English translations of the Bible are not infallible, so yes, it’s important to look at the original languages of Scripture. The quote that I posted didn’t merely allege that Acts 2:38 involves an “extremely complex Greek construction,” but backed up that statement by explaining the particulars. Here’s more about the unusual construction of the verse:
Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, ‘You (in the Greek, ‘you’ is plural) turn to God, for the forgiveness of your (in the Greek, ‘your’ is plural) sins; and you (in the Greek, ‘you’ is plural) shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (and let every one of you [in the Greek, this switches to the singular] be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ).’”
A correct understanding of the meaning of the Greek:
“Repent (change your mind, turn to God) and each of you will receive the Holy Spirit. Then be baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit on the account of the forgiveness of your sins.”
You wrote: “Can you be saved without repenting?”
To repent is the Greek word metanoeo which means to change
your mind, to turn. Repentance is a change of mind, which involves changing from unbelief to belief in Christ as one’s Savior. The issue is believing in Christ as one’s Savior.
You wrote: “What about being saved but not actually believing?”
Faith in Christ as Savior is the way of salvation taught by Scripture. I previously posted just a few of the many verses that teach this wonderful truth:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3068921/posts?page=8#8
However, if one dies before reaching the point of accountability - for example, a young child who dies before reaching accountability, or a person who never reaches accountability due to mental deficiency - then that individually is saved automatically.
But for those of us who do reach accountability, Scripture is clear that the issue is believing in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Our sins were poured out on Him and judged by God the Father. God offers the free gift of eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior.
You wrote: “Those who would preach salvation is acheived by praying ‘The Believers Prayer’, or teach baptism is not essential unto salvation teach a false doctrine.”
The first part of your statement is correct. Nowhere does Scripture say that one must say a prayer in order to be saved.
The rest of your statement is a misunderstanding. The ritual of water baptism is not necessary for salvation. However, the baptism by means of God the Holy Spirit is something that God does for every Church Age believer.
In order to interpret correctly the book of Acts, we need to realize that it’s a transitional book, describing what took place during that unique phase of the Church Age prior to the completion and circulation of the canon of Scripture. There are things in the book of Acts, pertaining for example to the baptism by means of the Holy Spirit, that are sometimes misconstrued as establishing a precedence for what should be normative now.
Here’s an excellent verse-by-verse series on the book of Acts:
http://deanbible.org/andromeda.php?q=f&f=/Audio%20Files/2010%20-%20Acts
This is an ongoing series that can be downloaded or live-streamed, free of charge. Live-stream link here: http://deanbible.org
In my post above re Acts 2:38, sorry, I wrote “baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit” when I meant to say “baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
By the way, if you don’t mind my asking, what does “Responsibility2nd” mean? Thanks.
And all along I've been against abortion!
In reality, those 'doctors' are sending souls to Heaven!!!