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**We shouldnâ€™t be interested in a manâ€™s opinion on this subject.**

A very good example of man’s opinion, is picking verses that either leave out ‘the rest of the story’, or taking the teaching out of context.

**Acts 16:30-31**

The rest of the story:

32. “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were IN his house”.

We can see that between vs 31 and 32, Paul, Silas, the keeper of the prison have left the prison and entered into the man’s house.

33. “And he TOOK them the same hour of the night, and washed there stripes; and was baptized, ha and all his straightway.”

He took them somewhere. Somewhere where there was plenty of water, for he washed their stripes, and was baptized along with his household.

34. “And when he had brought them INTO his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house”.

They came back from somewhere and went back into his house

**Ephesians 1:12-14**

The context is that Paul was writing to people that ALREADY had been born again.....

1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the SAINTS which are at Ephesus, and to the FAITHFUL in Christ Jesus.”

He wasn’t writing to people that hadn’t been preached to and converted yet.

**John 10:27-30**

Here is more of the Lord’s instruction:

John 7:38,39: “He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

**Romans 10:9-10**

Another epistle; this one sent to those in Rome, “beloved of God, called to be SAINTS” (Rms 1:7). They too, already knew the gospel, and the Lord’s instructions on rebirth. The first verse of chapter 10 also makes that clear:

“Brethern.....”

Their status as born again believers is made clear here as well:

Rms 6:2,3 “Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the death by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of like.”

**John 6:29**
**John 11:25**

Believing on Jesus Christ includes believing his commandments for conversion. Look at Luke 22:32, where Jesus tells Simon (Peter), “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and WHEN thou art CONVERTED, strengthen the brethren.”

Remember, that’s the same Peter that, if only for a moment, had enough faith to walk on water.

The Lord commanded them “.. that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his NAME among all nations BEGINNING at Jerusalem.” Lk 24:47

That was first initiated in Peter’s instruction to those that were told of the Lord’s sacrifice, and had asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:37,38