THE ONE BAPTISM -BY STEVE FINNELL

THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THERE IS ONE BAPTISM. WHAT IS THAT BAPTISM? (EPHESIANS 4:5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM,) WHAT IS THAT ONE BAPTISM?

There is one baptism. Is it water baptism or baptism with the Holy Spirit?

The 12 apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. What was the purpose of their baptism?

Acts 1:4-8 ....but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence...8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

The purpose of the apostles being baptized with the Holy Spirit was so they could receive power to witness to the world.

There no mention of being baptized with the Holy Spirit and a connection to being born again. The apostles baptism with the Holy Spirit was not their new birth.

The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so their sins could be forgiven.

The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could be saved.

The apostles were not baptized with the Holy Spirit as a baptism into Christ.

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is not the ONE BAPTISM that the apostles Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:5.

THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER.

Jesus said ( Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Was Jesus telling the eleven disciples to Spiritually baptize disciples of all nations? The disciples did not have the power nor the authority to baptized anyone with the Holy Spirit. They baptized people with water.

On the Day of Pentecost after Peter preached the gospel to them; the 3000 asked what they should do. Peter did not tell them to wait until they were baptized with the Holy Spirit so they could have their sins forgiven. Peter commanded them ( Acts 2:38..."Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive thegift of the Holy Spirit.) Peter commanded the ONE BAPTISM, water baptism.

Was the apostle Peters instruction to the 3000, to be Spiritually baptized? Of course not, you cannot command someone to be Spiritually baptized. On the Day of Pentecost 3000+ were immersed in water. (Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added  about three thousand souls.

The conversion of the eunuch. (Acts 8:26-38....36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?".....

The eunuch did not ask what prevents me from being baptized with the Holy Spirit. If Phillip was going to Spiritually baptized the eunuch, why would he need water. There is ONE BAPTISM and it is water.

Acts 22:12-16....Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized,and wash away your sins, calling on His name.'

Ananias did not tell Saul to get up and be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Why would Saul have to get up to be Spiritually baptized. Saul was baptized in water, the ONE BAPTISM.

IS THE HOLY SPIRIT PRESENT DURING WATER BAPTISM? YES!

Although Jesus was without sin and did not have to be born of water and the Spirit; the example was given at His baptism. (Matthew 3:16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.) This was symbolic of the new birth.

THE NEW BIRTH

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

This parallels the example of the baptism of Jesus is that, there is a water and Spirit connection.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Two things happen that saved them 1. The washing of regeneration (water baptism). 2. Renewing by the Holy Spirit. You cannot separate water baptism and the Holy Spirit when taking about being born again (The New Birth).

Acts 2:38 ....be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When you are baptized with water you receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. You are born of water and the Spirit. That is being born again, it is the new birth.

There is only one baptism that you can comply with; and it is to be immersed in water. 

If you have been obedient to the terms for pardon, you have been immersed in water, you have been born again of water and the Spirit.(Of course faith, repentance and acknowledging Jesus as Lord and believing His resurrection, must precede water baptism)   

THE ONE BAPTISM IS IMMERSION IN WATER. (Ephesians 4:5)

HELL-BY STEVE FINNELL

The contemporary church of Christ looks at the Bible and cannot see the word, hell, written there. Well they actually can, but to mention hell is not really "seeker friendly." To speak of hell makes people uncomfortable, fearful, and increases their anxiety level. The church wants to hear God's love preached, not a negative, depressing message about hell. To reference hell could alienate visitors. Is that want God wants?

THE UNSPOKEN EDICT IS, DO NOT PREACH ABOUT HELL!

Matthew 10:28 Do not fear of those who can kill body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

JESUS DID NOT GET THE MEMO!

Mark 9:47-48 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

JESUS DID NOT GET THE MEMO!

2 Peter 2:4-9 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgement; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly..........

PETER DID NOT GET THE MEMO!

Matthew 40-43 So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
  

JESUS DID NOT GET THE MEMO!

Revelation 20:14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown  into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

COMFORTABLE SEEKER FRIENDLY PREACHING CAN HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES!

THERE IS A LAKE OF FIRE!

(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)      

DO MEN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THE MOMENT THEY BELIEVE?-by steve finnell

When do Christians receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit? In other words when do believers in Christ receive the person of the Holy Spirit? Do men receive the gift of the Holy Spirit the moment they believe in Jesus or is it after they-believe-repent- confess-and are baptized in water?

Except for the special case of Cornelius, his family, and friends, believers do not receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit until they are baptized in water as the apostle Peter commanded. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit to prove to Jewish Christians that salvation was for the Gentiles as well.

