Megan Kelly says it best. She's spot on from 1:55-4:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCSIGNEAWd0
In Acts 9:17, we have the story of Paul’s interaction with Ananias. That account agrees with 22:13. In both, Ananias comes in and says, “Saul, brother….” Baptism comes later. The only way Saul could be his brother is if he had already been regenerated. And he doesn’t say, “be baptized and wash away your sins,“ he says, “wash away your sins calling on His name.” This agrees with Peter, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).” He saves us through the washing of REGENERATION and the renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). What shall I give unto the Lord for all His benefits for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord (Ps. 116:12-13).
I don’t dispute baptism is necessary. However, baptism in water without baptism into the Holy Spirit is an empty ritual. The Spirit of the glorified Jesus is the reality of the water according to Jn. 7:37-39. The reality of baptism, is first into the name, or person, of the Triune God. The Father is in the Son, the Son became a life-giving Spirit, so whether you are baptized into the Name of the F, S, and S, or the name of Christ, or the Spirit, it is the same, because They are one. But that’s not all. No one baptizes himself: “In one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body…” Through baptism in the Spirit, we are placed into the Body of Christ. That’s why the accounts of those baptized were through a member of the Body. Baptism in water is a testimony to God, the angels, Satan, the demons, the world, our friends and family, and the members of the Body of Christ, that we have chosen by faith to be transferred out of Adam, who is under condemnation and the authority of Satan, and into Christ. We are transferred through faith, Baptism in water is a testimony of the reality that has taken place.
“Abraham covenant…specifically for the Jews.” No, there were no Jews at that time. Jews were from the tribe of Judah, who wasn’t born yet, and after the kingdom of Israel split from the kingdom of Judah after King Solomon. Gal. 3:6-7 says, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Know then that they who are of faith, these are sons of Abraham." The promises were spoken to Abraham and his Seed, Christ, and if we are in Christ, we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (vv. 16, 29).
Mk. 16:16. Among Protestants, they probably wouldn't be. Among Catholics millions are baptized as babies, but it doesn't negate the point that it is faith that saves you, not baptism.
Re Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, read v. 37.
1 Pet. 3:21 The reality of water is not water. It is the Spirit according to Jn. 7:37-39. Baptism as a symbol, a counterpart to our belief in all the accomplishments of Christ, testifies that all the problems we have before God and with God have been solved. Hence, it is also a testimony, witnessing that in our conscience there is no more accusation and that instead we are full of peace. We are saved from a guilty conscience. Without the Spirit of Christ as its reality, baptism by water immediately becomes an empty and dead ritual.
I don't believe I said anything about baptism. Correct, John's baptism was while Jesus lived. Agreed, we’re not talking about infant baptism. While Jesus was dying on the cross, He was initiating the New Covenant. If you look at the history of making covenants, it involved a sacrifice. He was that sacrifice.
Some believe, based on Mark 16:16, that we must be baptized to be saved. That is what the first part of the sentence says, however, the second part of the sentence says, "but he who does not believe shall be condemned." it does NOT say, he who is not baptized shall be condemned. It is because of unbelief that we are condemned, NOT because we are not baptized. There are many places that state that we receive eternal life through belief alone (see: Jn. 3:36; Gal. 3:6, 9, 11; Jn. 11:25-26). In Acts 2:21, we’re saved by calling on His name. So, what does baptism save us from if it is not condemnation? "Saved" implies more than just release from eternal perdition (see Acts 2:40ish).
In one Spirit, we are baptized INTO His name, which means INTO Christ Himself AND His Body (1 Cor. 12:13). Here, the Gr. Preposition “eis,” is used, which means “into”, or going from one place to another. Same Gr. word is used in Matt. 28:19.). So, it’s not just a contract, it is a union. In the Bible, baptism implies death and resurrection in union with Christ. Going into the water signifies being one with Christ in death and burial. Coming out of the water signifies coming out with Him in resurrection (Rom. 6:3, 4; Col. 2:12) to live in newness of life. I know there are other verses, but we can’t cover them all here.
"only knowledge (gnosis)/acknowledgment was required for salvation (“faith alone”)." Knowledge is not faith. You can "know" and still reject. Faith is necessary to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:14). Was anything else required of the thief on the cross?
What is His flesh? In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God (Jn. 1:1) and the Word became flesh (v. 14). My words are Spirit and life, Man shall live not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out from the mouth of God. Christ is the word, even the bread, that came out from God. The reality of the flesh of Christ is the Word. He came that we might have life. His words convey His life. His flesh does not exist in the physical world anymore. The doctrine of transubstantiation was just an attempt to understand how it would be possible to eat His flesh. Had His disciples thought that He meant for them to consume His body in order to have life, Joseph of Arimethea and whoever was with him in collecting Jesus' body would have cannibalized it. That would surely be of more value than a transubstantiated flesh. And the "flesh profits nothing" because whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach goes out in the drain (Matt. 15:17).
