry no
all receive it
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.
No, Cornelius received the miraculous works of the Spirit, but he did not receive the indwelling of the Spirit which is what is promised to those who are in Christ. He receive the indwelling and forgiveness of sin when he was baptized in water by Peter in Acts 10:47.
You have no proof for that assertion
it was the baptism en the spirit which convinced the jews the gentiles had been given life
Acts 11:15–18 (ESV) — 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “
Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
Life is of course produced by regeneration
and had their hearts cleansed
Acts 15:8–9 (ESV) — 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
You will note they were given the holy Spirit on that occasion previous to water baptism
Upon belief their sins were forgiven, they were regenerated and made alive
Sorry Tom, but that is not correct. As pointed out above, the Holy Spirit takes action during baptism in water. Look at Col 2:11-14:
"and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."
Er the gentiles were made alive and the spirit took action before they were water baptised
and it is still the baptism en the holy ghost that places men in christ (his body)
1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) — 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.
The circumcision performed without hands is the Holy Spirit removing the body of the flesh from us. And this occurs when we are "buried with Him in Baptism", because it is in baptism that we are raised with Him through faith.... The baptism here is the baptism in water that the teacher does to the disciple (Matt 28:19).
Yes it is water has no such property
At best you can hope that water baptism might be the occassion of receiving the spirit but certainly not the means by which one is purified and made alive.
As noted all those things happened to the gentiles previous to water baptism
Peters argument shows water baptism is a symbol of what happens when one receives the spirit
Acts 10:44–47 (ESV) — 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 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. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people,
who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
BTW how could you imagine baptism with water is of more consequence than the baptism of the holy Spirit
John baptised with water Jesus however
Matthew 3:11 (ESV) — 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.
It is a far greater baptism by the greater one with the greater medium
