Sean, I think where we disagree is in our perspective of water baptism. You view water baptism as being the wheel in the middle of the wheel in new testament salvation. I believe the thing that everything revolves around is faith in the Saviour who shed his blood for our sins. Of course, this faith must be accompanied with calling on the name of Jesus in repentance, and that is to be followed by water baptism according to the new covenant plan. I've already said, I don't view water baptism as optional, it's an essential part of the new covenant, and the sin issue isn't dealt with in its finality until one goes through the waters of baptism in Jesus name.
However, I see everything from repentance, to water baptism, to being filled with the Holy Ghost revolving around placing our faith in Jesus. By faith we look towards Calvary trusting that Jesus's blood is sufficient to save us from our sins. I believe that God showed us that this faith is the one most essential element and is what is most important in
Acts 10 when he filled Cornelius's household with the Spirit, because they believed in Jesus and called on his name. Peter confirmed this in
Acts 15:8-9 "And God which knoweth the hearts bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith.
He's saying God bare witness to their faith in Christ and he responded by filling them with the Holy Ghost. He forgave them of their sins, There was an application of the blood, there was a purifying (according to
Acts 15:9) of the inner man, and they entered into the Holy of Holies being filled with the Spirit. They became Sons of God and the life of Christ came to reside in them. However, they were incomplete until they were baptized in Jesus name. I'm not going to try to define what incomplete may or may not mean. I think this is a mistake we make trying to determine exactly who has what at what point in their experience with the Lord. I do feel comfortable saying they were incomplete, because there is sufficient scripture that tells us that water baptism is part of the new testament plan of salvation. (
Acts 2:38,
Acts 22:16, St
Mark 16:16)
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