The apostle Paul found some disciples of Christ and asked this question. (Acts 19:2 He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"  And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.")

Contrary to what some Bible commentaries say, Paul did not ask them if they had spoken in tongues or received other spiritual gifts since they believed.

Point: These disciples of Christ were already believers. They not only had not received the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit, they had not even heard that there was a Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:3-4 And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who, was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

John's baptism was not valid after the Day of Pentecost. Even though they believed in Jesus they did not receive the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

They needed to be baptized as Jesus instructed (In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Matt.28:19) and as the apostle Peter implemented, in order to receive forgiveness of sins and to receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

After they were baptized in water Paul laid his hands on them and they spoke in tongues and began prophesying.(Acts 19:6)
Paul did not impart the indwelling gift of the person of the Holy Spirit. They received the Holy Spirit Himself at the time of their being baptized in the name of the Lord.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you so, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established;

The apostle Paul and the rest of the apostles could impart spiritual gifts, to Christians, through the laying on of hands, however, they did not have the power to give the person of the Holy Spirit to others.

WATER AND SPIRIT ARE LINKED

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

WATER AND THE SPIRIT

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration [water baptism] and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

WATER AND THE SPIRIT

The three thousand souls on the Day of Pentecost did not receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit until there were baptized in the name of the Lord.

The twelve men at Ephesus did not receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit until they were baptized in the name of the Lord.

MEN TODAY, DO NOT RECEIVE THE INDWELLING GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THE MOMENT THEY BELIEVE

MEN RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER THEY ---BELIEVE---THEY REPENT---THEY CONFESS JESUS AS LORD AND SAVIOR---AND ARE IMMERSED IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS.   

ERRONEOUS BELIEF IS NOT A VALIDATION OF TRUTH steve finnell

The sinner's prayer is an erroneous belief.

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.

I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."

There is no Scripture that confirms the sinner's prayer as fact. The proof-texts given are 1 John 1:5-10 and Luke 18:9-14.

1 John 1:5-10.....9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness....... (NASB)

In 1 John 1:5-10, John was addressing Christians, he was not talking to sinners outside of the body of Christ. Non-Christians need to meet God's terms for pardon in order to have their sins forgiven.

Luke 18:9-14.....14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."......(NASB)

Jesus was talking to a Jewish Pharisee and a Jewish tax collector. The tax collector said a prayer of humility and Jesus said he went to his house justified. The Pharisee nor the tax collector prayed in the name of Jesus. The tax collector was not added to the body of Christ by saying a prayer of humility. Jesus had not died nor had He been resurrected from the dead. The new covenant was not in effect. Men need to follow God's terms for pardon to have sins forgiven under the new covenant.

No matter how sincere or honest a person is erroneous doctrine cannot save them.

GOD'S TERMS FOR PARDON.
1. FAITH: John 3:16
2. REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
3. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9
4. IMMERSION IN WATER: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16, John 3:5, Romans 6:3-7, Colossians 2:11-13, Galatians 3:26-27, Ephesians 5:25-27, Titus 3:5, Acts 8:35-38

Humility and prayer is the avenue to the truth.         

THE WORDS OF GOD THE FATHER-BY STEVE FINNELL

Where do men find the words of God the Father? Why do men reject the written words of God the Father?

John 7:16 So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 12:49-50 For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak , I speak just as the Father told Me."

The teachings of Jesus and the actions of Jesus were all from God the Father. Jesus did not read and follow the man-made catechisms from the Jewish elders. Jesus did not get His instruction from the scribes and Pharisees.

WHERE DID THE APOSTLES GET THEIR DOCTRINE?

John 14:24-26 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 25 These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 16:12-15 ....13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth...... He will disclose to you what is to come......

The apostles learned from Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The words of Jesus were that of the Father. The Father sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles so they could remember all that Jesus taught them and be taught future events. 

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The gospel of Christ, the terms for pardon, and the doctrine for Christian living, are all from God the Father. Jesus, the apostles and the Holy Spirit delivered the message. It is all found in the Bible.

Jesus, and the Holy Spirit taught the apostles ALL THE TRUTH.There is no more truth, in addition to, what the Father has given us through Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the apostles. All the truth is found in the Bible and the Bible alone.

The apostles had all the truth before John Calvin, John Wesley, Joseph Smith Jr, all the Popes, Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and Martin Luther were born. There is no new Scripture. There is no new revelation from God.

THE APOSTLES WERE GUIDED INTO ALL TRUTH BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. There are no new truths found in the catechisms, creed books nor any other extra-Biblical books written by men.

THE ONLY APOSTLE ALIVE TODAY ARE THE FALSE ONES!

