Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Rebuke to the NKJV and baptismal regeneration.

Rebuke to the NKJV and baptismal regeneration.
 
(In response to Mr. Finnell's comment on my last post)

Mr. Finnell, thank you for the comment.

I am sorry to hear that you believe that water baptism is needed for salvation. I will help you.
First of all, you should be using the King James Bible, not the New "King James" Version. The 
The New King James Version OMITS.....  
"Lord" 66 times  
"Jehovah" entirely  
"blood" 23 times

"damnation" entirely

"fornication" 23 times

"heaven" 50 times

"God" 51 times

"repent" 44 times

"hell" 22 times

"soul" 137 times

"devil" 26 times

"new testament" entirely

"sodomite" entirely

"devils" entirely 

The NKJV omits the dispensation of grace doctrine of justification by Christ's faith in Romans 3:22, Galatians 2:16-20, Philippians 3:9, and every other place that doctrine is found. This obviously results in justification completely by OUR OWN faith which requires works (James 2:17-26, Hebrews 10:22-39).

The NKJV inserts at least 100 archaic and hard to under stand words into its text that were not in the King James Bible.

The NKJV omits almost 50 references to gender in just 1 Corinthians alone. (there are hundreds more)


The NKJV places quote marks in the text of Acts 19 and those quote marks are placed it makes Paul RE-BAPTIZE some disciples of John that had already been baptized. The NKJV teaches MULTIPLE WATER BAPTISMS for the believer.

The NKJV claims to capitalize words referring to deity. However, in Matthew 16:18 when Jesus said "upon this rock I will build my church", the word "rock" is not capitalized. The NKJV is teaching that PETER WAS THE ROCK....that is Roman Catholic heresy! The NKJV is inconsistent in it's claim that it capitalizes words referring to deity (see Deuteronomy 32:15, 18, 30, 31, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:2, 47, Mark 7:11, 1 Cor. 10:4). It also capitalized the "he" in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 to mean that the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way and NOT PRESENT ON EARTH during the tribulation period. The "he" is either the church or the anti-Christ, but it CANNOT be the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit will indwell the tribulation saints (John 3, 1 John).


Also, the NKJV messes up a prophetic reference to the crucifixion in Zechariah 13:6 by changing "what are these wounds in thine hands?" (KJB) to "what are these wounds between your arms?" (NKJV). Some editions of the NKJV make that change, others don't.

The NKJV says that Israel was "baptized INTO Moses" (1 Cor. 10:2) confusing the passage greatly. Israel was "baptized UNTO Moses" i.e. identified with him and the Lord. The only person that one can be baptized into is Christ, and that is by baptism "BY THE SPIRIT" and "THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD" (1 Cor. 12:13, Col. 2:12).
 
The NKJV also attacks the deity of Christ by replacing "holy child" with "holy servant" in Acts 4:27.

The NKJV omits the prophetic reference to the sacrificial death of Christ in Genesis 22:8 by changing "God will provide HIMSELF a lamb" to "God will provide FOR HIMSELF a lamb".

The NKJV mistranslated pascha (Πάσχα) as "passover" instead of "Easter" in Acts 12:4. In the context the passover is already over (Abib 14) because the days of unleavened bread were already over (Abib 15-21) making Easter the only option left for Peter's execution. 

The NKJV replaced the Hebrew text behind the KJB with the corrupt Stuttgart Old Testament. The NKJV also ignored the Textus Receptus 1,200 TIMES. 

It also omits "God" from 1 John 3:16 (Deity of Christ) and from 1 Corinthians 16:2 (how someone is prospered).
 
The New King James Version is NOT an edition of the King James Bible--they are associated in NO WAY. The New King James Version is NOT just an "update" of the King James Bible--it is a PERVERSION. 
Now I will look at your works salvation message.  (red font)

WITHOUT WATER BAPTISM? BY STEVE FINNELL

If there were no water baptism, then what?

