**..BUT Abraham believed God..**
He sure did: “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country...........so Abram departed.
It was a long trip, probably over 600 miles, done the old fashioned way. He didn’t stop half way (repentance) and call it good. He obeyed the whole gospel, so to speak.
God wasn’t done seeing how strong Abraham’s faith was. After stopping him from slaying Isaac, the Lord said, “for now I know that thou fearest God......”. I’m sure that you agree, that in that context, ‘fearest’ is a form of faith.
The men lowered the man with the palsy through the roof “into the midst of Jesus. And when he SAW their faith, he said unto him, man, thy sins are forgiven thee”.
**Rahab acted upon her faith when she hid Joshua and the other spies in Jericho, but it was by her faith that she was declared righteous.**
Like so many others, Rahab had heard of the amazing stories of how God brought Israel out of Egypt, and how they were recently clobbering any and all opposition. Her faith was that she believed those stories, and acted upon it. When the spies showed up, she BELIEVED that she needed to hide them. AFTER hiding the spies, and HELPING them escape she believed their promise of protection, hanging the scarlet line out of her window.
**The ordinance of baptism is also an act of obedience but faith MUST precede it and it is faith that brings righteousness.**
I would suggest you re-word Mark 16:16 to suit you position: “He that believeth, is saved, and should be baptized....”
**”I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius” (I Cor. 1:14)**
“And I also baptized the household of Stephanus” (which doesn’t say how many ) “besides, I KNOW NOT whether I baptized any other”.
KNOW NOT?!? If he had only baptized a few in his missionary travels, he certainly would not have had any problem remembering who he baptized. I believe he probably baptized hundreds, if not thousands. He didn’t have to baptise very many in Corinth, for one of his first converts, Crispus, was the chief ruler of the synagogue. Paul no doubt ordained him, and Crispus was then performing baptisms, too.
The cases of baptism in Acts are hurried, and without delay, so urgent was the command:
Acts 2:41 About three thousand the first day. Peter and the rest of the apostles were surely left with wrinkled hands and feet after that.
Acts 8:12-17 Philip got right after the Samaritans, baptizing them sometime before Peter (the man with the ‘keys’) and John showed up.
Acts 8:36-39 Philip preached Jesus unto the eunuch, which must have included baptism; for he promptly requested it when coming by a ‘certain water’.
Acts 9:18 Paul believed and was baptized. In 22:16 Paul retells the event; how that Ananias said, “And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”. (It’s GOT to be in his NAME)
Acts 10:47,48 Upon witnessing the pouring out of God’s Spirit on Cornelius and his household, Peter “commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord”.
Acts 16:14,15 Paul and Silas baptise Lydia and her household.
Acts 16:30-34 Paul and Silas baptise the keeper of the prison and his household, AFTER speaking unto them ‘the word of the Lord’.
Acts 18 Paul in Corinth (already covered that)
Acts 19:1-7 Paul get’s right down to business RE-baptizing certain disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus.
**You can go on believing it was your water baptism that was the moment you were saved and your sins were remitted, that your faith alone is not sufficient to save you - regardless what Scripture says.**
Acts 2:38; is it from heaven or of men? If you believe it, you’ll obey it, as did those ‘called to be saints’ at Rome: “but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctine which was delivered you”. Paul had told them that they were justified by faith. Yep, they faithfully obeyed that form of doctrine. That’s how we have access into this grace. (remember, Paul had just a few verses earlier, in chp 6, reminded them of being ‘buried with him in baptism’. “Therefore we are buried with him BY baptism into death..”. That’s not talking about Holy Spirit baptism, for the Spirit is life.
**Is eternal life still a gift then if you have to earn it?**
Faith is active or it is non existant. “”..the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.’ Acts 5:32
Also: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Heb. 5:9
**Do you also believe that you can lose your salvation if you fail to keep all God’s commandments or if you do not confess all your sins before you die?**
The parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins show that some have the light, but do not keep their lamps aflame because of carelessness. The various conditions of the ‘seven churches’ show that devotion is expected, inspite of the different trials and temptations. All are told: “he that overcometh”.
“few there be that find it”.
It does not surprise me that this message is resisted by so many; for it causes separation, and for many the price is too high (family, friends, worldly lusts, ‘a comfort zone’).
I hope this makes my position clearer. Remember....”HE saw their faith..”.
Lord bless
So, your answer is, YES, anyone who is saved must obey the commandments of God, do all the works he asks of them, be baptized, go to church services (keep the Sabbath?), participate in the Lord's Supper, give their tithes, did I miss anything? So in other words, salvation is not by grace through faith in your belief system?
Regardless, I know I HAVE eternal life right this very moment, because I have received the gift of eternal life - my redemption - through Jesus Christ's blood and I have been born again into the family of God by faith.
I John 5:4,5
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.