MEN REJECT THE WORDS OF THE GOD THE FATHER BY OBEYING MAN-MADE DOCTRINE, RATHER THAN ACCEPTING THE BIBLE AND THE BIBLE ALONE AS THE TRUTH! 



   

DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS?--BY STEVE FINNELL

Are all babies born into this world as dirty little sinners?

BABIES ARE NOT GUILTY OF ADAM'S SIN

ORIGINAL SIN: Accord to the proponents of original sin, men are born with hereditary depravity and corruption of nature and liable to God's wrath. They think all men are inclined to do evil, and that continually. They believe every person born into this world deserves God's wrath and damnation due to the sin of Adam. They believe all men are guilty of sin at the moment of birth. They believe all babies are dirty little sinners.

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant  and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Was Jesus saying the kingdom of God belongs to DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS, like these children?

Mark 10:15 Truly  I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

Was Jesus saying in order to enter the kingdom of God you have to be DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS, like children?

If all babies are born DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS; that would have made Jesus a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER.

Hebrews 2:14-17 Therefore, since children share in flesh and blood, He Himself  likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.........17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make the propitiation for the sins of the people.

Jesus was a descendant of Adam. He was made like His brethren in all things. According the original sin advocates that would make Jesus born as a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER. JESUS WAS NOT GUILTY OF ADAM'S SIN NOR ARE ANY BABIES GUILTY OF ADAM'S SIN.

1 John 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Jesus was not born a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER.

Psalms 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Did David believe God made him, wonderfully made, because God made him totally depraved and a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER?

Ezekiel 18:20 The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

Men will not be punished for their fathers' sins nor will they be punished spiritually for Adam's sin. Men do not inherit sin. Men are not born as DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS; they become sinners by choice.

Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Was Jesus saying the kingdom of heaven will be filled with unforgiven DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS? No, He was saying the kingdom  belongs innocents like these children.

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

How could Job have been blameless and upright and be born as a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER? Job was not totally depraved, and inclined to do evil continually.

2 Kings 2:1 And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven....

Did the Lord take Elijah to heaven because he was born a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER and deserved His wrath and damnation, because of Adam's sin? Elijah was not totally depraved.

Genesis 6:8-9 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

Noah was a righteous man. How is it possible for Noah to be born a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER; only inclined to do evil, be guilty of hereditary depravity, and find favor in the eyes of the Lord? Noah was saved because he trusted God and was obedient. Noah was not going to be sent to hell because of Adam's sin. Men will die spiritually because of their own sins; not Adam's.

Acts 10:1-2 Now there was man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

Cornelius was neither Jew nor a Christian, but he feared God and gave alms to the poor. How would it be possible for Cornelius to act in this manner if he was born a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER; inclined only to do evil, and was totally depraved? Cornelius was not guilty of Adam's sin nor was he guilty any other man's sin.

Luke 8:15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

Jesus said some men have a good and honest heart. How can a man who was born as a DIRTY LITTLE SINNER and are totally depraved, and only incline do to do evil, have a good an honest heart?

MEN ARE GUILTY OF THE SINS THEY COMMIT; NOT THE ONE ADAM COMMITTED.

1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Babies no not practice lawlessness in the womb.

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Babies are not tempted and enticed by lust in the womb. Adam and Eve sinned when they were enticed by their own lust. Men today sin because the are enticed by their own lust. Men will be held accountable for their own sins, not Adam's.

MEN WILL DIE PHYSICALLY BECAUSE OF ADAM'S SIN.

MEN WILL DIE SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE OF THE UNFORGIVEN SINS THEY THEMSELVES COMMIT.

BABIES ARE BORN INNOCENT OF SIN.

BABIES ARE NOT DIRTY LITTLE SINNERS!

(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICA STANDARD BIBLE) 

         

PREACHING TRUTH? by steve finnell

A common ploy to prevent the truth of Jesus Christ from being preached is to say that unpopular Christian doctrine drives people from the church or prevents them from becoming a follower of Christ. The doctrine of Christ is not an impediment to Christianity.

John 8:31-32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."(NASB)

A church built on lies and erroneous teaching makes no man free, it enslaves men by their own self imposed ignorance and arrogance.

If God's word offends, but the words found in creed books, Bible commentaries, books written by preachers, and other extra-Biblical works are soothing to your ears, you may need a hearing exam.

NOTE: Most people in the first century found the words of Jesus offensive. Most people today find the doctrine of Jesus offensive, and many of those claim to be followers of Jesus. 

BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU--BY STEVE FINNELL

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:(KJB)

The Bible says baptism doth now save us .....by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Faith alone advocates say baptism has nothing to do with salvation. They say it is a simple act of obedience.

1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which is like that water, now saves you. Baptism doesn't save by removing dirt from the body. Rather, baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience. It saves you through Jesus Christ, who came back from death to life.(God's Word Translation)


The Bible says baptism....now saves you.
The Bible says baptism is a request to God for a clear conscience.

Faith only proponents say water baptism has nothing to do with salvation. They say baptism is only essential in order to join a denominational church.

Faith only enthusiasts proclaim that baptism does not save, but is only a testimony of faith to the community.

Faith only defenders state that men can get to heaven without being baptized in water, however they cannot join the local church without baptism.

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.(English Standard Version)


Jesus said whoever is baptized will be saved. Will be, is future tense not past tense. Will be saved does not mean has already been saved. 

Faith only champions say men are baptized because their sins have already been forgiven.

REPEATING THE TRUTH by steve finnell

If the truth is repeated often enough will men believe it? Men will believe the truth only if they are prayerfully seeking God's truth.

God's absolute truth is recorded in the book He inspired, the Bible. If you are looking for absolute truth in creed books, Bible commentaries, books written by preachers, theologians, and early church fathers, then you are looking in all the wrong places.

Be humble enough to realize God has the truth, but you do not.The first step to finding eternal life.

Pride blocks the door to truth.  Lay pride aside and just believe what God has said in His book.

Just because the majority of people you know believe something does not make it the gospel truth!

If what you have been taught is not found in the Bible or is contradictory to the Bible, then the Bible is wrong or you were taught error. Honest prayer is the answer to God's truth. 

SALVATION---ONLY OR ALONE?--BY STEVE FINNELL

HOW MANY TIMES IN THE BIBLE ARE THE WORDS ONLY OR ALONE USED WHEN REFERENCING THE REQUIREMENTS OF SALVATION?  TO OBTAIN A CLEAR UNDERSTAND OF GOD'S WORD YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE SCRIPTURES OF ANY PARTICULAR TEACHING.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION!

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Jesus did not say he who has only believed shall be saved.

Jesus did not say he who has only been baptized shall be saved.

Acts 15:7-11...Peter stood up....11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are."

Peter did not say they were saved by grace alone.

Acts 16:29-31....They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Paul and Silas did not say believe only and you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Paul did not say confess with your mouth only and you will be saved.

Paul did not say believe in the resurrection of Jesus only and you will be saved.

Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Paul did not He saved us by mercy alone.

Paul did not say He saved us by washing of regeneration alone.

Paul did not say He saved us by renewing by the Holy Spirit alone.

1 Peter 3:20-21....Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you....

Peter did not say that baptism alone saves you.

Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

Peter did not say repent only and you will have your sins wiped away.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter did not say repent only and your sins will be forgiven.

Peter did not say be baptized only and your sins will be forgiven.

REQUIREMENTS FOR SALVATION
GRACE
FAITH
REPENTANCE
CONFESSION
WATER BAPTISM 

THERE IS JUST ONE ONLY AND THAT IS JESUS AS THE ONLY SAVIOR.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else...

The only place you find the terms saved by grace alone and saved by faith only is in man-made creed books. YOU CANNOT FIND THOSE TERMS IN THE BIBLE! 

THE KING JAMES MYTH---by steve finnell 

The translation myth perpetuated by King James only advocates, as well as others, is that fifteen hundred years after the apostle John wrote the last book of  the New Testament God authorized King James to write the only trustworthy English version of the Bible. Is the 1611 King James version the only version God has approved? [King James only advocates do not read the original 1611 King James Version. The King James Bible found in most bookstores is actually the 1769 King James Version.]

Is the true gospel plan of salvation found only in the so-called 1611 King James Version ?  No, it is not.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting. (KJV)

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NASB)

John 3:16  For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. (NASB)

Mark 16:16 Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But those who refuse to believe will be condemned. (The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (KJV)

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised  Him from the dead, you will be saved; (NASB)

Romans 10:9 For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord, and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

Acts 2:38 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. (KJV)

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NASB)

Acts 2:38 And Peter replied, "Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you shall also receive the gift, the Holy Spirit. (The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

These three translations all have the same gospel message, they all have the same terms for pardon. THE TERMS FOR PARDON: Believe, confess, repent, and be immersed in water.

There are over sixty English translation that teach God's terms for pardon.

Note: The irony of the 1611 King James only advocates is that they do not even believe their own translation. Most of them deny that water baptism is essential in order to be saved.

The remaining question is what Scripture teaches that the 1611 King James version was the only translation approved by God?