And what is it "to eat?' It is a word that contains the thought of taking something that is outside of you into you and it becomes part of you, your constitution. Peter, in Acts 10, was shown that "eating unclean meat," was not a matter of what you put in your mouth, it was a metaphor for persons (meat) you associate with (eat). The history of the Jews was that they associated with (ate) idolaters (meat) and became idolaters. That understanding became his testimony in the house of Cornelius. And the uncleanness has to do with what is in their hearts (Acts. 15:9), as Jesus also said in Matt. 15:18-19. The "heart," of course, not being the physical pump, but the inward parts, our thoughts, feelings, will, and conscience. The physical flesh of Jesus is not consumable, but His Spirit in resurrection is consumable through faith. The Spirit conveys God in Christ as heavenly food into us. When we "eat" His flesh (the Spirit/word) by having our mind renewed with the mind of Christ, we become the Body of Christ. Taste the milk of the word and see that the Lord is good (1 Pet. 2:2-3).
All Scripture is God breathed (2 Tim. 3:16). As Jesus said, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). Uzziah thought that God needed help to protect His testimony from falling. He was fried for his trouble (2 Sam. 6:6-7). God was able to protect His testimony in the house of enemy idols (1 Sam. 5). I'm sure He is still watching over His word. What should be in the Bible is there, and what should not be there, is not there.
I'm not a student of gnosticism, but I believe, perhaps wrongly, that they thought that Jesus Christ did not come in the flesh. That, of course, is incorrect according to the Scriptures. In His incarnation, He had both divinity and sinless humanity complete with blood.
In Matt. 26:28, Jesus says, "This is My blood of the [new] covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." This is a reference to the new covenant God said He would enact in Jeremiah 31:31-34. There, He said that in this new covenant, He would put His law in our inward parts and write it upon our hearts...for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. The blood of animals could not take away sin, but the blood shed on the cross could. The wine foreshadowed the blood that would be shed for the forgiveness of sin. The reality was the blood that was shed on the cross. But, according to Heb. 9:14, Christ offered Himself through the eternal Spirit. And according to 1 John 1:7 (above v. 17 is a typo), the blood is now in the Spirit. And in one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body, and are given to drink the one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). A sister verse to the Jeremiah reference in Ezekiel 36:27 says that God will put His Spirit in us.
As for eating His flesh, remember John said, "In the beginning was the Word (v.1)...and the Word became flesh (v. 14). Jesus said, I am the living bread (Jn. 6:51). "Eat My flesh...My words are spirit and life (v. 63). The flesh profits nothing. But it is the flesh that would profit if transubstantiation were real. Peter said, "You have the words of eternal life (v. 68). We eat His flesh and drink His blood whenever we turn our heart to the Lord in the word. Then the veil is taken away, and the Lord is the Spirit. Then we can behold Him and are transformed into His image from glory to glory by the Lord Spirit (2 Cor. 3:15-18).
I agree, they are 3 distinct hypostases (the Greek word) for the one God. But they are not separate. That would be tri-theism.
God, Himself, gives analogies for us to be able to understand the spiritual realities. The Bible is full of them. He is the fountain of living waters (Jer. 2:13). He is the Bread that came down out of heaven (Jn,. 6:51), He is the Lamb which takes away the sin of the world (Jn. 1:36) and the Lamb standing as having just been slain (Rev. 5:6). He's the ladder from Jacob's dream (Jn. 1:51). He is also the water of life (Jn. 7:38-39), light (1 Jn. 1:5), and on and on.
There are 2 parts of receiving the Holy Spirit. The first is seen on the day Jesus was resurrected and appeared to the disciples, in John 20:22. “He breathed into them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was the Spirit expected in John 4:14 and 7:39. This is the water that becomes a fountain IN us when we come to Him to drink [unrelated to baptism]. The second part was in Acts 2:1-4, which was the fulfillment of the Father’s promise in Luke 24:49. In Acts 2, the Spirit as a rushing, violent wind came as power UPON the disciples for their work [also unrelated to water baptism]. Remember, they had already received the Spirit inwardly on the day of resurrection. So, they were filled with the Spirit inwardly to be their life, and they were filled with the Spirit outwardly as their power to be Christ’s witnesses.
Ananias calling Paul brother: A brother is one who has the same father. When we are regenerated, the life of God (Gr. Zoe), the very eternal, uncreated life of God, comes into us. That IS eternal salvation. All those who have received this life from the Father are brothers. Jesus said, “go to My brothers and say to them, I go to My Father and to your Father (Jn. 20:17). Jesus did not use the term “brothers” until AFTER His resurrection.
What point are you trying to make with regard to Demas, Hymenaeus, and Philetus?
Re: washing away sin in baptism, I refer you back to the point I made previously. Btw, I cite the verses so you can look them up for yourself. The Bible is my authority. Anyway, to repeat, you are linking “be baptized” with “washing away your sins.” No so, “washing away your sins” is connected with “calling on the name of the Lord.” Ananias tells Paul, “Be baptized” AND “wash away your sins calling on His name (Acts 22:16).” (More fully discussed previously)