Soteriological Chronology

Subject: Soteriological Chronology Sat Jan 10, 2015 8:12 am

"Repent, and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). Repentance, then baptism; and before repentance is the grace of regeneration, which is "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" (Rom 2:4).

When were those who Peter were speaking to saved? When "they that gladly received his word" (v 41). When did they receive his word? When "they were pricked in their heart" (v 37).

Thus, after "they that gladly received his word" (saved), they were then baptized (in water), and following this, they received the gift of Holy Spirit. The "gift of the Holy Spirit" in this passage is not Himself, for He was in them when they believed (received his word-- as Jhn 1:12). But "the gift" from the Holy Spirit was the gift of which "they were all amazed and marveled" (v 7). They repented and were baptized "because of the remission of sins."

Soteriology is clearest when differentiating between producing salvation (the Blood--cause) and receiving it (effect).

"For the remission of sins; not that forgiveness of sin could be procured either by repentance, or by baptism; for this is only obtained by the blood of Christ."
Gill--http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/acts/gill/acts2.htm

NC