A Bible Study
For You To Read.
Who can Hear the Gospel?
Who Obeys?
“But to all who believed and accepted Him, He gave (those who believed and accepted Him) the right to become children of God. These individuals are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a spiritual birth from God." John 1:12-13 Believing is a mental activity while accepting Jesus is an act of faith shown by a physical activity (being baptized).
The problem we don't understand with this passage is found in this phrase: 'He (Jesus) gave the right to become children of God" (by believing and accepting Jesus). Just because a person believes in Jesus, that is, believes what He taught and who he said He was and even received Jesus' teaching as truth, does not mean Jesus forced them to become children of God (or a Christian).
The Bible example is found in Acts 25:23 through Acts 26:1-32. The key verse in this passage is Acts 26:28. King Agrippa accepted and believed what Paul taught about Jesus. King Agrippa asked Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?(even though he believed what he was taught)."
Even though King Agrippa knew about Jesus and accepted that Jesus had died and risen from the grave, he could not be forced to become a Christian.
Becoming a Christian is an individual's choice; each individual must act upon that choice by faith in his belief.
In Acts chapter two, Peter had to warn his listeners with many other words and pleaded with them to “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” (verse 41) Then those who believed what Peter had said acted upon their faith in what he said and were baptized. This action of faith would have allowed God to forgive them their sin, and God could also give each one of them the gift of His Holy Spirit.
The promise of the forgiveness of sin because of being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is still valid today by any (all) who believe as they believed and acted upon their faith by being baptized.
Rising from the waters of baptism would be connected to the new birth or being born again (born of the water and of the Spirit)
About 3,000 individuals made that choice and acted upon their faith after hearing the gospel Peter presented. We don’t know how many might have believed but refused to act upon that belief. These were not numbered among those (about 3,000 individuals).
The action that Peter called for because of their belief was their repentance and baptism. Peter had been given the keys to the kingdom. (Matt. 16:19) What Peter required (bound) on earth was also bound (required) in Heaven: therefore, both repentance and baptism are required.
Larry E. Whittington
Thank you for reading. God Bless you.
As you have pointed out, belief without action is of little value. In James 2:19 the apostle says that the demons even believe in God ... and at least they tremble, even if they continue to do demonic things. I don't think that demons will be saved by their belief alone.