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."......(NKJV)

1. Jesus was not guilty of sin.
2. Had Jesus refused to be baptized in water He would have been guilty of sin; because He would not have done what God required of Him.
3. Jesus was baptized as an act of obedience to the Father. Had Jesus not been baptized in water He would have disqualified Himself to be the Savior of all men.

If there were no water baptism, then what?

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husband, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)

1. Without water baptism the church could not be sanctified and cleansed.
2. Without water baptism the church could not be without spots or wrinkles.
3. Without water baptism the church would not be holy and without blemish.

If there were no water baptism, then what?

Is water baptism an act of obedience? Yes.

1. Without being obedient in water baptism men cannot be saved. (Mark 16:16)
2. Without being obedient in water baptism Saul would not have had his sins washed away. (Acts 22:16
3. Without being obedient in water baptism the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost would not have had their sins forgiven. (Acts 2:38)
4. Without being obedient in water baptism men cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
5. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be forgiven your trespasses. (Colossians 2:12-13)
6. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot walk in newness of life, you cannot be freed from sin, you cannot be alive to God in Christ. (Romans 6:4-11)
7. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be saved. (1 Peter 3:21)
8. Without being obedient in water baptism you have not been baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
9. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be saved and added to the Lord's church. (Acts 2:40, 41,47)

Now let me critique it using scripture alone--not "interpretations" or "opinions" of my own. I will put my critique aside your article.

WITHOUT WATER BAPTISM? BY STEVE FINNELL

If there were no water baptism, then what?

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."......(NKJV)
(From the REAL Bible, the KJB:
Matthew 3:
[13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
[14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
[15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
[16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
[17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased
.)


1. Jesus was not guilty of sin.
2. Had Jesus refused to be baptized in water He would have been guilty of sin; because He would not have done what God required of Him.
3. Jesus was baptized as an act of obedience to the Father. Had Jesus not been baptized in water He would have disqualified Himself to be the Savior of all men.
(Here is why Christ was water baptized:
"The water baptism of Jesus and that of sinners are the same only in that they are both water baptisms. It is good to point out the distinction because it refutes the false doctrine that we must "follow Jesus in the waters of baptism". His water baptism was unique and therefore nobody can follow it. Jesus was not baptized with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins and He certainly had no sins to confess before being baptized. That's why John did not want to baptize Jesus. But Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matt. 5:17) and He said that He had to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). This proves the connection of water baptism with the law. The fact the transliterated Greek word baptism is not found in the OT does not mean that baptism was not rooted in the law (though revealed to John, it was not entirely a new thing). The ministries of John and Jesus were both conducted under the law! It was still the OT in Matthew 3. The law required priests to be ceremonially washed before entering their priestly office (Ex. 29:1-4). Notice that Aaron was washed also, and he was the high priest. Jesus is the great high priest (Heb. 4:14). Another reason for His baptism was to identify Himself with the sinners He came to save. Again, that makes His baptism unique because He is the only Saviour. " --Pastor David O'Steen of Landmark Baptist Church
That is the only scriptural reason on why Christ would get water baptized. )

If there were no water baptism, then what?

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husband, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. (NKJV)

1. Without water baptism the church could not be sanctified and cleansed.
2. Without water baptism the church could not be without spots or wrinkles.
3. Without water baptism the church would not be holy and without blemish.
(Did I miss something??? I did not see the word "baptism" in Ephesians 5.
Ephesians 5:
[22] Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
[24] Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
[25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
[28] So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
[29] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
[30] For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
[31] For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
[32] This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church
.
Mr. Finnel, the "washing of water" is figurative langauge--the washing is DESCRIBED with the qualities of the "washing of water" but the actual washing is said to be "BY THE WORD".
Questions: When did water baptism sanctify, cleanse, make one holy, and get rid of spots and blemishes???? It does NOT. Peter said in 1 Peter 3:21 that water baptism was a "life figure" but that it did NOT put away the filth of the flesh.
The blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit is what cleanses us, not our works.
1 Corinthians 6:
[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
[10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
[11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God
.
Titus 3:
[4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
[5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
[6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
[7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life
.
1 Corinthians 12:
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit
.
Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh

Ephesians 1:
[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise
,
Ephesians 2:
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast
.

Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Acts 16:
[30] And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
[31] And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house
.

1 Corinthians 15:
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
:
Acts 13:
[38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
[39] And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses
.

2 Timothy 1:
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
:
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
1 Corinthians 1:
[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
[16] And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God
.
1 Corinthians 2:
[1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
[2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified
.

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace

No works that we do can save us: not water baptism, not confession, not church attendance nor anything else. We cannot please God while we are in the flesh because all our righteousness is as filthy rags to Him. We have to receive HIM and HIS imputed RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 3:
[10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
[11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
[12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
[13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
[14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
[15] Their feet are swift to shed blood:
[16] Destruction and misery are in their ways:
[17] And the way of peace have they not known:
[18] There is no fear of God before their eyes
.
Romans 8:
[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
[8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his
.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh

Ephesians 2:
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast
.
2 Timothy 1:
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
[10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
:
We have no good works to offer God, while we are in the flesh we cannot please God. We must receive Christ and His righteousness which we get by faith in Him.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 4:
[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
[6] Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
[7] Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
[8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
[9] Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
[10] How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
[11] And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
[12] And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
[13] For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[14] For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
[15] Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
[16] Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
[17] (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
[18] Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
[19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
[20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
[21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
[22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
[23] Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
[24] But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
[25] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification
.

Romans 5:
[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him
.
Galatians 2:
[16] Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[17] But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
[18] For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
[19] For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
[20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
[21] I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain
.

Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh
?
Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 1)  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and.html

Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 2)
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and_11.html


Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 3)
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and_15.html 

In the present dispensation, which began with Paul (Eph. 3:1-9, 1 Tim. 1:11-16, Col. 1:24-27), we are baptized BY the Spirit through the faith of the OPERATION of God INTO Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13, Col. 2:10-14, Gal. 3:26-28, Rom. 6:3-4). This happens when we trust Christ and believe the gospel (Eph. 1:13, Gal. 3:1-3). )

If there were no water baptism, then what?
(Nothing. We are not commanded to water baptize in this dispensation. We have only "one baptism" which is "not according to our works" and it is "by one Spirit" "through the faith of the operation of God" which is part of our spiritual "unity" and "calling" (Eph. 4:1-6, 1 Cor. 12:12-13, 2 Tim. 1:9-11). We are sent "not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Cor. 1:17) and we are not subject to water baptism (Eph. 2:13-16, Col. 2:10-14).

Is water baptism an act of obedience? Yes.
(Not in this dispensation.)

1. Without being obedient in water baptism men cannot be saved. (Mark 16:16)
(No no no, WITHOUT BELIEVING men cannot be saved (Heb. 11:6, John 3:36, 2 Thes. 2:12). Your proof text says that "he that believeth not shall be damned", not "he that is baptized not shall be damned". )
 
2. Without being obedient in water baptism Saul would not have had his sins washed away. (Acts 22:16)
(Not so fast, water baptism is a "figure" NOT real salvation because it does NOT put away the filth of the flesh (1 Pet. 3:21). Water baptism FIGURATIVELY saved (1 Pet. 3:21), but that it is not real salvation. Saul was "washed" by the Spirit of God when He believed the gospel that Christ gave Him (1 Cor. 15:1-4, 1 Cor. 6:11, Gal. 1:11-12, Gal. 2:7-8, Eph. 1:13).
 
3. Without being obedient in water baptism the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost would not have had their sins forgiven. (Acts 2:38)
(The COC position, baptismal regeneration, is  largely based on a misinterpretation of Acts 2:38. They believe that the phrase "for the remission of sins" means "in order to get the remission of sins". However, that is AGAINST the context. When did Christ ever say that water gave people the remission of sins? Would that not make the preacher (that is baptizing us) some sort of priest that has to do something for us so that we may get to heaven? Would that not make salvation between a sinner, a preacher, and Christ rather than just the sinner and Christ?

Here are some irrefutable facts about Acts 2:  Peter knew nothing about the dispensation of grace, The body of Christ, the pre-trib rapture of the body of Christ, complete salvation before the 2nd coming (he thought it came at the 2nd coming), Peter would not preach to Gentiles without Jews present until Israel repented (Luke 24:47), Peter did not preach that Christ died for sins in Acts 2 (he only preached a murder charge against the Jews), Peter and the apostles were still keeping the law (Acts 2:46, Acts 10:1-14, Acts 15), those in Acts 2 were keeping Christ's commandment to sell all that they had (Matthew 19:16-23, Matthew 10:9-10, Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:34-37, 5:1-11).

Those are irrefutable facts about Acts 2.
 
Also, the plan of salvation was already given before verse 38....

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Then Peter proves that Christ rose from the dead and is God and King over Israel (v. 22-36). So before we even get to verse 38 the plan of salvation has been given. Now look at verses 37-38.

"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Clearly these Jews had already called on the name of the Lord and believed that Christ was God and King over Israel, or else they would not have felt "pricked in their heart". These Jews did not ask "what shall we do to be saved" because Peter already declared in verse 21 that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved". What these Jews ARE ASKING is what should they do now....since they crucified their Messiah, which was Peter's charge against them (Acts 2:22-36).

The answer to that was the following:
1.) Repent of it
2.) Get water baptized to answer God with a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21) which you cannot do if you are not already saved (Titus 1:15).

"FOR the remission of sins" does not mean "to obtain the remission of sins". It means 'BECAUSE OF' the remission of sins......look at the references yourself.

Bring forth therefore fruits meet FOR repentance . . . --Matt. 3:4
Offer the gift that Moses commanded, FOR a testimony unto them . . . -- Matt. 8:3, 4
They cried FOR fear . . . --Matt. 14:26
Offer FOR thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded . . . -- Mark 1:11
They could not come nigh unto him FOR the press . . . --Mark 2:4
He looked . . . being grieved FOR the hardness of their hearts . . . -- Mark 3:3
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you IN THE NAME of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins . . . --Acts 2:38

The word "for" means different things. It CAN mean "in order to obtain", but that is not what it means in Acts 2:38. As seen above, in the context of Acts 2:38 it means "because of". The Jews had already called upon God from their heart and were already saved.

Here is a perfect illustration of this.

Luke 5:12-14: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."

The man with leprosy represents a sinner. He then saw Jesus and called upon the name of the Lord, then Christ healed him. Then the man was to go and offer FOR his cleansing, that is BECAUSE OF.

What the COC's have done is they have built an entire system of theology based on a verse that they pulled out of context and didn't compare scripture with scripture on. )

4. Without being obedient in water baptism men cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

(John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Most COC's use "born of water" to mean water baptism. But that is obviously a private interpretation, just look at the context.

John 3:
[3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [Notice this is "born again", not "born again and again". This is ONE second birth.]
[4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [Nicodemus mistakes this for the first birth, the physical birth of a child out of the mother's womb.]
[5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [Based on the context, "born of water" is obviously referring to the FIRST birth.]
[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh [There it is again, the first birth.]; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [The second birth, "born again". If the COC's were correct, this would be a third birth.].
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
[8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit
.)

 
5. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be forgiven your trespasses. (Colossians 2:12-13)



(Mr. Finnell, that baptism is "through the faith of the operation of God", not water baptism done by a man.

Colossians 2:
[10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
[11] In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
[12] Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
[13] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
[14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross


Baptism INTO Christ is done by the Holy Ghost, not by water.

1 Corinthians 12:
[12] For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit
.

Galatians 3:1-3, 26-28 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?..... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life
.

