Acts 16:30-32: "And (the prison guard) brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house."
In this verse, Paul was speaking about those who were living with the guard at his house only (v32). Yet, Paul qualifies that salvation can only come when the Gospel is firstly preached & there is a subsequent belief & acceptance of Christ as their (personal) Saviour. Some believe in "household salvation" whereby the saving of the head of the house, means the automatic salvation of his family as well. Verses cited to support this belief is: the above verse you gave, Acts 2:38, 39 & 1 Cor 7:14. Yet, salvation can only come after each person reaching the age of accountability before God, personally hears, believes & puts their faith in Christ for their salvation. Hence the work with children (e.g. Child Evangelism Fellowship & others) are so very important because even the little ones need to hear & receive Christ.
So, even if one's family no longer resided in the family home & are not included in the meaning of verse 31, they are still personally responsible to respond to the Gospel as the Spirit of God moves them in that direction. I therefore understand Paul's instruction to the guard to mean that "not only you but also your whole family living with you can be saved by believing in Jesus".
To Vince B on Acts 16: Be careful what you say Vince B. It appears you are "making up" scripture to fit your personal beliefs. Making it sound as though all will speak in tongues when baptized in the Holy Spirit. There are many Christians who stumble and fall, while some even leaving the faith, because people as yourself convinced them that they must speak n tongues as proof of being baptized in the Spirit. I have heard many "tongues" over the years, and have found it a very small number who have been given a "tongue" by the Holy Ghost. From all of what I have seen and heard, I have found that most "tongues" have been conjured up from one's own mind, while others have been given a "tongue" by another spirit not of God. Please be careful and guard your spiritual walk with God.
I find it interesting that in addition to the ten commandments listed in Exodus chapter 20, there are also ten commandments listed in Exodus 34:10 - 28. In addition, there are two great commandments from our Lord and Savior ( Matt. 22:37 - 40); for a total of 22 commandments. The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, and Jesus is the alpha and omega (heb.- aleph and tav) ( Rev. 1:8)
Sarah: Acts 19:13-20, is enough information to know if your objects, clothing, jewelry, "art" is an idol.
After I was saved, I had to go through my entire home with the Holy Spirit. If He cringes, it's gotta go. You can't sell it, you can't trash it, you can't give it away. Those kind of objects have to be rendered useless.
You just read it here in verse 31 and 32, it doesn't say anything about "trying to live right" or "going to church" or "being baptized." It says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved. If you're trusting in anything in addition to Jesus to be saved, then you're saying what Jesus did for you is not enough on its own to wash away your sins and save you. We are saved, as it says, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing more and nothing less.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
John 3:16, John 3:18, John 3:36, etc.
It's great to live right and God rewards His children abundantly, but Christ alone saves.
Galatians 5:4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
I got into astrology as a teen. It was fun to look up friends horoscopes. I learned to look there for information instead of the Holy Bible. It was much later when I believed I could change destiny's, my life began to spiral. Be careful what you look at. Many things are idols and have a demon stationed by it. Tell others in Bible school. Invite star nuts to meet at church.
I told a little of my testimony to let others know how very present the Holy Spirit is to us during crisis. Ask. He's there. Talk to him. Ask Him to teach you to pray; intercede like Jesus is doing now. A intercessor (I was taught) is one who asks to stand alongside someone, in their place, to fight against satan or to release a blessing into someone else's life. You must know who you are in Jesus Christ before you take on some hell to stand in for someone who may not know they're on satans radar. He steals, kills and destroys. JOHN 10:10
Pray for people who need it. People are hurting now and receptive to let someone pray for them. Answered prayers are your reward. :D
That wasn't really my experience, after salvation. The Holy Spirit was helping me survive coming out of the occult practice of astrology. I knew someone was telling me to destroy many things in my home; or burn them. Acts 19:19. I had to have a witness to that. I had to tell people who knew me that I had been saved. He was protecting me. I was delivered of drugs & alcohol first day. I destroyed that. It was moment to moment the first week. I went to a church and told them a brief testimony. Following week I was water baptized. Next Sunday The demons came back to torment me. The Holy Spirit was with me every moment until I could learn what was happening. I worship God with my life. He's real.
As you read & compare the gospel chapters: Jesus did everything openly. When He was charged with blasphemy by his own people, judged, prosecuted and ordered to be crucified, IT WAS VIEWED by everyone!
