Tag Archive: baptism

The Ephesian believers in Acts 19 and John’s baptism to repentance

When Paul spoke to some disciples of John the Baptist in Acts 19, he pointed out to them that John’s baptism was a baptism to repentance–a changed way of life–not as an end in itself, but leading to Jesus and a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.

“Repent and be Baptized,” in Acts 2:38

After Peter preached his first sermon, on the day of Pentecost, his hearers asked “what must we do to be saved?” His answer was “repent and be baptized.” Those who believed his message repented by giving up their claims of self-ownership and self-reliance and starting to live in community with each other, sharing freely as any had need.

Simon Magus told to Repent of His Attempt to Buy the Power of God: Acts 8:9-22

Simon Magus was told to repent of his attempt to buy the Holy Spirit. We should also repent of our modern forms of claiming we can possess God for our own use or profit.

What We Lose If Jesus is Not Human as shown by Jesus’ Preparation for his Ministry

If Jesus is not human, like us, we also lose the promise of the Holy Spirit, the invitation to live by the direction and power of the Spirit like Jesus did while he was here, and everything that flows from that. Fully discussing this topic will require several posts. While Jesus lived among us bodily, he did not rely on…
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