[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Gentiles are candidates for salvation on the same basis as Jews.***

No, you got it backwards. Cornelius was saved when the Holy Spirit fell on him. Baptism came later.

To the Jew, believe, baptized, filled with Holy Spirit.

Samaritan, Believe baptized, Holy Spirit when later apostles laid hands on them.

Gentile, Believe, Holy Spirit fell on them BEFORE baptism.

So the Gentiles were saved BEFORE they were baptized, which most Evangelical churches teach today.

[LearsFool]

Cornelius was saved when the Holy Spirit fell on him.

That's not in the Bible. Once again, that's merely your version.

So the Gentiles were saved BEFORE they were baptized, which most Evangelical churches teach today.

Okay, maybe it's not merely your version. Maybe it's what you've been taught and can't turn loose of.

Few people are able to abandon all and cling only to the Lord. They have family and friends and upbringing and other pressures holding them back. They're not worthy to be Christ's disciples (Mt. 10:34-38, Lk. 14:26-33, etc.). They're in His second group.