Ought we not be ashamed to have our momentous occasions witnessed by those that love us and our friends? Jesus is your friend too. Water baptism is to show your repentance. It's an act of obedience. Mark 1:4, 8. In John 1:32-34 John the Baptist, baptised Jesus in water. He saw the Holy Spirit as a dove abode upon Jesus. (Confirmation). John said, the same (Jesus) is he which baptizeth with the with the Holy Spirit. Write the day in your Bible :)
1 Corinthians 12:28 - And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (Tongues the last least gift.)
1 Corinthians 12:29 - Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1 Cor 12:30 - Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1 Cor 12:31 - But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for
greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.
1 Corinthians Chapter 14: 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.rn27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.rn28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.rn....But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church....rnnot one Pentecostal church I have ever been to have ever followed this in scripture.rntongues is the least important gift. no interpreter = keep silent.
Hello, I personally don't believe someone who baptizes needs to speak in tongues. Bible doesn't say John the Baptist spoke in tongues and he baptized Jesus. Where did you hear that and what scriptures do you feel supports that idea?
You don't have to be in a church at the time of baptism BUT the Holy Ghost will lead you to one. A church that speaks truth and only what's in the Bible. He gave us teachers, pastors and apostles to lead us. You gotta be open to hearing His voice because there are some that will mislead you.. false prophets..
I do believe in Jesus, so does just believing and trying to live right mean that I will go to heaven. Do I have to attend church and be baptized? If I have to be baptized, can a person who is also a believer baptize me or does it have to be a member of a church?
Matthew 16:16 where the girl was possessed with a spirit of divination. I have a neighbor who I believe is possessed. She follows me around everywhere I go when she sees me and just swears and curses and smoke cigarettes, knowing that this annoys me. The Lord lead me to this scripture concerning her. She have been doing this for many days.
Hello, this is a very predictable disagreement and will never change my mind, because the Bible doesn't change. The book of James is not just for Jews- it applies to everyone. Those who ignore God's word are subject to God's judgment. If someone wants an excuse to sin they do so at their own risk. Satan wants you to sin and God doesn't. If trying to do what's right didn't matter then Jesus wouldn't have said to be perfect or to do not conform to this world, etc. It's black and white in the Bible and that will never change.
The book of James is directed for Jews.How about 2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." And the incest case from 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 who is a obvious case of not walking in grace and still saved? All pauline epistles show only faith for salvation.
Themselves must believe I'm Christ themselves.
Acts 16:30-32: "And (the prison guard) brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house."
In this verse, Paul was speaking about those who were living with the guard at his house only (v32). Yet, Paul qualifies that salvation can only come when the Gospel is firstly preached & there is a subsequent belief & acceptance of Christ as their (personal) Saviour. Some believe in "household salvation" whereby the saving of the head of the house, means the automatic salvation of his family as well. Verses cited to support this belief is: the above verse you gave, Acts 2:38, 39 & 1 Cor 7:14. Yet, salvation can only come after each person reaching the age of accountability before God, personally hears, believes & puts their faith in Christ for their salvation. Hence the work with children (e.g. Child Evangelism Fellowship & others) are so very important because even the little ones need to hear & receive Christ.
So, even if one's family no longer resided in the family home & are not included in the meaning of verse 31, they are still personally responsible to respond to the Gospel as the Spirit of God moves them in that direction. I therefore understand Paul's instruction to the guard to mean that "not only you but also your whole family living with you can be saved by believing in Jesus".
Does "your household" include family that no longer reside in your physical home?
Thank you for clearing this up.
After I was saved, I had to go through my entire home with the Holy Spirit. If He cringes, it's gotta go. You can't sell it, you can't trash it, you can't give it away. Those kind of objects have to be rendered useless.
I burned mine in a thunderstorm with a friend.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
John 3:16, John 3:18, John 3:36, etc.
It's great to live right and God rewards His children abundantly, but Christ alone saves.
Galatians 5:4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Pray for people who need it. People are hurting now and receptive to let someone pray for them. Answered prayers are your reward. :D
Ought we not be ashamed to have our momentous occasions witnessed by those that love us and our friends? Jesus is your friend too. Water baptism is to show your repentance. It's an act of obedience. Mark 1:4, 8. In John 1:32-34 John the Baptist, baptised Jesus in water. He saw the Holy Spirit as a dove abode upon Jesus. (Confirmation). John said, the same (Jesus) is he which baptizeth with the with the Holy Spirit. Write the day in your Bible :)
1 Corinthians 12:29 - Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1 Cor 12:30 - Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1 Cor 12:31 - But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for
greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues.