http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/04/biblical-salvation-steve-finnell-if-you.html
BIBLICAL SALVATION? BY STEVE FINNELL
If you were to look at the Biblical
accounts and teaching about salvation what would be your conclusion? If
you were to look at teaching about salvation, of the hundreds, of
denominations would it be different from the Scriptures?
After Jesus was resurrected from the dead He said this. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
What does that mean to you? I am not asking what you have been taught to believe.
The church of Christ began on the Day of Pentecost and was recorded in the book of Acts along with the conversions of the early church.
The firsts conversions.
Acts 2:37-41 Now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit......41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
How would you interpret these Scriptures? I am not asking how Bible commentators have explained these Scriptures.
Acts 8:5-12.....12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
What do you believe this means? I am not asking what your church catechism teaches.
Acts 8: 26-40 .....35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?" 37[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said , "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.......
What do you think just happened with Philip and the eunuch? I am not asking you what your church leaders have taught you.
Acts 10:34-47.....43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness from sins.".........48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ......
What is your understanding of theses verses of Scripture? I am not asking you how your church creed book explains them.
Acts 16:14-15 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized......
What do you believed happened? I am not asking you what your church statement of faith said just occurred.
Acts 16:22-33.....29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.
What is your view of what happened here? I am not asking about views that are found in books written about the Bible.
Acts 8:8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.
What is your understanding of theses events. I am not asking how these events are explained in extra-Biblical writings.
Acts 19:3-5 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
What do you believed happened here? I am not asking what your Bible study group decided occurred.
Acts 22:12-16.....16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name!
What do you think took place with Saul? I am not asking what T.V. preachers think.
Can you see any correlation between what Jesus said in Matthew 28:29, Mark 16:15,16 and the Christian conversions in the book of Acts?
Are the conversions in the book of Acts a true representation of what is found in church catechisms, books about the Bible, church statements of faith, T.V. preacher's sermons, church creed books, what your church leaders teach, what you always thought to be true, or what the early church fathers believed.
What do you think the book of Acts teaches about Biblical salvation? No man can be saved by what others believe.
Be honest with yourself. Is what you believe about salvation, Biblical or extra-Biblical?