“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22.16, ESV)¹

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¹This tell us when Saul, later Paul the apostle, was saved from his sins, added to the body of Christ, and became a Christian.

However, those who hold to a faith only doctrine try to refute God’s word by saying that Saul was saved on the road to Damascus when Jesus appeared to Him. If that's the case, why did Luke record that Saul was told to be baptized to wash away his sins? What sins did he have to "wash away" if he was already saved? In fact, if he was saved on the road then he was saved in his sins, not from his sins. Further, Jesus expressly said there was something for him to do when he arrived in Damascus. Interestingly, he was told to be baptized to wash away his sins.

Some argue that since Ananias called Saul "brother Saul" (Acts 22.13) that this indicated that he was already saved. The apostles often called sinners "brothers" or "brethren" not because they were brethren in a spiritual sense, but because they were brothers or kinsmen according to the flesh (See Acts 2.29 [Peter called them brothers before they were saved (2.38, 41)]; Rom. 9.3, etc.). Further, remember, Luke records that Saul was to be baptized to wash away his sins. If he was saved when Ananias called him brother Saul, what sins did he have to wash away?

These are not the only arguments that we could examine that are used against Acts 22.16, but, simply put, no amount of pervasive-type arguments change the truth of Acts 22.16. Either Saul was to be baptized to wash away his sins and call on the name of the Lord, or he was not. Which is it reader?

Have you been baptized to wash away your sins? (See also Acts 2.38) We'd love to study with you! E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

“And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5.14, ESV)¹

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¹What is meant by “added to the Lord” and how does one accomplish this? First, we should note that there are other verses where this language is used (cf. Acts 2.41, 47; 11.24) and second, whenever one is seeking to understand a passage it is not only wise to study all the passages together, but it is expected and commanded by God (Matt. 4.4; 2 Tim. 2.15; 2 Peter 1.19, etc.). In other words, one can easily come away from the verse above believing one thing when in fact not all the evidence has been presented.

Notice the following verses laid out in order:

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2.41, ESV)

• Notice that those who were baptized were those “who received his word” and “were added that day”.
• At least two questions arise: “What were they added to?” and “If they were not baptized, were they added?”
• The first question is answered in the same context in verse 47 below. The second question is “no”.

“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, NKJV)

• First, notice that the Lord does the adding; certainly, it is His right to do so.
• Second, our question above has been answered. They were added to the church by the Lord.
• Interestingly, we learn that those who are members of His church are also members of His body (Eph. 1.22-23, etc.). This means that those added by the Lord are added to His body; the same body He is the Savior of (Eph. 5.23).
• Also, note that the only ones that the Lord was adding were “those who were being saved”.
• Who was being saved? Per Acts 2.41 it was “those who received his word were baptized, and … were added that day”.
• Now we can better understand the next two verses.

“And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5.14, ESV) and “for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11.24, ESV)

• These two texts do not exclude Acts 2.41 and 47.
• Much of the religious world see believers who were added as those who have a mental faith in Jesus. On the other hand, the bible shows that believers who are added are those who have received the word of God and have been baptized; one cannot separate the two.
• Therefore, when Luke writes “believers were added…” he is not recording anything different than he previously recorded, nor he is not claiming that “belief only” adds one to the Lord; he is simply letting the reader know that these were men and women who not only received God’s word, but obeyed it.

When we harmonize each verse above, we understand that to be added to the Lord we must receive the word of God, believe it, and obey it. To obey the gospel is to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2.38). Only then can we be called believers who have been added to the Lord (Acts 2.41, 47).

Are you interested in learning more about being saved and added to the Lord? E-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6.44, ESV)¹

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¹Many appeal to John 6.44 as proof text that the only way to come to Jesus is for God the Father to draw them. In fact, one may hear exactly this language from preachers and teachers and rightfully so because the language is biblical. The problem is in the way they interpret this passage. Many believe Jesus is saying that there is an irresistible "drawing power" that is applied by the direct operation of the "Holy Spirit." However, there are two problems with this interpretation. First, the Holy Spirit is not even mentioned in the passage. Second, it assumes that the Holy Spirit draws someone separate and apart from God's word; that is, through feelings or "personal experiences" where the Holy Spirit irresistibly "drew them to God." One could possibly concede that this is true if it did not contradict other passages within Scripture and if the Lord Himself did not explain what He meant. After Jesus told them that they could not come to Him unless the Father draws them, He taught, "It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me" (John 6.45, ESV). Therefore, Jesus tells us exactly what He meant by being drawn to Him by the Father - those who have heard and learned (and that through His revelation of Jesus, the Bible) from the Father. Since faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10.17), I cannot have faith or be drawn to the Son of God without first hearing it and learning of it from God's revealed word.

The gospel is calling us to obey Jesus today (2 Thess. 2.14; 1.8). If you're interested in learning more e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.