I understand the struggle. I don’t have all the answers. It’s like when I talk with my Buddhist friends about why so many Buddhists live more godly lives than many who claim to be Christians.

But no, I won’t claim that anyone’s faith is negated. God makes those decisions. I trust in God’s grace to cover my imperfections; dare I say that grace can’t cover the imperfections of others?

Like Jonah, my job is to preach what God has said, even if I know that he may very well choose to forgive and show mercy beyond what he has announced… that is his nature, you know. Were the Ninevites merely saved from physical destruction or did God grant them eternal life?

I can’t wait until Jesus returns to see what surprises God has in store for us.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

Yes I believe baptism is a part of saving faith. Does that limit God from saving anyone in any way that he chooses? Of course not.

My thoughts on the thief on the cross? The first would be that no one was baptized into Jesus’ death (Romans 6) before he actually died. There was no way that the thief could have been baptized in Christian baptism. But I also know that God can save in any way he chooses.

I look at Acts 16 for example. The Philippian jailer was told to believe. He rejoiced because he had believed in God… after he and his household were baptized. I believe that the response is part of faith, not separate from it. I’ll write some more about that in the next few days.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

I realize some prefer the other, Acts 2:38 and that’s fine.
You know how many times I read Acts 2:38 before I realized
it ALSO said: “and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”?

I think I was stunned when it first hit me.
Wonder why I was not taught the whole verse?
Wonder why I had to find it myself?

When we lean more on one portion of any text, than the other, we
do seriously err.

Would that we could “just” let the word be spoken without our added comments and slants and various takes on a scripture.

Who can teach better than the orginal teachings of God’s
Holy Spirit as revealed by God in His own word?

Would that we could just let the “word” speak and let each follower draw their own conclusions as when it was originally spoken or read.

That’s the one faliacy of “preachers” explaining the word instead of letting the word speak for its self.

Wonder how many denominations there would be if we did that?

But that would require we all “speak the same thing” wouldn’t it?

Wouldn’t that limit us to what’s written?

1 Corinthians 1:10
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all “speak the same thing,” and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 4:6
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us “not to go beyond what is written,” that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another

Care to explain your thoughts on the thief crucified next to Jesus?

Keep it up!

And I’d prolly tweak “adult” a little bit, and maybe say “into” rather than “for” forgiveness of sins.

But otherwise, yeah. Rock on!