Philetus said:
One faith, one Lord, one baptism and ..... three gospels? I just can't go there.
Wouldn't it have been nice if "gospel" accompanied that list in Eph. 4 Philetus? BTW, which ONE baptism is Paul talking about? Water? I don't think so. I'm sure that was your first guess. Actually he's talking about Spirit baptism, as he knew water baptism had been done away and is now useless.
1 Cor. 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Take note Philetus, we (the body of Christ) were baptized BY the Holy Spirit. Sadly, the philetus and Godrulz interpretation of Pentecost doesn't fit once again. Who was the agent doing the baptizing on Pentecost? The Spirit right? Wrong. Jesus Christ was doing the baptizing and the Holy Spirit followed the baptism. Face the facts Philetus. All you did was get wet.
I was baptized because I needed a way to say to my new family in Christ and to the old family in the world that Jesus had saved me by grace through faith.
If you choose to do things man way, that's fine. God and the Bible never command baptism as an "outward showing of an inward work." I'll stick with God here. Most mid-actsers have never been baptized.
I never even thought of Baptism as anything other than a 'working out of my own salvation' with my mouth shut and holding my breath, (ie. fear and trembling.)
That's because you didn't know your Bible.
Baptism did not save me. Jesus did.
Hey! We agree on something. But if baptism didn't save you, why in the world did you get baptized? Was it because some pastor said you should proclaim your faith, or because God instructed you? If the latter, please reference chapter and verse. (I mean, who would want to misquote God?)
Godrulz, You don't have to be well versed in Mid-Acts .... you know the gospel.
The Bereans searched the scriptures daily (Acts 17) to make sure what they heard was true. Seems their way of doing it is not good enough for you. Peter tells us to always be ready to give a defense (1 Pet. 3) to everyone who asks of you a reason, yet you don't defend your position biblically. How are you going to grow? I would have never left my calvinistic covenental position had I not opened my heart and mind. And guess what? I seem to change my mind on something weekly. Being open-minded is a beautiful thing.
I have found a great deal of merit and help in your postings here. Wasn't it Paul who said if anyone comes preaching "another Gospel" ...? I know nothing of the Mid-Acts postion but I can already guess what their answer is: yea, Peter was preaching a different Gospel at pentecost. Please.
Paul wasn't speaking of pentecost, he wasn't even saved at the time. Historically, he was speaking to the Galatians, and told them that if anyone preached a different gospel which was not another of the same rank or order, that they should be accursed. He was right. The galatians were under the dispensation of grace, and their gospel was Paul's gospel, recieved from the ascended Christ.
Yes, by grace through faith, and baptism is an expression to the world of our surrender to that grace and our God given measure of faith to respond.
Not in the Bible...
There are not three Gospels, there are at least four, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Gospel means "good news" Philetus. Only ONE "good news" in the Bible? Bummer...
and doesn't Paul state in Romans ... "so my Gospel declares"?
Yes indeed, Paul calls the gospel MY gospel many times. Why is he so possessive Philetus? If the gospel has been around since Gen. 3, why does Paul call it MY gospel?
Are they not the ONE, same gospel espressed through individuals as inspired by Holy Spirit. I'm resolved to believe so.
You seem to be resolved because the majority of man believes it, not God. This is frightening, and why I believe so many Christians are so confused about the truth.