Never in the Bible is water baptism said to be "into Christ", that is a baptism done by the Holy Spirit! The baptism by the Spirit takes place when we get saved making us "complete" in Christ, and we know that we are not made perfect by the flesh! So the baptism is not water baptism (a work) but rather "by one Spirit". )
 
6. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot walk in newness of life, you cannot be freed from sin, you cannot be alive to God in Christ. (Romans 6:4-11)


(I answered that on #5. The Holy Spirit is what takes care of those things, not WATER baptism (1 Cor. 6:11, 12:12-13, Eph. 1:13, Gal. 3:1-3, Rom. 8:1-16, etc.).

7. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be saved. (1 Peter 3:21)


Honestly I do not see how 1 Peter 3:21 helps the COC position. I think it CONDEMNS their position. 1 Peter 3:21 plainly states that water baptism only saves you in a "like figure", if it saves you in a life figure than that is not your REAL salvation, it is FIGURATIVE. Then it plainly states that it does not put away the filth of our flesh, our sins, but is the answer of a good conscience toward God. (which you cannot have if you are lost--Titus 1:15)

1 Peter 3:20-21 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

Here are the facts about 1 Peter 3:20-21.
A.) Noah was not saved by getting immersed in water. The water saved him by separating him from the world and God's judgment. Similar to water baptism, 
 
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.....And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." (Acts 2:38, 40) 
 
Noah did not get water baptized. Hebrews 11:7 says "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." and again 2 Peter 2:5 "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;". 

Noah got saved by the water because it separated him (floated the ark) from the ungodly and the condemnation of the ungodly. In the like figure, water baptism provides kingdom gospel saints with a separation from the ungodly that Christ will baptize with fire.

Luke 7:
[29] And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
[30] But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him
.

Acts 2:
[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
[39] For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[40] And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation

B.) The water baptism saved the kingdom gospel saints in a "like figure"...a 'like figure' is not an actual salvation of the soul

C.) The water baptism did not wash away sins, ("not the putting away of the filth of the flesh"). It was only a FIGURE of the blood of Christ (Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21). 

D.) Water baptism was "the answer of a good conscience toward God" and one could not have a good conscience toward God if he was not ALREADY saved (Titus 1:15)


8. Without being obedient in water baptism you have not been baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:27)

(See answers to #6 and #5.)
 


9. Without being obedient in water baptism you cannot be saved and added to the Lord's church. (Acts 2:40, 41,47)
(That is not what the Bible says--you said that. See my answer #3.

By the way, Acts 2 was not in the present dispensation. The Law was still in operation, the gospel of the grace of God had not been revealed yet, and it is not doctrine for the dispensation of grace. 

See all of these posts:

Dispensational differences Part 1  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-1.html

Dispensational differences Part 2 
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-2.html 

Dispensational Differences Part 3  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-3.html

Dispensational differences Part 4
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-4.html 

Dispensational differences Part 5  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-5.html

Dispensational differences Part 6
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-differences-part-6.html

MAD, "in Christ", and a smart aleck video
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/mad-in-christ-and-smart-aleck-video.html 

Dispensational facts.  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/dispensational-facts.html 


HOSS VS A WATER DOG. Do you have to be water baptized to be saved? Ultimate refute to "Church of Christ" teaching!  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/hoss-vs-water-dog-do-you-have-to-be.html




The "washing of regeneration". Refuting Cambellite teaching with right division.  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-washing-of-regeneration-refuting.html
 

Questions for Cambellites (Church of Christ)  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/questions-for-cambellites-church-of.html


Baptism (sent or sent not?)
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/08/baptism-sent-or-sent-not.html 


Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 1)  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and.html

Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 2)
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and_11.html


Baptismal regeneration heresy and the failures of the COC. (Part 3)
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/baptismal-regeneration-heresy-and_15.html 

Ephesians 3:6 
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/ephesians-36.html 

"Church of Christ" vs Mid-Acts dispensationalism 
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/church-of-christ-vs-mid-acts.html 

Stephen vs Paul
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/stephen-vs-paul.html


Church of Christ proof texts debunked....Baptist style.  
http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/church-of-christ-proof-texts.html
 

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