You be the judge.
John 12:42-43 KJV
- Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
- For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
The record was clear, these rulers believed. But they refused to confess Christ. Were they saved? If not, why? Didn’t Jesus say in many places that they who “believe on him” shall have eternal life?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 KJV
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 KJV
The truth of the matter is that believing is not the only command by God.
Matthew 10:32-33 KJV
- Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
- But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10 KJV
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 KJV
Mark 16:15-16
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Consider Acts 2, Peter preached to an assembly of Jews who did not believe in Christ. Peter made the argument about the deity of Christ. Peter said that David foresaw that Jesus would take David’s throne when Christ was resurrected.
Acts 2:22-35 KJV
- Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
- Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
- Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
- For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
- Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
- Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
- Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
- Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
- Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
- He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
- This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
- Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
- For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
- Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Peter then summarized his sermon.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Acts 2:36 KJV
The audience’s reaction to Peter’s sermon was:
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:37 KJV
When the Jews were “pricked in their heart,” did they believe? If yes, were they saved when they were “cut to the heart?”
When the Jews asked “what shall we do,” did they believe? If yes, were they saved at the point of asking what to do?
Apparently, many in today’s denominations would teach that people are already saved at the point of belief.
Yet Peter beg to differ.
Acts 2:38-39 KJV
- 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.
- For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Peter did not say to the people “you believe” because their reaction and question (what shall we do) proved they already believe. Rather, Peter’s response was based on Jesus’ commands.
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 KJV
Luke 24:46-47 KJV
- And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
- And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Peter’s audience became “believer” when they were added to the church and thereby became numbered among the believers.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:41 KJV
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:47 KJV
It was the Lord Jesus Christ who did the adding of the believers.
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